Reviews (page 5 of 14)
I actually enjoyed this album, my favorite song is piece of my heart
Can't say I enjoy Janis' voice too much when she tries to force it and scream about, but the music was really good and an album very much worth of its reputation.
En del bangers. Lite all over the place som album
Classic old school R&B/soul with elements of late 60s wigout guitar
another one of those 60s albums that all sound the same
38/1089 4.4439* Another classic Janis album, this time with big brother and the holding company. Summertime pushes this up 1* full star by itself. A true top 50 all time song in any genre, any century. This song would have made Mozart weep. Piece of my heart bumps it another .23* because it was on the mix tape my senior year girlfriend made for me. Amazing musicianship throughout and retains the feeling from the decade it was created. I could smell the hippie from where I was sitting and it was a delight to the senses. Hits...summertime, piece of my heart.
weno, es como musica de auto o pa limpiar la casa
Not my cup of tea
Janis' voice gets annoying after awhile. It seems soulful, but I think it's just because she's so fucked up on drugs and alcohol. I like Summertime and Piece of My Heart. 3
Love Janis Joplin and think she is fantastic. However, I think if I had only heard this songs of hers, while some are the same, I don't think I would love her as much. Her vocals is what sets her apart and with the full band the vocals of hers are just drowned out, or at least more subtle.
Joplin and great electric guitar sound
I love listening to Janis Joplin hooting and hollering
A lot of fun, I love Janis Joplin's voice and how wild it can get. The cover art is frustrating because I love the pulpy comic book art style in itself but the couple of racist caricatures on it are 🤮
im Bett, abends Freitag, 02.01.2026
Classic
I’ve listened to about half of the album so far and this is such a summer album like zoo-wee-mama. The piano in “Turtle Blues” is fire. The song “Oh, Sweet Mary” makes me think of Rocky horror when doctor Scott is in the zen room. This album isn’t the type of music i usually listen to but honestly the album will probably be apart of my rotation now.
God energi fra Janis Joplin, men for mye seig psychedelica-blues.
very vocal (kind of like scatting) - definitely won't listen to again - not my vibe - fave song was piece of my heart
I didn’t love this even though it’s a big JJ album and has piece of my heart on it. The jam stuff is kinda annoying , but there is a lot of soul to it.
I enjoyed this on first listen. It was a lot better than I expected.
Not convinced. All a bit scratchy.
While I like the songs on this album, I don’t love them or the album overall. There is a bit too much jamming for my taste that’s better saved for an actual live show. Jackie Jormp Jomp sure could sing, but there are to many songs like Turtle blues and roadblock that just make the album feel slow and dull.
Nothing in this album holds a candle to their performance of "Summertime" in the live recording at Woodstock. Not even the studio version of said song. But I enjoyed that song and Piece of my Heart. But also, summertime is an old Gershwin classic so not original either. I guess it's 2/5 for the two songs I liked.
A rough, almost lo-fi set of songs that perfectly mix psychedelic and blues rock. The guitar tone is trippy, but the songs are not meandering or loose. Instead, they're mostly meaty blues rockers. Janis Joplin provides excellent vocals, carrying the couple of blues tunes included here. The highlight is "Piece of My Heart," but "Oh, Sweet Mary" is also great and is the most psychedelic of the bunch. The album is not without its drawbacks though. The rough mix can bury Joplin's vocals at times, making them lose their power (this is especially true on the first track, which to be fair was recorded live). And I can't help but wish the nine minute closer had some of the guitar freakouts that the opener has instead of being one long blues cover. But overall the album has enough energy and variety to make it worth coming back to.
I’m still not in love with her voice, but I actually enjoyed this more than Pearl.
Janis Joplin has a helluva voice!
Blues / rock with Janis Joplin on vocals. I'm reminded of Amy Winehouse. This album is objectively quite good, but it's not really my thing.
Sucked balls bro, can someone explain the hype?
12/31/25. Janis Joplin. 7/10
Favorite tracks: Piece of My Heart, Combination of the Two There's no denying that Janis has a crazy powerful voice, but after a song or two it really grates on me. Pair that with the overly distorted guitar on some tracks and I was ready for this album to finish by the time I was halfway through.
Hørt i bilen på vei til Harstad sammen med Jon 23/12/25. Mye bra, litt for monotont for min del.
7.5/10 enjoyed would listen to again
Quintessential Joplin.
Classic kinda rock, clearly influenced lots to come. not so much my thing
I would die to hear this live, insane vocals Mrs Joplin
Some groovy tunes and Janis sounds like she’s coming from another planet.
179/1001 Big Brother and the Holding Company - Cheap Thrills Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ I love Joplin's vocals on this and hadn't realised she was in a band prior to her solo stuff. This is a bit more psychedelic than the later work she did and there are a couple of tracks I recognise. A cool concept for the album adding crowd noise later on to make it sound like a live album.
eh
This really gets you movinnn wooooooo
Raspikurkkuinen Janis Joplin jossa näitä mustia rytmiä. Hitsi että fiilaan välillä näitä. Sellasta soulia mitä Janis tekee mutta näillä rytmeillä.
Loved it.
Combination of rock and blues. The vocals too scratchy for my taste. Piece of My Heart is the most iconic one
Mítico disco de Janis Joplin. Tampoco nada del otro mundo
Ball and Chain alone earned this 5 stars.
I love Joplin and this band. It gets a bit long for me but damn she had the pipes. I think I prefer Pearl, though.
Still not a fan of Janis Joplin, but I liked this better then Pearl.
I really liked this album, love the blues and the guitar work. Janis is always amazing. Piece of my Heart is so amazing. Not sure I loved the pipped in crowd noise, but it does make an impact. I'm torn between a 4 and a 5 on this one, but I haven't had a good album in a while, so It's going to get the 5.
Some good tunes; lots of decent, drug-induced, bluesy rock. Vintage Joplin.
Some great moments but overall alright
Very close to giving this 5 stars at the end of Summertime alone. This was excellent
This was fucking class. I really enjoyed it
Alright aye
Nothing special, at least for me
WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fikk litt ny respekt for Janis. Tror æ kan sette på denne plata en gang.
Best rock album! Janis Joplin is a legend. Her voice is a definition of rock
Very interesting album, seems like a jam and that adds a lot of coolness. Janis Joplin has a great voice. The slower songs are especially good.
Not the catchiest songs but janis eats
Not bas energy in the morning
Amazing album. Great vocals, I love the emotion in her voice. Great album cover as well.
Great album
Hørt i bilen med Jon første juledag.
Heard piece of my mind before
Good vibes. 24 år gammel Janis Joplin backa av et band som høres skjeggete ut. Lyden av californiansk 60-talls psych. Fungerer veldig bra som bakgrunnsmusikk. Ingen dårlige spor, men Ball and Chain er for lang. Hørt i bilen med Anna på vei hjem fra Harstad 25.12.25
Great sound, but I couldn't stop focusing on how Janis sounds like Marge Simpson.
Love to see the legends on the come-up.
Bluesy stuff isn't my usual cup of tea, but I loved this...I think due to the energy of the ensemble. And JJ's voice, which is just amazing. Raw, evocative, highly listenable. Yay.
That voice! Tracks I thought were Joplin solo works and very cool instrumentation. Amazing stuff, especially for the time.
Cover art was a shit choice for sure. Joplins voice is amazing. The cover versions are interesting. A fun listen
Great fun.
it was okay, but not a fave
Stunning debut. Janis Joplin, unforgettable shooting star
An iconic voice that was gone too soon. Really carries the album with a performance and voice that can’t be replicated. However it gets a bit same-y for me after a few songs.
Cheap Thrills is raw, loud, and powered by Janis Joplin’s ferocious vocals, especially on standouts like “Piece of My Heart.” While its energy is undeniable, the album can feel uneven and rough around the edges. Flawed but iconic, it captures a moment more than a consistently polished record.
never listened to the full album before this but i loved it. we did a dance to piece of my heart in high school and i still really like that song
I've heard of Janis Joplin before never actually decided to listen to any of her songs this is my first time and surprisingly it's good like it's not the type of music I'm used to listen classic rock is a new thing to me I guess like I'm used to a different kind of rock like more progressive kind of fall so this is new but nothing really stand out nothing makes me feel like oh what is this melody but I do have a favorite and it's oh sweet Mary. So I don't think it's a Bad album but that's a good album I like the concept I like that it incorporates kind of like a live recording feel to it but probably just not my taste.
Vocals are slightly grating but otherwise nice sound!
More 1960s bullshit
Just not a Janis fan but interesting to hear where it started.
I know I should dig on the vibe and message of this album. And I can see how it has influenced other artists (e.g. Beth Ditto is about 80% Janice Joplin's vocals). But I dont know what it is about this album that I didn't enjoy. It feels a bit too disjointed or raw or something. I just am not a fan. Probably wrong but that is a me thing.
Yeah sick fucking record.
it was ok. i would listen in background. a little much and loud for me
It was fine, didn't love didn't hate. Probably wouldn't choose to put it on again.
This is a classic. One of the best of the psychedelic era. Just too much good songs.
I honestly have never heard of this one before, which I’m somewhat ashamed of. I’ve been meaning to actually, like, listen to some Janis Joplin albums, though, and this is her, so I’m glad this one was generated. The album cover is the first thing that really jumps out at me—I mean, how can it not? It seems like a huge inspiration for Green Day’s Dookie—I mean, they did both come from the Bay Area—this one’s just a bit…edgier, I guess. The vocals are amazing. Really impressive range and energy. The whole album feels like it was recorded live—which, apparently, it partly was. It’s definitely somewhat of an acquired taste, but I like most of it. I also think anyone interested in music history should listen to this one—or anything else with Janis Joplin, obviously. Also shout out to the guitar solos. Specifically the one in Summertime. The influence of this album is immediately recognizable—Amy Winehouse, Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett, Fiona Apple, Hole.
Wow! New fav loves Janis Joplin’s Summertime
Not for me
piece of my heart & summertime are by far best (most popular for a reason), joplin vocals solo
I really liked the "make it seem like it was recorded in front of an audience but for the most part it's not" idea and it feels well executed. Usually I'm only a fan of the live version of a song over the studio recording if I've heard the live version first, so this becomes humourous when thinking about that. Other than that I liked the arc of the album and its use of a few different genres. My favorite song is "Piece of My Heart" and I generally enjoy all the songs after the first two.
This album was almost entirely new for me. At first, I didn't think I was going to like it, but the longer I listened, the more I started to vibe. Loved Turtle Blues and liked Catch Me Daddy. Really glad this album came up because it led me to another Janis Joplin song that was so heartbreakingly gorgeous. Also liked the rhythm/emphasis of "Come back and believe my love" from Magic of Love.
Not the biggest fan of this type of classic rock but Janis Joplin’s vocals are cool and overall the writing isn’t too boring; pretty fun.
Piece of my heart is great, but I'm not a huge fan of the rest. Joplin's voice borders on grating.
Interesting hearing Janis on this!
Joplin’s voice is definitely polarizing but I can’t help but find her storytelling captivating. Gurley’s guitars, Andrew’s guitar/bass, and Albin’s bass are so satisfying. Definitely an album of its time for all the appropriation. The album cover is certainly…something. I get that R. Crumb was a beloved artist…but…
Best Track - "Piece Of My Heart"
fun and energetic classic rock album i appreciate the version of summertime, even though it’s not really my favorite Gets a bit more stale towards the latter half; I’m not a huge fan of the blues songs either
The powerhouse vocals, the bass, the guitar… it’s all perfect and a true testament to Janis’s passion for music and life. Such an important piece of music history!
Great stuff Janis has one of the best voices rock has ever heard.
Amazing album. Joplin was more of a presence than just a voice. It’s also a solid blues rock band that almost feels like they could stand on their own without Janis. Until Oh, Sweet Mary, which leans into psychedelic rock and doesn’t utilize Joplin much at all. The flaw there, however, is less not using such a powerful singer and more straying away from what makes them a good band. But man, Janis, what a voice.
A solid jammy rock album, but I think I prefer Joplin's solo albums. 3.5 ->3
sex, drugs, and janis joplin
- They give an “Eagles Garage Band” vibe.
Raw, powerful and one of the best album covers of the decade
i get why people like Janis Joplin. i think in the right mood, i'd really be into this record. "I Need a Man to Love" is soulful as fuck, but man, I just don't care right now. I can hear where a lot of modern bands draw influence from this album. I can't tell if "Piece of My Heart" is better than "I Need a Man", or if it's just the most recognizable song on the record.
An assault on my ears.
Not the biggest Joplin fan, but can't deny her performance on this is the highlight. Otherwise, a pretty messily presented, middle of the road statement of what was happening with blues rock at the time.
Anerkjenner at det er bra, men ikke alt som treffer undertegnede
how does she make those sounds
Combination of the two: 3/10, i feel this song is too "i hit my children with a belt and im happy about it" 60s type of song. too much wooooooaaaahhh wowowowowah. i enjoy the guitar tho so it gets a 3 I Need A Man To Love: 7/10, i think Janis Joplin being in this song makes it immediately better, i love her vocals and the softness of the start adds more levels and sounds to the rest of the track. Summertime: 0/10 This is lowkey ass if im being honest. its too repetative in a way im not sure how to explain, but its just too "neownnn...", too augh for my liking. Piece Of My Heart : 2/10, again, its too repetative, and sounds like all the other songs on this album.. Turtle Blues: 5/10, i really enjoy the piano on this track, and its different from the other tracks which i like. this is giving country pub saloon vibes in a way. Oh, Sweet Mary: 0/10, IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL THE OTHER SONGS ON THIS ALBUM GODDAMMIT!!!!!! CHANGE YOUR MUSIC DUDE. Ball And Chain: 3/10, not bad, not as repetative as the other songs but still somewhat repetative, which is why its a 3. i feel like they are overusing her vocals for the yelling. Roadblock: 3/10, i love this, but after 0:55, it just gets too loud for my brain and too much for me to comprehend. the drums are definately the best part about this. Flower In The Sun: ?/10, i cant really rate this one, its just eh. i dont like it but i also dont hate it, but i have no comments on this other than good drumming and electric guitar. Catch Me Daddy + Magic Of Love: WHY WOULD YOU PUT LIVE MUSIC IN AN ALBUM?? ITS SO REPETATIVE AGAIN LIKE UGHHHHHHHH WTF.
Nope
How can you hate Janice Joplin?
Didn’t realize that those songs were from that album. Stacked track list. 10/10 would recommend
its some okay fun. guitar masturbation, with some shreaky vocals.
More generic white music
When I get hold of a time machine, I am going to go back to 1968 to watch these performances live. I will also bring Narcan and mess up the timeline. I'd never heard this before but it's going into my regular rotation for a while. Amazing.
Pari aika legendaarista biisiä, mut muuten ei oikeen jaksa sytyttää. "aikansa kuva" voisi olla taas hyvä lause näihin taustoihin, mutta Janis Joplin kyllä loistaa mikin varressa
Varmaan ihan jeppis meininkiä muttei kyll jaksanut kuunnella edes kokonaan. Tössäsi koko levykuunteluproggis tähän levyyn joten kostoksi kakkonen
Onhan sillä Petkellä vallan hieno ääni, ei mahda mitään, biisit ei vaan yllä samalle tasolle. Hieman liian jazzahtavaa omaan makuun, mutta livenä toimisi vallan mainiosti. Notta mennään kolmosella.
Joo ohan tää rohkeeta tavaraa pluussirokin tai jonkun vastaavan saralla. Kovaa revittelyä soitannollisesti ja varsinkin laulupuolella. Ihan hirveesti tämmöstä ei kyllä jaksas kuunnella vapaaehtosesti, mutta menee tähän samaan linjaan kun kaikki muukin näköjään tällä hetkellä, että ymmärrän kyllä, mutta en kuuntele. Sen takia ei voi ruoskia SÄILÄLLÄ. Varmaan osittain kärsii siitäkin, että on liveälppäri kyseessä, niin meno on enemmän semmosta fiilismiehelle sopivaa kun totiselle musiikkikuluttajalle. Sit kun ei oo fiilismies-olo, niin ei välity se lavameininki. Plussaa toki älppärin kansitaiteesta. Roopertti Krumppi on kova pikkutuhmien kuvien piirtelijä.
No joo. Ei kyllä lähtenyt tämäkään. Ihan liian tunkkaista menoa omaan korvaan.
It sounds like a love album but it's not presented like one. The background ambience of the live crowd does add some character to it, though. Janis Joplin is ripping and screeching through some great blues rock. It's got tons of soul and some great jamming. Not more to say about that. 3.5 Stars
I'm kinda somewhere between a 3 and a 4. Let's go with a 4 because I got way too many 3s.
I love psychedelic/acid rock. Janis Joplin was on another level, and this album is a perfect reminder of how much raw talent she had. Her voice is wild and powerful in a way almost no one else can pull off. Another talent gone way too soon. The wailing guitar throughout the album gives it that gritty, psychedelic edge that fits the era perfectly. It is messy, loud, and full of character, which is exactly what you want from late 60s rock. Overall, this is just a great psychedelic record with one of the best vocalists of the 60s. And the fake crowd noise they added to make it sound like a live album was a neat touch.
The 60s sound of Big Brother/San Francisco sound just outstanding. And on top of that, Janis Joplin to scream/wail her soul to the heavens. I've done a trip or 3 listening to this album plus a few other jam bands which are perfect music to allow the mind to meander into the wide wide universe. Happy time and happy trails. 5 trippin' stars
This was amazing, not sure what made it so good but a truly amazing album.
"1960s Rock - the band behind ""Piece of My Heart"". There is a lot of feeling and stage presence from Janis Joplin even in the recording. This is a 3.5/4 Stars for me.
Good album but I can't stop thinking about how Janis Joplin sounds like Marge Simpson. Faves: I Need a Man to Love, Piece of My Heart, Turtle Blues
Absolute gem. Never heard of them before!
peak
Nice
Muito bom
janis!!! what a phenom she is. such energy. such voice. Love the album art. this is quintessential late 60's. Fun guitar riffs. Prog rock elements were welcome
Pretty fun live album. Janis's voice is paired well with the band and other singers. Has some classic, well known rock songs, but even the non-hits are entertaining. I would definitely go back to it!
I had no idea who this band was, but saw the name Janis Joplin somewhere and thought to myself "oh, that's a big name... Surely this'll be good!". Little did I know that Janis Joplin sounds like Jimmy Page slowly turning into Marge Simpson. Also, there are some songs that can pull off being longer than 5 or 6 minutes, usually because they're through-composed, and have multiple sections that are essentially little songs in their own right (eg. Bohemian Rhapsody, Jesus of Suburbia) but "Ball and Chain" isn't one of them. No song needs to sound the same for 9 1/2 minutes.
Not huge on blues rock like this but the vocals from Janis elevate this a large amount. I wish we could have heard more from her over a longer period of life. Piece of my heart and summertime were the stand outs to me here.
racist cover art really brings the rating down from i dont remember to ew
Janis is a force of nature. This is a good vessel, and an amazing time capsule, but it has weaknesses. A bit of 60s wank that doesn't hold up here, middling songwriting there. The moments of brilliance are worth the drawbacks, but while my heart wants to give it a 5, my head knows it's a 4
This must be what it felt like going to a club in the 60s and hearing a local band that kinda sucked but went really hard and you never forgot that
I have a feeling that if had lived in San Francisco in the 60s I would have moved to Oakland.
Think this goes with what you think of Joplin. A blues belter or grater. At positive end Piece of my Heart it works, gets the Otis level of push and power and if all had been in this range would have liked the album, but at the other end Summertime , didn’t want to use the analogy because many had but yes nails, marge Simpson down blackboards. Just not a fan of Joplins thing, think it just falls too much into grating, and that’s the main draw of the album. 3 Star
You can feel every single word that is sung that isn't just random blues sounds. Wonderful guitar tone also.
No vocalist before or since has possessed a voice quite like Janis Joplin's. Her wild, raspy and yet soulful howl burned viciously and faded fast with her untimely death at 27 in 1970. But in just four years, she changed the game with her stunningly allruing performances and unimitable voice. 'Cheap Thrills', the second record from Big Brother and the Holding Company, is a grand showcase of Joplin's rich vocal range and sensational feeling. It's hard to believe she was only 25 when she sung on this record, giving she sounds like a seasoned veteran well into her 40s, not unlike Jim Morrison of The Doors. The best known song on this record is 'Piece of My Heart', the Burns/Ragovoy composition that became a hugely successful hit for Big Brother in 1968. 'Piece of My Heart' is perhaps one of the more accessible examples of Joplin's impressive vocal range, but there's also 'I Need a Man to Love', 'Summertime' and 'Turtle Blues' that delve further into Joplin's impressive versatility, dabbling in rock, blues and jazz. The other band members of Big Brother play their part well too, creating tuneful acid rock befitting of the late 60s, but its clear that Joplin's voice elevates this record, as she truly has a voice like no other. Had she lived longer, I've always had this strange 'what if' scenario in my head of Joplin fronting Led Zeppelin in place of Robert Plant. Now that would be an interesting performance. She lived hard and died young, but Joplin didn't need long at all to leave her mark on popular music. One of the finest voices to ever exist. Best songs: I Need a Man to Love, Summertime, Piece of My Heart, Turtle Blues
Ok
Historical for sure
I had no idea that Janis Joplin was in a band. I always thought she was a solo artist. The music is a perfect blend of funky blues and Janis has the perfect voice to sing these songs. Favorite song: Piece of My Heart
Solid. Janice Joplin cranks! Love those vocals. Great guitar too. Very solid.
It's not that I hate Janis Joplin - I like some of her most famous songs. But this album? I felt nothing.
Second album avec Janis Joplin, le premier étant son album solo 'Pearl' que j'avais peu apprécié (noté 2/5). Cet album propose un rock/blues un peu plus original que dans 'Pearl' quand il s'éloigne du blues (structure des morceaux en particulier, quelques chorus intéressants). Par contre le chant me parait encore plus difficile à supporter ! J'aurais pu apprécier cette version de 'Summertime' (mélodie à la guitare inattendue et réussie) sans ... le chant donc. Découverte plutôt intéressante mais gâchée par JJ. Je ne l'écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5
Ela 4/5, Silda 2/5, Mac 4/5. Love the female vocalist.
I lost my beautiful Charly Garcia notebook.
Some iconic Janis Joplin moments in there, but overall a bit too heavy for my afternoon
More like a 3.5. Would def come back to this.
Full-bodied
She’s got soul
apisteuta vocals
Has several classic radio hits that are familiar but the rest of the album feels like an average jam band to me
Really fun, esp Ball and Chain
JANIS! here is the first member of club of 27. c
This was a good album, didn't know it was Janis Joplins band before she blew up! The more you know lol
As amazing as Joplins vocal can be it gets grating here. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
This confused me at first as i wasn’t aware Janis Joplin ever fronted a band and after reading this i was still surprised the sound of it. I really like this. It is great blues rock with Joplin adding guttural vocals. The version of summertime is brilliant and as a 1-2 combo with Piece of my heart it doesn’t get much better. For some reason the bv and some guitar work reminds me of the Jimi Hendrix experience, which cant be bad. It’s a lot heavier than i expected but showcases the vocals perfectly
Whilst I can objectively say that “Piece of my Heart” is a great song, Janis Joplin’s voice is so unbelievably grating that nothing about it, or this album, could be enjoyed. It’s probably a 1.5* and, seeing as it’s not 1*…
I had clearly not had enough lsd before listening to this. Piece Of My Heart is great, everything else is fine I guess. The added crowd noise is a bit odd? Why would you bother? Just not for me, but I'm not angry about it, so 2/5
good
Really good, loved this
Janis Joplin is a natural force and enfant terrible. But does she need to sing this old school psychedelic 60s stuff?
No strong feelings about this really. Some good songs, but like a lot of the other 60s SF albums, I think you had to be there. I appreciate Janis Joplin's vocal talents, but don't really enjoy them that much.
Good music but fake audience was strange.
Classic Janis vocals and tunes w some better than competent blues playing.
Janis' voice is a tour de force for sure, but I didn't think this was quite as much of a knockout as I maybe expected? Piece of My Heart is an unbelievable song but nothing else hits quite that hard. The Summertime cover was a little much with some of her vocalizations. Overall wanted more although I can definitely appreciate her as an artist.
Pas mauvais. Janis a toute une drive. La captation est épouvantable.
Piece of My Heart is the obvious standout. Rest is hardgoing jammy bluesy rock though. And just not a huge fan of her voice
Wow this was excellent!!
I didn't really like this.
Great album, not perfect. Janis Joplin is amazing like always.
3.5
Cool
I had a girlfriend once who thought she could sing like Janis Joplin; she couldn't. And I can't with this album. 2 stars
I never knew Janis Joplin was in a band before she went solo. This album was a bit of everything: groovy, bluesy, funky, energetic, fun. I go back and forth on Janis Joplin’s voice though. Some songs I enjoy her vocals (like Piece of My Heart) and others not so much (Summertime). But there’s no doubt that Janis Joplin and the other musicians in this band were talented.
Janis! Piece of My Heart alone gets this album 5 stars. But the mix of Janis’ bluesy vocals and the band’s 60s psychedelic rock is fantastic throughout.
Janis Joplin was amazing.
Pretty great honestly. Suffers from some of the same quirks I don’t like about most 60s rock. Looking at you not very good blues song
I have this on vinyl. Fantastic music. And Janis could sing, man. Crazy to think how young she would've been given that she eventually joined the 27 club. Makes me feel old. Cool R Crumb artwork.
Too hippy dippy for me
Definitely better than her solo album. Can't say I was expecting Janice Joplin to be the first artist I have two albums from
Por la portada pensaba que iba ser un disco de rap, os podeis imaginar mi sorpresa cuando ha empezado a sonar. Como podreis leer en otras de mis criticas, no acabo de disfrutrar estos generos musicales, pero no ha sido horrible de escuchar.
I am completely in love with the guitar tones on this, on top of a predictably wondeful Joplin effort. A true gem of the late '60's. 4/5
Blues rock done right, I heavily fw my girl Janis, surprisingly heavy throughout and some truly transcendent moments. Have heard recently for the first time but honestly enjoyed even more this go around Fav song: Summertime
Classic 60s soul/blues/rock. There is no other voice that compares to Janis. Simply stunning.
great!!! janis really had one of the most unique and interesting voices to come out of the 20th century. i love how dynamic her vocal performance is on this album, how it manages to transcend the static space of the recording studio through the sheer force of her energy. my only real issue is that a lot of the individual songs felt overly long. fav tracks: ball and chain; i need a man to love
Her voice is so special and really brings such a personality to the music -- which otherwise doesn't sound so different to me than any other psychedelic rock -- that makes it unique. I'm glad that I already heard a few Muddy Waters and Led Zeppelin albums before this one because they feel like different pieces of the same section of blues/rock music history and it's cool to see this band's role in that evolution.
3.25
Never heard this album before. Janis is fantastic and the vibe rock but it's not one that I'll find myself going back to any time soon but if I stumble on it, I'd listen again gladly.
Just fine, Joplin sounds like Marge Simpson at points
It really feels like the band is constantly in a contest of who the best artist is which hurts the songs that are otherwise perfectly solid
Coole Comics
A second Jenis Joplin related album for this week. Let's check this one. First track is more of a jammy kind of intro. Janis sounds so young in innocent here it made me shiver a bit. A high energy one with group vocals and solos to start. Second song is energetic and preformed very well. This version of summertime is what made fall in love with Janis when I was about 14 years old. Her voice is unbelievable here. And the guitar work... priceless. Piece of my heart is a classic rock classic for a good reason. It's a great song. Janis sounds amazing singing the blues on track 5. I actually really liked how basic it is. Only piano, vocals and a saloon atmosphere. Nice. 6 Most psychedelic one for sure. Liked it very much. Just super cool vibe and nice vocals. I was worried that the last track will be to long, but it turned out to be one of the best ine the entire thing. Just massive blues performance from Janis and the band. What a great one! Enjoyed it more than pearl I think. The rawness and singing is just great. Better than pearl but still a high
Great album, love Janis’s voice. Piece of my Heart is phenomenal.
One of my favorites. I love Janis!
excellent music, janis can really sing
I put this on without looking at any info about it. On the second track I thought huh this sounds like Janis Joplin. Third track I knew it was. I learned today that she was in a band before going solo. Some good songs. Bluesy and psychedelic. Some tracks drag on in a way that would be fun live but not as great recorded
What a distinctive voice that works well for her musical style. Standouts were "Piece of My Heart", "and "Ball and Chain"
Great variety of songs in this album and Janis rocks. Favorite track: Ball and Chain other picks: summertime, I need a man to love, piece of my heart, turtle blues
Appreciate her voice and get that this is good generally just not something I would put on to jam to just doesn’t speak to me
Meh, några goa bitar men för icke-melodiskt och skramligt
Is quite badly like to avoid overstating it, but it doesn’t feel like hyperbole to call this the sound of a thousand hurricanes making landfall. What Joplin and Gurney create whips and whooshes; cajoling road signs from their fastenings, tossing them into the mix with cattle, chattel, whatever’s not completely nailed down. And up and away you go with it too, perhaps initially with trepidation – but when the weightlessness kicks in and you realise you’re in this for good … it’s kind of impossible not to be romanced by it. That’s the hurricane covered, but why “a thousand”? Maybe one day I’ll name them one by one, but today I’ll run out of time – so suffice it to say what’s here is as irresistible as the process that creates the OG meteorological formation. These are sounds made thick by an intoxicating mix of sex, drugs and, ah fuck it, rock n’roll. I suppose every cliche started life as something incredible. This is the sound of Janis making landfall. Nothing was the same again.
Incredible guitar and vocals, I understand why this is considered a high water mark for psychedelic rock.
A Janis album I was not aware of, and delivered in that passionate, bluesy swagger that only she can. Not an everyday style for me but I can appreciate the style and give Janis her props. Rounding up. 3.5/5
A little too bluesy for my tastes, but the sweaty, swaggery delivery of Janis is pretty great. Instantly recognizable, and yet this album is probably somewhat forgotten given her untimely death just two years later. A small window into what might’ve been.
Ok hand up. I didn’t know this was out there, so was kind of like an after the credits scene of bonus Janis.
You can just smell the hippie. Piece of My Heart is such a great song and incredibly performed. I usually don’t rate high for one song but this one hits me. 3.5
Janis + one of the greatest covers ever in Piece of My Heart takes this to an auto-4* IMO. The rest of the album is good, not great. What could have been... 3.5/5
Bastante guay. Me mola el formatín de hacer un falso live album con sonidos del público. La tía tiene un vozarrón obviamente y hay bangers y temas bonitos y temas graciosos. Me lo escucharé más pero de primeras me gustó.
Janis!!
Well this album has blown me away. For context I'm age 32 and do love a lot of older music. The musicianship is simply outstanding. The dynamics of so many of the tracks here, never quite knowing where it's going to go. And goes without saying Janis Joplin shines here. I'll admit I hadn't heard much of Joplin (or hadn't heard of this group) but everything here is up my street. The drums are thunderous and keep a ridiculous pace, the bass is solid and shines in its own right with freedom and creativity. The guitars speak for themselves, wailing solos mixed with pure emotion. "Summertime" is haunting and stunning at the same time.
I didn't listen the last 3 songs
Sweet
I really don’t care for this era a lot. It’s very “jam band” esq. Jannis Joplin kind of sounds like ass to be.
It's not bad, probably above average for the time just not really my bag. A bit meandering for me but worth a listen
w album. no skips whatsoever. janis joplin is phenomenal, the band makes if all too better. never heard doo much soul from white people
rätt bra asså. jävlar vilken pipa
i have never really liked janis joplin’s voice. nails on a chalkboard to me.
I just never liked JJ’s voice
Not my favorite, but I can definitely appreciate Janis Joplin's voice.
I have owned this album in the past and I loved it. Turtle Blues is my favorite track today although when I was younger it was Piece of My Heart. Interesting how things change over time.
No. 6 I'm in love with the cover art. The mix of rock, country, and blues is amazing in the album. I would definitely listen to it again.
It's a classic middle of the road '60s Rock Album with an appropriate title. Favorite Track: "Piece Of My Heart".
Some very good tunes. JJ instantly recognisable as a talent.
I liked about half of these tracks, and felt “meh” about the others. Piece of My Heart is a classic. I get that Janis’ voice isn’t for everyone, but for these songs, particularly the bluesy ones, it works. On the negative side, I am not sure why they felt the need to fake a live album. In any event, the record works out to three stars for me.
-back from my hiatus to very formally review Cheap Thrills -i enjoyed this!! i really like the 60s San Francisco sound. Janis Joplin ATE here, definitely some of the best vocals i’ve heard from her -it’s not quite on the level of Jefferson Airplane and kinda lost my interest at some points, but it’s quite good. god damn that guitar on Oh, Sweet Mary -Favorites are I Need A Man To Love and Oh, Sweet Mary
Janis Joplin can be a bit much. She's especially screechy on Summertime, which is otherwise an awesome version. My favourite was Oh, Sweet Mary.
6 - AVERAGE
In some ways, this is Janis presented at her best, and sharp but loose band ripping behind her and the chains released, she is free to cut as loose as she can. Then again, some of the more refined takes of the Pearl era are also essential Janis. Some of the usual Bay Area jam band nonsense here, including the dude singing, imagine the audacity. Anyway, a great record and a much more to come in a short life.
8/10 Favourite: Piece of My Heart Least Favourite: None
Just great! Janis Joplins voice was exceptional. Typical she was not listed as artist on the cover
I listened, and I deserve credit for it As this is shite
Blind album and artist. Some cool early psych elements and such. Cool this was recorded in a ballroom too.
Some nice solo guitar work amd janis' vocals sometimes work but the live jam vibe while not being live isnt great
Lacks earworms, but has unique sound that exudes vibe, atmosphere and live energy. Album as a whole is balanced and memorable, but it means songs stand less on their own. Since this is albums and not songs reviews, it gets a high score.
When I found out who was singing I thought this would be better than it turned out to be.
That sure is an album cover holy shit. Never heard of this band before but I am slightly familiar with Janis Joplin. The album itself is pretty boring. Haven't heard much that has inspired me.
Enjoyed!
I know I’m going against the grain but I can’t stand this music. To me her voice is shrill and out of control. She destroys any sense of melody.
Love the hits. Sometimes Janis turns it up a little bit too much.
3.5 Some raw, hardcore, electric blues, roots and psych rock with early Janis Joplin on the mic. Not the most polished album, but that’s sort of its appeal. This is a pretty good time capsule of that period. I’m such a sucker for the fuzzy/funky guitars, vibes and Joplin’s singing that I want to give this a 4, but I realize that’s a bit overrated; 3.5 is perfect. I also understand her voice isn’t for everyone.
Janis, my love. The more I listen to her albums, the more I appreciate her. Her voice is the standout thing here, and is still one of my favourites of all time. It's unique. I read a theory that little kids love the Frozen soundtrack so much - specifically Idina Menzel's vocals - because Elsa's singing hits a particular frequency or resonance or something like that that just sounds transcendentally brilliant to little kids' ears. It's almost certainly bollocks, but I do think something like that applies to me when it comes to Janis Joplin. Her voice is shrieky and raspy in just the right way to feel incredibly rewarding to listen to? I dunno, I just really get emotionally engrossed every time I listen to her. The whole package is great here - the songs, compositions, musicianship. It's an all time classic album.
das kann man sich mal merken ... 60s energy
Psychedelic rock, led zeppelin sounding, but it’s Janice Joplin!
Janis Joplin’s powerful lead vocals take the listening experience to a whole new level. The backing vocals add a beautiful color to the songs, and of course, the piano and guitars are everywhere, filling each track with pure energy. It’s a true classic of rock music. That wild spirit runs through all her performances, and track number 4, “Piece of My Heart,” is one of those songs everyone from a certain generation recognizes instantly. It became a major hit single. Track number 2, “I Need a Man to Love,” hits you right away — what an entrance! Then there’s “Summertime” (track 3), where Joplin takes the Gershwin classic and turns it into pure, aching soul. Nobody could pour emotion into a song the way she did. For anyone curious, the album feels like a live show, but only “Ball and Chain” came from a real performance. The rest of the tracks had audience sounds added later to create that same raw, concert-like vibe. And the album cover deserves a mention too. It was designed by American cartoonist R. Crumb, who became famous for his iconic character Fritz the Cat. This album was the band’s last work with her. Her solo career would bring us a handful of great songs and unforgettable albums. To me, Janis Joplin represents emotional intensity and rebellion. Say no more — the album is fantastic, and she remains one of the greatest of all time.
Great album. Janis Joplin's vocals are absolutely top class and overflowing with verve, and thankfully cut through an often (unfortunately) muddy mix and inconsistent sound. An energetic set of music to jam to, basically. I actually really liked this one and would definitely listen again but I found it a little too fickle (whatever that means). Not that it's a direct influence on the sound, per se, but the signature Robert Crumb art is also incredibly cool and distinctly of its era. fav tracks: Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain
Would have LOVED to see them live.
I love this album so much!
First half of the album is perfection. JJ’s growl NOURISHED me. Flower in the Sun also made me feel some type of way. That little guitar part - dododo dododo + the vocals + the bass, ok let’s be serious ALL OF THE PIECES come together to make magic. Also, also she died on Oct. 4…. Was I her in a past life????????????
Excellent freak out of a record. Cool album art. Had no idea that Joplin fronted a band. The recording was pretty cool as well, I thought it was a live record originally
Diese Musikstul kannte ich noch nicht. Finde den sehr Intressant. Alleine Das Cover ist Wunderbar
I listened to this one for the first time a couple years ago. At the time I didn't really get into it. It connected a bit more with me this time. Still wouldn't call it an all-time fave, but I enjoyed it quite a bit more this time.
I have seen this album cover so many times, but never knew who or what the band was. Firstly, I am very selective on live albums I enjoy, but the one thing I do not enjoy is an album that is not a live album but is recorded to sound like a live album with the crowd added in. Apparently Ball and Chain is an actual live track, but that is besides the point, because the sound and mix of this record is pretty awful, you really have to really crank the volume to hear any of the instruments. The only problem with cranking the volume, is then you get Janis Joplin really just screeching over everything. I am not a fan of Janis' catterwauling. I guess I always imagined this album was going to be something completely different that what it actually is. Also note: as I have been doing with everything on this list. I am only listening to the original album release, the the bonus track edition, where they just add more actual live tracks.
Great 1960s sound. Janis is insane.
Did janis Joplin always have a scratchy voice before she started singing or did she get it after she started singing? Kind of a chicken and the egg thing we got going on here. Anyway, it was very soulful and sounded like they gave a shit. Definitely not an industry plant.
Jazzy, fun, light. Enjoyed listening.
Another album from the sixties, another album I remember fondly from me childhood. On this listen I really enjoyed all the instruments and the arrangements.
Solid
I really enjoy Joplin's voice with some good blues rock. Summertime is a favorite of mine.
The second I realized that Janis Joplin sounds like Marge Simpson, I could never go back to how things were before. The nice thing to note is that Janis is from Port Arthur, TX which is very close to where I am currently attending college. She even briefly attended the school before she went to UT in Austin and then I think she went to San Fran after that. She has a commanding presence that shines throughout this record, so of course she went solo. Besides the vocals, guitar work is also noteworthy. It's a shame that she flew on as Jerry Garcia put it (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: I Need A Man To Love, Summertime, Piece of My Heart I have never heard of Big Brother & The Holding Company, but I have heard of Janis Joplin, and when I read that this band and Janis are associated with The Grateful Dead, I was excited to say the least. And man, this album did not disappoint: Experimental, psychedelic rock with slamming vocals from Janis. :chefs_kiss: Excellent album cover. I also really enjoyed discovering that Eminem sampled Summertime in The Slim Shady LP's Rock Bottom. That was cool.
Janis Joplin has soul enough for ten people and love to hear this live blues
Still don't get what the big deal is with Janis Joplin...
Solidified my opinions on Janis Joplin.
The only cheap thrills were the rush I got when it was done
Delightfully crusty with jams front to back, this was some quality psychedelic blues rock. Joplin's gravely voice does service over the heavily distorted blues guitar. While there aren't any standout "hits" that earworm quite like her other standout hits, this is an entertaining enough listen that really succeeds at its loosest points. Love Ball and Chain as a drawn out jam of a closer. Also really enjoyed I Need a Man to Love and the decidedly tasty take on Summertime -- love the layered guitar work trading between the monitors. For me this straddles a high 3, low 4 boundary. I'll nudge because, why not?
Awesome awesome album. Love Janis Joplin, an artist I didn't listen to before this project. Incredible energy and pipes. Not a single miss. Welcome back to the 5 star club, Janis and Co.
Very solid 60s psych with Janis Joplin wailing away all album. Piece of My Heart is a great song that I did not know exactly who it was by
A few songs in and this is certainly a raw psych rekkid. I never really fucked hard with Joplin's voice, but in the context of a whole album I must say I'm enjoying it a bit more. Loving the guitar work on Summertime. Piece of My Heart is a classic. Getting real bluesy with the Turtle. Ball and Chain is an excellent closer. Some real solid 60s psych/blues album.
Peak after peak after peak
This is great. All the things I love about bluesy, jammy rock. And I’m ashamed to say I’ve never listened to this album before. 4 stars
New to me. Pretty good to me.
I'm continuing to think I don't really care for American music. Someone tell young me. Everything that "sounds" American on this list has either been fine or annoying. Or Marilyn Manson. This was on the fine end but most of it didn't do much for me and I don't know why bar it just sounds so American. Joplin's vocals and the band are strong although hey voice is actually a bit annoying. Anyway, I'm learning things about me if nothing else.
Great bluesy numbers. Janis' voice is brilliant, weirdly aggressive at times. Piece of my heart is incredible. There were awesome guitar sounds in there too. Will definitely listen again.
Never had heard of this group or the lead singer Janis. Really liked it! Favorite Song: Turtle Blues + Ball and Chain
I feel like this would be kinda hype to listen to on a road trip, but it doesn't hit as hard when you're just sitting in your living room.
Adorable voice of Janis Joplin such a pleasure to listen to. Band is not that great sounding unfortunately. This is the only reason why I don’t rate this masterpiece 5/5. RIP LEGEND!
Combination of the Two - 5/5 I Need a Man to Love - 4/5 Summertime - 4/5 Piece of My Heart - 5/5 Turtle Blues - 3/5 Oh, Sweet Mary - 3/5 Ball and Chain - 5/5 Average score: 4.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
These guys came to rock and they understood the assignment.
Janice.
Solid acid blues rock. A few great tracks everyone's heard, and a couple unfamiliar ones that surprised me. I'd give it a 3, but there's some truly blistering fuzz tone guitar solos that kick it up a level for me
Oh yeah her voice scratches the itch in my brain
Like listening to a memory of a time long ago, but with extra guitars.
This blues-rock album is like a roaring engine held together by passion rather than polish—its rough guitars, unrestrained vocals, and raw emotion surge with freedom and fire, even as the whole thing threatens to shake itself apart.
Album de rock en live chanté par une femme ? À la voix enrouée assez sympas
Probably rocked live but was just decent as an album
4 stars I liked it
i dont like hippies or jam stuff and i've never been particularly fascinated with janis joplin so i was not looking forward to this but it was quite good
I thought this was another punk album from the cover but turns out to be a very nice slice of psychedelic blues rock with Janis Joplin on vocals! Had a very nice time with it and would definitely return for more. Hard to look past _Piece of My Heart_ but I really did enjoy _ Turtle Blues_
Janis voice is epic and timeless. To me that is almost the only thing about the album that I really enjoyed though. While nothing inherently wrong with the songs I just couldn't get in to them. The sound mixing, the instruments, the solos. Nothing stood out other than her voice, but sometimes that might be enough for some songs to be listened to a few more times.
Good mix of blues and rock and roll. Was surprised when I heard ‘piece of my heart’. I thought it was just a Janis Joplin solo song. Good over all album. Very appropriate for the peace, love, happiness era.
Nothing really popped out at me with this album besides the album art. Still, nothing was bad
Janis can sing! What more can be said about this legend. Great album with plenty of character!!
I didn't know this was Janis Joplin before I started listening. Suddenly, I thought, damn this singer is cool. So I guess I am a fan of her. Blues rock at its finest. 60s psych prog at its finest.
Huge fan of Joplin's vocals, this was an awesome album
Real bluesy. Piece of My Heart is an all timer