Reviews (page 6 of 12)
I really really enjoyed this. Janis Joplin has a classic voice. Obviously "Piece of My Heart" is an all-timer but I also really enjoyed "Ball and Chain".
What a fun album! Janis Joplin’s voice is just perfect.
Goes hard love u Janis u killed it
Kinda amazing.
Raw, energetic, great.
Lekker swingy rocky, i like
Great listen.
Janis tiene una energía que lo eleva todo. 4/5.
Nothing compares to Janis’ sound
Always amazed that that voice comes out of that person. What a legend!
classic blue rocks powerful vocal
Between hard rock and psychedelic. Excellent combo.
If you want to listen to a jammin' blues rock album from the late 60's, this is a beauty. Janis Joplin's vocals are so achingly jagged they will flat rip your soul out. Summertime and Piece of My Heart are just plain masterworks. I prefer Ball and Chain from the Monterey Pops but you can't go wrong with this version. This album should be a must listen for anyone that owns vinyl.
I listened to this like 3 times on the way to the airport but I retained nothing of it. I think I liked it?
Cheap Thrills is the second and final album by Big Brother & The Holding Company, the band that launched the career of Janis Joplin, one of the most iconic and influential singers of the 1960s. Released in 1968, the album captures the raw energy, emotion, and improvisation of the band's live performances, which made them a sensation at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The album features a mix of blues, rock, soul, and psychedelic elements, showcasing Joplin's powerful and expressive vocals, as well as the band's tight and adventurous musicianship. The album opens with a cover of "Combination of the Two", a song by the band's guitarist Sam Andrew, which sets the tone for the rest of the album with its upbeat tempo, catchy chorus, and dynamic interplay between Joplin and the band. The song also features a spoken introduction by the band's manager, Chet Helms, who introduces them as "four gentlemen and one great, great, broad; Big Brother and the Holding Company!" The next track is "I Need a Man to Love", a bluesy duet between Joplin and Andrew, which showcases their chemistry and vocal harmonies. The song also features a prominent organ solo by John Simon, the album's producer, who added some overdubs and effects to enhance the sound of the band. The third track is "Summertime", a cover of the classic song from Porgy and Bess, which Joplin transforms into a haunting and soulful ballad. The song features a slow and sparse arrangement, with Joplin's voice soaring over a simple guitar riff and a subtle drum beat. The song also features a psychedelic guitar solo by James Gurley, the band's lead guitarist, who adds some distortion and feedback to create a contrast with Joplin's smooth vocals. The fourth track is "Piece of My Heart", another cover, this time of a song by Erma Franklin, the sister of Aretha Franklin. This is arguably the most famous and popular song on the album, and one of Joplin's signature songs. The song features a catchy and upbeat melody, with Joplin delivering a passionate and defiant performance, as she sings about giving her lover everything she has, even if he breaks her heart. The song also features a call-and-response structure, with Joplin singing the verses and the band joining her on the chorus. The fifth track is "Turtle Blues", a song written by Joplin, which is the only studio-recorded track on the album. The song is a traditional blues song, with Joplin playing the piano and singing in a relaxed and humorous tone. The song also features some background chatter and applause from the band and the studio staff, creating a live and intimate atmosphere. The sixth track is "Oh, Sweet Mary", another song by Andrew, which is a fast and energetic rock song, with Joplin and Andrew trading vocals and guitar riffs. The song also features a prominent bass line by Peter Albin, the band's bassist, and a driving drum beat by David Getz, the band's drummer. The seventh and final track is "Ball and Chain", a cover of a song by Big Mama Thornton, the blues singer who also wrote "Hound Dog". This is the longest and most epic song on the album, clocking in at over nine minutes. The song is a slow and powerful blues song, with Joplin delivering a stunning and emotional performance, as she sings about the pain and oppression of love. The song also features a dynamic and improvisational arrangement, with the band following Joplin's lead and creating a tense and dramatic musical backdrop. The song ends with a thunderous applause from the audience, as the album was recorded live at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Cheap Thrills is a landmark album in the history of rock music, as it showcases the talent and charisma of Janis Joplin, who would go on to become a solo star and a legend. The album also showcases the skill and versatility of Big Brother & The Holding Company, who were more than just a backing band for Joplin. The album is a testament to the power and beauty of live music, as it captures the spirit and excitement of the San Francisco scene in the late 1960s. The album is also a masterpiece of art and design, as it features a famous and colorful cover by Robert Crumb, the underground comic artist, who depicted the band members and Joplin in his distinctive style. Cheap Thrills is an album that deserves to be listened to and appreciated by anyone who loves music, as it is a timeless and thrilling experience.
60's rock. Joplin's voice. Amazing.
A classic!
Janis sounds amazing, and it’s a gigantic step up from the debut. 4/5
It gets 4 stars because of the inclusion of one of my all time favorite songs, Summertime. Musically it was great to hear, but technically is was irritating. The mix on the opening of track one almost left me skipping this one.
Funny that the Electric Prunes were mentioned at the end.
Pirce of my heart and Turtle blues are great tracks. Audio quality not great but it is a live venue recording so gets a bye ball. Love the art work.
Very good.
Loved this so much. Felt like summer time doing something crazy with friends. Janis Joplin is so damn cool
A classic that brought back fond memories.
FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN
I love the energy of this album. I'm much more of a fan of Janis Joplin's vocals than I realized. The bluesy rock sound is really well done, and all of the elements complement each other well. I would say this is particularly true of the raw guitar sound and Joplin's vocals. I'm definitely a fan of the bass playing on this record too. 9/10. Favorite Songs: I Need a Man To Love, Piece of my Heart, Turtle Blues, Ball and Chain Least Favorite Song: Roadblock
4.25
Did not recognize the name of this band, although the cover art style was familiar (underground cartoonist R. Crumb), if a bit problematic (that Black woman caricature on "Summertime"? oof). But when the vocals kicked in it was immediately apparent- this was Janis Joplin's band. "Piece of My Heart" is an absolute classic. Damn shame about the 27 Club.
Proggy, KGATLW vibes Crazy raspy vocals Piece of my heart
I've listened to Janis Joplin before, but never really delved into Big Brother & The Holding Company too deep. Cheap Thrills is an awesome collection of psychedelic blues-rock. This album was a pleasure to listen to and it will definitely get another play.
Janis Joplin con su grupo, los Big Brother & the Holding Company, en su máximo explendor. Editado el año siguiente a su explosión mundial en el Monterey Pop Festival de junio del 67, "Cheap Thrills" conserva el sonido que habían ejecutado sobre los escenarios y la intepretación pasional y emocionante de Joplin. Destacan el exitazo de "Piece of My Heart" y "Summertime", revisión en clave rockera de la canción de George Gershwin. También me gusta "Roadblock" con ese aire gospel. Blues Rock de alto voltaje con una de las voces más personales e inconfundibles de la historia del rock.
Great album to listen to. Standout songs: I need a man to love Ball and Chain Roadblock Magic of Love
What a voice!
I like this!
loved this!
It's fine. I like me some blues rock and this scratches that itch to a satisfactory degree.
As I get older, I appreciate strong female vocals so I was thrilled to hear Janis Joplin. Also as I get older, I'm not so much a fan of a forceful guitar or the problematic album art but it's a reminder of that era.
Really enjoyed this album. Janet sounded great!!!
Great songs, a bit outdated to my taste, which makes it lose one star
This is pretty bloody great. Raucous yet soulful, great variety between the tracks, and Janis is absolutely fine form. 4.5/5 Fav track: Ball and Chan
Great album with Janis Joplin and co delivering an energetic live, ball and chain, in the summertime...
Ah, I've never really understood the kerfuffle about JJ's voice - a bit screechy and not something I can listen to for extended periods. The band sound really tight and well rehearsed. I read online that this album is predominantly studio based and only 1 track is live. Still a tidy album and 'Take another piece of my heart' is brilliant. Occasionally Big Brother and their chums do become a bit pub rockish. Not a bad thing!
JJ's voice transcends reality on "Ball and Chain"
4/5. Janis is good
Marge Simpson hollerin up some sweet grooves. 4/5 -- "I'll enjoy listening to this again, probably on a road trip. To Hell."
Noticeable improvement in the music and Janis Joplin goes a lot harder this time. Fantastic album.
Pretty good, ahead of its time, bluesy
Never realized BBtHC had a singer other than Janis. But even when he did sing one, she overpowered him from the background. Enjoyed this one more than I expected to.
Janiiiis!
Good. Elle braille beaucoup. Pas entièrement ma came.
A fun listen.
RAW, Bluesy,
-psych-rock, blues, jazz -not Janis Joplin's band, but an amazing launch pad -great band, even live
Had no idea Janis Joplin was in a band. Love all the raw screaming blues guitars. Cool 60's blue rock sound.
Featuring the 'Queen of Rock', this album captures the world of the late '60s. With JJs unique voice (*Always* powerful) and the rest of the Big Brother and the Holding Company supporting her (love the purposefully (?) out of key guitars, you can hear/feel their passion for the music. Piece of My Heart is a classic and I really like the Turtle Blues. Really like this album.
Extremely high four, almost a five. Love it a lot and goof agrees. Ball and chain is quality and so is summertime. (Grrrrr)
good album great blues guitar, notable Janis Joplin debut album with "piece of my heart", album art provides ample beginnings for conversation
Psychedelic 60s/70s at their best.
Kinda hard to hear in the first songs but really has a style !
Raw, energetic 60's rock. The band had more depth than just their hits
good standout song, didn’t realize it was by them!
Hadn’t listened to this in quite a long time. I’d forgotten just how good the band is, as it tends to be thought of as a showcase for Janis. But the rhythm section is locked in and the guitar solos are excellent. I especially enjoy the songs featuring interplay between the two guitarists.
I can see why Janis Joplin became such a popular artist and went solo. Such a powerful voice. The band overall was good, but they do sound like so many other bands of the era. Janis steals the show though.
Classic rock with Janis Joplin. Awesome stuff. Thanks for reminding me about this.
Endlich ein hörbares Album
Some Joplin classics here, very solid 8/10
Rocks hard. Janis is the best
Bloody hell, that voice. What an album and what a sound. Transportative.
Other than "Little piece of my heart," I've had not exposure to this band and honestly assumed that song was just Janis Joplin. Album is an awesome blues/psych explosion. Her voice is insane and I love it.
Janis Joplin's hit album with Big Brother before she went solo. Musically solid and tight with a swagger (and ripping guitar) that's enhanced with Janis' vocals. Ball and Chain (my fave) and Piece of My Heart are clearly the standouts, but I liked Turtle Blues and Summertime as well.
Listened to this while playing Set A Watch solo. I lost. Janis Joplin's voice is definitely an acquired taste. I don’t hate it, but I don't love it either. That said, I appreciated this album much more than I was expecting to. Her take on Summertime was so uniquely her own...I loved the interpretation.
Good album. I like her raspy voice.
Psychedelic blues rock with aggressive vocals by Janis Joplin
only listened half
i would for sure return to this later on. janis joplin has a very enthralling singing style that has gone on to influence so many people. this is one of those very influential albums that i do kind of see. the guitars are dope and i think like with Ellington at Newport the faux live setting adds extra energy.
Really enjoyed this vibe.
So young but mature
Joplin! Good times. Fun album cover too
solid 60s rock. love jj
Was not aware of this of Joplin in general. Very good! 3.71
Offensive album cover, but music is great.
Never listened before. Janis was Janis. Pretty raw.
11/27/23 2:23 S Tier————————— Piece of My Heart A Tier————————— I Need a Man to Love Combination of the Two Catch Me Daddy Ball and Chain Roadblock Magic of Love B Tier————————— Turtle Blues Flower In The Sun Oh Sweet, Mary C Tier—————————2/5 Summertime
Wednesday 11/29/2023, 8:20, office S Tier———————— Piece of My Heart A Tier————————— Combination of the Two Roadblock Catch Me Daddy Ball and Chain Magic Of Love B Tier————————— I Need A Man To Love Summertime Flower In the Sun C Tier————————— Oh Sweet Mary Turtle Blues
Ive heard a few things by Janis Joplin before but much softer songs, didn't realise she had such a powerful voice. The music itself was fairly enjoyable but she really took it a step further. The live tracks were probably the best ones as she was really pushing it there. Might have to listen to some more Joplin stuff.
I didn't know Janis Joplin was in a band before being a solo artist. I really enjoyed this - some songs went on a bit, but there's a great run of I Need a Man to Love, Summertime, and Piece of my Heart which is electric. Opened my eyes a bit to her and her music. Also I love the crunchy sound of the guitar on Ball and Chain.
Had not heard much from Janis before but I definitely want to now, she is a great singer. I also enjoyed the guitar work throughout this album. Overall I quite liked this album and will give it another listen. Highlights: Piece of My Heart Turtle Blues Roadblock
Much more blues rocky than I expected from a Janis Joplin record, but maybe that's just my naivety. Enjoyed this, it probably isn't quite my thing but Mitch better than I was expecting. She has a great voice Highlights: Piece of my heart Turtle blues Ball and chain 3.5
Really with I could add .5 to some of these ratings. But 4 stars for that AMAZING version of summertime. RIP Janis.
A great classic rock album
What a party record; what a voice.
Janis joplin
Je suis de bonne humeur
Great album. No surprise why Janis Joplin is a name we all know. She sings like a more psychedelic Robert plant. Very unique voice I like her most when the guitar voices are blown out and she’s really screeching, like on Ball and Chain. That song and catch me daddy probably my favorite.
Some tracks are pretty raw, Janice had pipes a and carried the lyrics well. Musicianship was adequate.
Great energy
Very fun listen. Distinct feel to the songs. Instrumentals and vocals are both great.
Some blues. Some rock and roll. Good Stuff. I liked "Turtle Blues" the best.
- Nice trashy tone - love their voice - not really my music taste
I’ve been listening to this since it was in my parents’ record collection when I was a teeny girl. Even as a child, I absolutely loved that cover, not knowing who Robert Crumb was back then. But it made me happy, I think the saucy style reminded me a little of Penthouse’s Wicked Wanda (which I read back then too). And I used to belt out all these songs, completely captivated by that huge voice. Janis Joplin was a mighty force. I think after Ball and chain my interest used to wane a little, as it did today, but Summertime, Piece of my Heart and Ball and Chain are just stonking great tunes. And I’m still trying to belt them out, Joplin style. I apologise if you can hear me.
I dug this. The band was pretty great. That dude's guitar tones were on point. And Janis, of course. I mean, damn. (It cracked me up, though, that the first voice you hear is some guy and not Janis-freakin-Joplin, but whatever.) I didn't always find the material that strong or memorable, though "Piece of My Heart," "Ball and Chain," and their cover of "Summertime" were obvious standouts. Overall, pretty great stuff. Can we talk about that racist R Crumb cover, though? Like, I dig R Crumb OK, but what the actual fuck with the two blackface depictions?
4.5 really
This album is the album that put Janis Joplin's vocal talent to the world cause it was a big sucess with 2 millions sales and #1 in the Billboard. Before even listen to it, i only know 2 songs and Piece of my heart is by far the best, and on of the best song from the 60's tbh always been one of my favorite song form the psycedelic era. First some of the song are reccorded live, and in all the song we see a psychedlic blues and an acid rock sound that could opnly serve the greatnest of the voice of Janis Joplin. We also ear something in piece of my heart that remind me hard rock, and to this day is still one of the most known song by Janis, even tho its a cover. Turtle Blues is a cool caaret kind of song that cleary pay hommage to her biggest blues woman influences. We see the more psychedelic sound in the first two song: combination of the two and i need a man to love Ball and chains is the longest song in the album with more than 9 minutes and is the second best i think wich is still a cover of another Janis's huge influences Big Mama Thorton. I will said one bad thing about this album, is that the best song are covers and they don't really prove their writting qualities with it, but they are very good cover tho and they totay apropriate it (in a good way) Finaly the artowrk, it just magnificient, i like the concept of cartoon to represent all the songs but its so well drawn and funny and well inllustarted. I never undertand why they put the Hell's angels logo, anyway the artist is Robert Crum and he did a fantastic job.
Great band but Janice's constant wailing got a bit much for 50 min.
Yllättävä, hyvä. Täynnä hittitavaraa. Ei ihan 10/10, mutta silti toimiva kokonaisuus.
I've heard Janice Joplin many times -- I never knew this band existed, and it was excellent. Particularly Summertime. She's got so much style!
7/10
Nice acid rock and blues fusion. Very cool Janis Joplin. Would rate 4.4 stars but I am only able to deal in absolutes.
Very fun album. Loved Joplins vocals. Some songs seemed to get lost for me but that might be more my problem.
Raw rock and roll. So much of what they were doing was pushing boundaries and to hear Janis, young & in the heart of a band, wow!
Love the guitar, especially in the first few songs, but it is outshined by Janice's iconic voice. The album starts much stronger than it finishes, though the two live performances at the end bring it up a bit. 2nd song was my favorite.
Psychedeliskt och trevligt. Joplin kan bli lite väl skrikig ibland. Annars väldigt bra 60-talsrock
An enjoyable experience, amazing guitars, truly unique vocals
Honestly a super interesting album. At first, I didn't think I liked it, but after listening to the whole thing I could see myself listening again. Janis Joplin on vocals was very interesting to me and made the album more listenable. 3/5
Wat kan ik zeggen, ik hou gewoon van Janis Joplin. Rauw, emotioneel, gepassioneerd. Bandje kan ook wel prima spelen. Favorieten: Roadblock
Groovy and bluesy. Love it.
Joplin has an unmistakable voice—no auto tune here. This is the 60’s in living color.
So goddamn fun. It sounds like it would be a blast to play in this band. Janis is incredible. Piece of my heart is the standout, obviously, but the rest is solid to excellent
Album #43 This was a great album. I don’t if I’d consider it psychedelic rock or blues rock; maybe psychedelic blues rock? Janis Joplin’s soulful singing can hit you deep in your core. I was very entertained and don’t have anything negative to say about it. 4*
Pretty great stuff.
Besides the first track, I liked this more than I was expecting. Frankly, I didn't know who Big Brother & The Holding Company was but, once you hear that voice ... (you know I'm really having trouble with the whole 5-star system. 3 is too low. Giving this a 4 means I've underscored some of the previous albums I've listened to.)
Jest w porządku, niektóre utwory bardziej mi podchodziły, niektóre mniej. Ma na pewno swój urok i bardzo dobre momenty ale nie na 5*
Soulful rocks and roll. with the crowd thrown in, it feels like they’re right in front of me. This is an album that you’ll listen to front to back. What an era of music.
great
Gritty Dirty Janis Joplin pre-airplane
I thought I had remembered being underwhelmed the first time I heard this. But now, I don't see how that could have happened. This is fantastic! Of course, Janis sounds amazing, but so does the whole band! So much blue-eyed soul in these recordings
Can’t go wrong with some Janis Joplin!
one of my favorite albums for dinner night
When I was in high school, I had a Janis Joplin greatest hits album. I enjoyed it until I convinced myself the only reason that I liked her was because I’m supposed to. Turns out that’s a shame, because I really liked this. The band was fantastic and the overall sound and energy was so fun.
This was a good record! Sounds really unique. Feels like a sound plucked right out of a moment in time in the 60's, with this wild, frantic energy that Janis Joplin is so good at as a performer. I actually kind of like that it was live-esque (apparently the majority of it isn't live, there are just overdubbed crowd sounds), but for some reason it worked in my brain. Maybe it's because the record just sounds rough enough around the edges, the guitars and drums sitting in that unsure spot in the mix that you get with live albums. Added to the imperfect, messy, fun sound. I'm a fan, and its uniqueness as an album definitely gives it staying power. I'm going with 4/5
More than just the one song on here. It’s sort of over powered by the whole legend and you wonder if it’s going to stand up the mythology. It does.
Brand new lessons for me listening to this album. First, this is another instance of me never hearing of the band before but definitely hearing the music. Second, while I certainly know of Janis Joplin, I had no idea she started out as part of Big Brother & The Holding Co, or any other band for that matter. Her solo career was so prolific. And listening to her vocals, it’s obvious why. I’m quite familiar with Piece of My Heart, but never knew who sang it. Although her life was so short and she was so young, Janis is so soulful. Her rendition of Summertime is masterful with a depth of someone well beyond her years. As is I Need a Man to Love, Ball and Chain, and just about all the tracks on this album. Cheap Thrills was no cheap thrill. Now that I know how soulful Big Brother was with Janis, I’ll have to dive deeper to see what their sound turned out to be after Janis left the group.
This pseudo live album bursts of energy. I like it!
huume hörhöilyä heh hyvää musiikkia teitte the cause of death to be a heroin overdose, possibly compounded by alcohol. oho.... jaaa... no.... hyvä albumi? 27 vuotias nuori nainen... ööö niin hyvä albumi much emotion in voice heh made album..emotional... wau joo huumeet, niintota, golden age of ... huume musiikki, drug= good music. heh... ehkäpä olisi kuitenkin halunnut elää puoli vuoskymmentä enemmän kuitenkin heh......no hyvää albumia tässä... ball and chain
"Piece Of My Heart", "Ball And Chain", "Combination Of The Two", one raucous cover version of "Summertime"... Classics, just like that iconic artwork by Robert Crumb. I remember once reading that most rock critics initially panned *Cheap Thrills* when it was released, and that it was the audience of the time that elected this record as the hailmark it is today, contrary to their views. I can't really remember why the critics found this LP distasteful, though. Probably for reasons that were quite different from the ones that make me take out one star to my current grading of it. But why am I doing so, then? Well, my overall feeling about *Cheap Thrills* is that it can be a little tiring at times--in the sense that everything is super duper intense in it (the instrumentation, that jamming blues-rock style, Janis' gravelly voice...). Most of my favorite albums always have certain "dynamics" in their tracklisting, and I can't sense those in this collection of what is essentially long jams (admittedly based on a solid repertoire of tunes). So as good or great as the album is, that's where it still sounds a bit "dated" to me. Obviously, everyone's mileage on what is "dated" or not will always vastly differ from one person to the next, as it can often be seen when you read people's reviews on this app. Yet I feel like this particular album could actually make folks of all stripes agree that it is indeed of its time in a way that makes it sound a little weird or unnecessarily convoluted these days. Maybe the attention spans of rock audiences dwindled for the next generations... I don't know, just my two cents, here, I guess... The thing is, if you take each track individually, you have to acknowledge how stellar they are, either because of the virtuosistic-yet-heartfelt shenanigans in them, or because of the sheer amount of emotions and *soul* Janis pours into her vocal performance. Such spectacular performance can be tiring, sure. But if you're in the right mindset, it's also fascinating. And if not in the long run, at least in small amounts, one song at a time. To put it in a nutshell, beyond its iconic status and the many cultural undertones attached to it, *Cheap Thrills* still feels like an "essential" album to me. Its excessive leanings are a minor flaw at times. But for the most part, they're still a major asset. Two sides of the same coin. Number of albums left to review: 453 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 256 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 131 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 163
Had no idea what to expect going into this one. Very cool 1960s blues rock.
Excellent
A classic. But nothing I haven't heard before
Deze plaat heb ik al mogen beluisteren in het begin van ons avontuur, toen de rest nog niet was aangesloten. Een 4 was toen mijn oordeel, maar toen was de schaal nog niet gecalibreerd natuurlijk. Dus laten we het opnieuw met een fris gehoor beoordelen. Schreeuwlelijk Janis schreeuwt er weer lustig op los, maar dit keer ondersteunt door een band, waardoor ze wat minder (maar nog steeds vrij) prominent in de schijnwerpers staat. En dat maakt de levendige (blues)rock n roll bijzonder goed te pruimen. Ik hou het gewoon bij een 4, want dit soort muziek kun je altijd wel opzetten.
Fun
JJ at her finest. A brilliant album with a brilliant band.
Decent: there were some classics on this records, shit you listen to and immediately recognise. Janis Joplin was on this album to whom I haven’t listened before but immediately know the voice. It was a pleasant surprise and felt like powerful classic rock which I love.
Like the live feel in this album
Pretty damn good. A bit messy and rough in all the right ways. What a nice relief from today's overly auto-tuned, overly polished music. I'm not sure I love the fake "live ambience" but I'll give it a pass. This is real music with real soul, played by real people.
What a vocal performance from Janis. This recording was described as a “full-frontal assault on the senses,” and I certainly couldn’t put it better. Although stylistically different, her performance gives me the same melancholy I feel when listening to Elliott Smith or Kurt Cobain; a tragic dread that makes me wish they weren’t so self-destructive, that mourns what could have been. Added to my library.
Really Good album. I honestly don't think I have ever listened to a Janis Joplin song so this was a really good introduction. I especially liked "Ball & Chain", "Summertime", "I Need a Man to Love" and "Piece of My Heart". "Ball & Chain" though is the clear best song on the record and Janis is absolutely outstanding on it. Throughout the record though her vocals are extremely charismatic which really give the album some personality. Overall though I would say the songs that I didn't mention above are kind of forgettable. Still though it is a great record 9/10
Janis Joplin vocals was amazing but filled with hurt optimistic pain plus the band itself catcher that feeling expressed in Janis’s vocals
This is really a stunning work, one of just a few that I would describe as a cultural marker for the time in which it was made. Some of it doesn't work from a modern sensibility. But the rawness and soulfulness and the grit can't really be denied here. If Pearl was an attempt at a more polished album for Janis, Cheap Thrills is Janis, pure and uncut. She's ballsy and beautiful and messy and vulnerable and enthralling, a force of nature in the truest sense. The fact that Big Brother & the Holding Company can even keep up with her is a testament to some serious musical talent as well. Fave Songs: Summertime, Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain, Turtle Blues, I Need a Man to Love
Some good basic (southern US) rock but really it's all about the vocal emergence of Janis Joplin. Essential listening.
I surprise myself sometimes
Solid album. I didn't care for all of the songs, but the majority of them were good. Skip 'I need a Man to Love'. I know that's Janis Joplin, but goddamn is that an awful vocal performance. It was hard to listen to. Rest was good though.
Pretty good album.
The peak of blues rock, with some psychedelia here and there. Janis' voice was incredibly powerful. It's a great album.
Legendary. Total Woodstock and 60’s.
this sounds like it took them the exact amount of time it took to record the album to make it. not polished or clean at all but it works ofc.
I would have completely missed this album if it wasn't for the 1001 site. Good blues-rock featuring Janis Joplin, simply a great singer.
Loved this. Really fun, amazing vocals of course and just popped.
I like this sort of raw, bluesy, early rock. Good stuff
Classic album that blends garage rock, psych and blues with one of the most iconic singer ever! The guitar parts are insane and most of the songs very catchy.
Classic staple. This listen was much better than the awful thrift store vinyl I bought when I was like 16.
blues ao canto de desespero
Wow Summertime has a beautiful guitar intro. I'm liking this album so far. Piece of My Heart!? cool, didn't know it was these guys. Turtle Blues was cool too. I like that they have more than one vocalist. Female and male. Ball and Chain is cool too! Oh WTF I just realized the singer is JANIS JOPLIN! what a blues voice she has!! I feel stupid that I hadn't recognized her voice before.
You can't go wrong with Janis.
I love Janis & all of her work. There's lots of soul & 60s folk-psychedlic vibes in the album, and her voice is stellar. Enjoyable listen.
I used to wonder if anyone was playing bluesy guitars as Black Sabbath and i never expected it to be these guys and Janis Joplin
Great!
Good 60s acid blues; Joplin’s vocals make it something special.
Good combination
Janis Joplin is a bit of a loose canon which can become a bit much for me on here solo records. I feel like the band is keeping her at aim making this a much more pleasant experience
Somehow it's better than the best of Janis Joplin collection album I used to have as a teenager
Really good album. "Piece of My Heart" is peak of this album but other songs sounds really good too. Classic
One listen, and you'll understand the power of Janis Joplin.
In retrospect, BB and the Holding Company was Janis' best band. They were good but loose enough that the musicians were relatable. Janis sounds great and the song selections are all good.
Janis Joplin's vocals are a "you either love it or you hate it" kind of deal. I personally love them, but I won't blame anyone who thinks they're ear-grating. In my opinion, this is up there with Led Zeppelin's debut as one of the best blues rock albums of all time. Lovely listen.
C’est vraiment bon, 100% je réécoute
So good. Joplin vocals are on point. Classic jam band + blues-y feel. The good tracks are great. The filler tracks are not bad. I bet this sounded amazing live.
Liked Summertime and Turtle Blues. As I get older, I'm less into Joplin screams. Good album, not sure I would pick it to randomly play, but I wouldn't hit skip on most songs. The whole here is probably greater than the sum of its parts. Very cohesive. 3.5-4/5
Enjoyable listen. I haven't listened to a ton of Joplin. I'm mostly familiar with "Piece of My Heart." Would listen to again.
Hey there is a song on here I know! Love the bluesy songs... and who knew that Janis was in a band before she was solo? This a surprisingly great album.
I thought I was going to be a lot less in to this than I am. I just assumed it was pretty bluesy and not for me. Bluesy it is for sure, but it's also pretty fuzzed out early acid rock. It's messy and psychedelic and loud. Janis Joplin is a pretty great vocalist on these songs as well. There is a great vibe to the recordings. I get why this record has had such staying power for 50+ years.
I enjoyed this
Brilliant. Never heard of these but was instantly into it. Janis' voice is phenomenal. Think it could have done without the bonus tracks, ending where it was meant to. No absolute stand out tracks, one to listen to as an album for sure.
Cool beans 8 out of 10
One good song. Otherwise pretty jam-bandy
Southern Comfort and Cigarettes
Great album start to finish. Great guitar and Janis on vocals is hard to beat.
I'd give five stars to Janis Joplin, though. Her voice is unbelievable on this album. I wonder how many times Led Zeppelin listened to this record.
This is a fun album. I think is like to give this another listen at some point in the near future.
There are some cracking live renditions on here. Pure raucous West Coast blues rock. Good stuff. Especially Janis.
Good shit. Janis had the voice of a chain-smoking demonic troll, and used it to wail her heart out in the best possible way. She was a treasure and I love listening to her.
Killer album. Summertime gets me rock hard. 8.5/10
JJ has such a great voice. Great guitar work, psychedelic and hard rock. Modern and timeless sound
Amazing amazing amazing album
Enjoyed that. Bit like Jimi Hendrix with some folk and bits thrown in
I already knew I liked this; my father played this and other blues albums all the time when I was a kid and I imprinted early.
Janis Joplin with her most known song (for me) on this record. Rough, raw and rocking, great record.
Wow! I can confidently say that Cheap Thrills is one of the most thrilling and electrifying albums to come out of the 1960s. Big Brother & The Holding Company, fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Janis Joplin, have delivered a raw and authentic record that captures the essence of the counterculture movement. From the opening track "Combination of the Two," listeners are immediately drawn in by Joplin's emotive and soulful delivery, which is perfectly complemented by the band's gritty and bluesy instrumentation. The album's standout track, "Piece of My Heart," is a tour de force that showcases Joplin's incredible vocal range and emotional depth. Cheap Thrills also features several other gems, including "Summertime," "Ball and Chain," and "I Need a Man to Love," which are all prime examples of the band's ability to create powerful and memorable songs. Overall, Cheap Thrills is a must-listen for anyone interested in the music of the 1960s and the evolution of rock and roll. It is a timeless classic that continues to inspire new generations of musicians and music lovers alike.
Janis be killin it. I enjoyed this one a lot
This was the first time I'd listened to anything Janis Joplin sang so it was interesting hearing an artist I'd heard of but never made the effort to listen to. The first song was a little bit much for me but as I got further down I enjoyed it a lot. I think Ball and Chain was my favorite song.
Love janis joplin's voice. Really good album
I honestly never knew Janis Joplin was the member of a band. I always thought she was purely a solo act. So starting up this album and hearing her unmistakable vocals was a pleasant surprise. If you told me I would enjoy the singing of a woman who sounds like she gargles gravel, I would never believe you. But for Janis, it just works. Her voice is so full of raw emotion, you can't help but be sucked in by it. And the album art from R Crumb is the cherry on top.
When I listened to Janis Joplin's Pearl in this project, I was so amazed and wondered why I had it in my head that I wasn't really a fan of hers. Then I listened to this album and remembered. Now, I have grown a real appreciation for Joplin that I didn't have before, but this really reminded me that in the past I thought she sounded like a cat with its tail being stepped on. I suppose that's the quality some call "raw" and I do appreciate it more now. This album and this band has such an intense quality to it that is both jarring and exciting...if not totally unhinged. I'm not in love, but I'm in awe.
Cool, another band that I feel like I should have more knowledge of. The tracks were a bit more raw and loud than I tend to love, but it was some good stuff. Rockin'!
Havent heard a ton of Joplin, really enjoyed her on this. 3.5
Cool hearing early Janis stuff. The album sounds live and not live.
Nice loose grooves and Janis + a bonus point for the R. Crumb album cover.
It's a great blues album, from the Crumb artwork, to the amazing guitar tone, to Janis Joplin's incredible voice. It would be a five save for two gripes. One - none of the songs needed to be more than 4 minutes long. I'd be excited and thrilled, but by the end of a lot of tracks I was fatigued and bored. And two - whoever the male vocalist is... If you have Janis Joplin, maybe STFU and stick to backing Vocals innit.
Love Janis Joplin and this era of music. Very nice
Semi Faux live album but I think the energy it brings is great.
Janis Joplin has a voice that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you just know she’s pulling emotion from the depths of her SOUL. She elevates what would otherwise be unremarkable blues rock into jagged-edged paeans to love, freedom, and the eternal search for happiness.
Absolutely knackered after listening to this Janis Joplin has such wrath in her voice. It is absolutely superb.
Soulful, fun. Lots of long guitar riffs that transport me to a blues bar with a live band Janis Joplin’s voice kind of sounds like Marge Simpson and I’m not mad about it
It's remarkable what an impact JJ left in such a short time. 3 albums during her life, 21 after her death.
Very nice psychedelics rock
Love it, great album
JANIS JOPLIN EVERYONE super hippie vibes super 60s lsd sweaty yellow smoke filled rooms and people saying man after the end of every sentence
This album and Pearl were in regular rotation on my parent's turntable. Always loved Janis.
Yes.
Good.I like Janis Joplin’s voice and the sound of psychedelic rock even if it can go on a bit too long.
Loved this, obviously heard of Janis Joplin before but not Big Brother and the Holding Company. This album is right up my street great mix of blues rock and psychedelic. The album doesn’t have the greatest production but I think that along with Joplins vocals gives it a much more raw feel.
Rock sesentero psicodélico con abundancia de guitarras y batería. Voz inconfundible llena de energía femenina. Muy representativo de la época
Would really be a 3.5, Summertime and Piece of My Heart are obvious highlights
Clearly, Janis Joplin is the reason this album is a classic! Her unmistakable vocals are powerful and energetic, while the band sets the tone and vibe of the record. I often overlook this album, but it's hard not to like and the Robert Crumb cover artwork is a bonus.
Gets a4 just for Summertime! Fantastic song!!
Not consistently good, but when it's good, it's very good. Piece of My Heart+Side B bump it up to a 4 for me.
Kova veto, Janiksella on kyl persoonallinen saundi
Super fun to hear a younger and lesser-known Janis, I always enjoyed her vocals, they seemed to be made to sing the blues.
Good
Loose and raw blues rock. The star is obviously Janis Joplin. Such a powerhouse. I can’t believe her voice sounded like this at the age of 25 — so rough and raspy. Great stuff all around. What an album cover. A few things don’t age well on it 😬 but I love the energy of it and how busy it is.
Very enjoyable album. Janis Joplin has one of the coolest and most badass voices of all time and she could sing a dictionary to my ear's content. "Piece of My Heart" is one of the best classic rock / rock songs of all time.
Janis Joplin's voice should not sound as good as it does. She sometimes sounds like she's out of breath and struggling to hit her notes, as if she's way past her prime & her voice has been strained by decades of singing and smoking. But all that just adds to the character. Couple that with the soulful blues sound & the slick guitar work, and you have a beautifully sultry album that exudes the word "cool." The only improvement to be made here is to have produced it better - the live album illusion was a nice attempt, but these songs need the clear and crisp quality that proper production could've offered. The record still stands strong though. Standouts are Summertime, Piece of My Heart, I Need a Man to Love, and Ball & Chain.
As raucous blues sung by a proper legend goes this is pretty much up there.
baita som, janis joplin e pa
Take another piece of my hearth is geweldig. Janis joplin heeft een iconische schreeuw.
Janis Joplin op haar Janis Joplinst
Enjoyable album. Unreal vocals and graet backing band.
Great album ! Vocals 👌🏼 Brilliantly produced
Joplin's voice *chef's kiss*
Lot of good songs, so much power in Joplin’s singing. Moving
genuinely didnt know that janis was in a band before listening to this album, but it’s excellent. her vocals are, of course, amazing. the instrumentation falls a bit flat for me at parts, but it’s an album i’m going to come back to
Prefs: Combination of the Two, Summertime, Piece of My Heart, Oh, Sweet Mary, Ball and Chain Moins pref: Turtle Blues
Janis didn't need these fuckers. She shines brighter on her solo work, which is saying something considering how much she stands out here (especially on the iconic "Piece Of My Heart").
Janis Joplin was an amazing talent. Loved this album.
Belting. Janis Joplin and that guitar tag team.
amazingly soulful
Didn't expect to enjoy that
That janney jormplin broad is pretty good 4
Nice guitar work and vocals.
Great if you like SMELLING your rock & roll, and you prefer its scent to be patchouli and the weed of the era. There's no denying Janis was one of the greatest belters, and she certainly put her whole self into it. Good performances all around, even inventive for its time. A cover that doesn't even remotely work today, but which used to take heads a whole album just to read all the panels.
Pretty iconic stuff. Sick guitar and obviously nasty vocals
Points off for the addition of crowd noise on some of the tracks, but offset by extra points for the awesome Crumb cover. A great example of am uneven masterpiece. The highs, Janis' exceptional instrument, Piece of My Heart and Summertime are enough in my book to justify inclusion on one of these best of lists.
Cheap Thrills shows us why, even with a tragically short career, Janis Joplin will always be in the conversation for best singer in rock history. She exudes raw power with her screams but also has some tender moments here too. The band is pretty great too, while this is not the most complex stuff, the band is dynamic and supports Joplin well throughout the album. "Piece of My Heart" is a rock classic that is still great every time I hear it and "Summertime" was a cool reinterpretation of a standard. The one thing I could have lived without was the fake crowd noise inserted here.
Amazing album
Energetic, noisey, chaotic rock n roll. May be a bit abrasive for some. Musically relatively simple although played with gusto. Janis is just one of the most charismatic singers to grace the planet. She was a huge fan of Otis Redding and you can tell - she always had a more soulful bent imo and is a little bit wasted in this sort of band where she basically shouts through the set. Very lo-fi recording, little bits of filler here and there. A bit too frenetic to really settle into. Joplin's solo work albums are better examples of what she can do but the album has a mood, has Janis and does a good job of passing 50-odd minutes. Groovey, sexy and has Cr mb illustrations on the cover. Great bit of 60s psych hippy funk rock with a competent band and a generational singer
Awesome guitar!! Janis is a good vocalist. Insane for 68. Blackface :(
great album
Stellar record, a real surprise. Great tunes.
Classic. sometimes too indulgent
Yer old rock, timeless
Fun album. You can imagine the performances unfolding in front of your eyes. Definitely will listen again. Get LP.
This is a fine piece of music. Joplin's voice is phenomenal. Didn't hear this album before. It is great, but has some weak points at least for my taste. Musically it has much to offer though, so I'll give it 4 stars.
Not my usual jam but good
Was surprised at how many songs from this album were familiar (via covers or remakes)
Come for Piece of My Heart, stay for the acid rock Gershwin number. Best track: Piece of My Heart
A pleasant album reminds me of being in a BBQ joint in the South. I am a big fan of the guitar work from the late 60s and 70s and this filled that for me.
Wasn’t too into this one early on
I was sceptical at first.. but boy oh boy was this album a pleasant surprise! The overall mood mixed with the uniqueness of Janis Joplin's vocals was just perfect.
Some great hits but my metal has not aged well
Great
Janis has such a stylized voice that sometimes I just don't want to listen anymore. She was clearly different and powerful, but ultimately, I wonder what level of success she would have achieved has she not died so yound.
Janis Joplin makes this album, the rest it’s purely decorative
God damn Joplin can sing
Never been a huge fan of Janis joplin, however this version of Ball & Chain still gives me chills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE Also if you don't know who Robert Crumb is, I recommend a wonder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Crumb (Warning - his work is NSFW) Overall: I would loved to have lived through this time and lost the plot at this smoky concert with friends. I give it a solid night on shots of tequila.
Pretty boppin' & upbeat. Listened as background music while working.
Okay tunes but Janis pushes this one up to a 4 for me
Brilliant stuff in there
LP
I liked all the blues in this one.
Janis Joplin Carries 7.1/10
white woman but p good
Super relaxing after a stressful day
I’ve herd of Janis joplin can’t say i’am familiar with her work… The album starts with the song combination of the two I love how this song sets itself up as the opener to the album, it’s an odd song but I don’t hate it and yeah Janis is screamy as fuck but not as bad as I thought she would be. It’s an odd song but I don’t hate it. When Janis isn’t screaming she sounds like a singer who has passed her prime ( sadly ironic huh) this is first shown in the second song I need a man to love; the song sounds nice in the background but it lacks the gravitas of most songs of the 60’s. Summertime is the first song with any real substance instrumentally the verses remind me of the sonic “feeling good” ( I’am not sure who that song is by definitely not Buble or muse) with different guitars. It’s great though honestly the vocals are a bit grating but it’s good to have unique vocals in a decade that lacks distinctive vocalist ( even if they’re not good). The album goes more traditional rock with piece of my heart, I don’t know this song that well but I do recognise the “ come on’s”. It’s really good that section actually is a bit before it’s time a very strong vocal performance loved it! Turtle blues just kinda feels awkward for her vocal style I don’t know Janis Joplin doesn’t suit piano simple as that. The album moves on though to oh sweet Mary actually a party male done song I actually love this, it seems like the start of the rambunctious verse overly slow chorus technique of other bands. Also love the guitar break in the middle. The main album ends with ball and chain (and that’s where I’ll stop) a nine minute long blues style track with the dirtiest of guitars. I love her vocals on this track specifically the way she sings along with the way she pronounces her words works perfectly here. It was good I was kinda left wanting more ( but I guess that’s what the bonus songs are for) anyway I liked it.
4.25
Although I've never heard of Big Brother & The Holding Company, Janice Joplin was easily recognizable. I'm not generally a Joplin fan, and perhaps it is because my exposure to her body of work has been reduced to a few performances of a few songs that I've heard often enough. I enjoyed Cheap Thrills, much more than I thought I would have considering that I generally try to avoid Joplin. For a live performance, the audio and sound of the band was well recorded. I'm not sure if I would remember to come back, but I could come back and listen to the album again.
I love Janis. Ball and Chain has been one of my favourite songs of hers for a while, but I’ve never listened to this whole album.
A lot of raw energy here. And Janis. Joplin's. Voice.
Loads of jams in this. Very stonery. This opens up great. Blues influenced. Janis stretched vocals hit hard but are quite stretched. This can't be good for her throat. Riffs are top. Was a fun time capsule.
I will always love Janis.
listen carefully...
7/10. Not bad, but nothing crazy
I like it, I just don’t love it. 7/10
Genre: Blues Rock 4/5 This was a fucking blast. Big Brother and the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills, led by the incomparable Janis Joplin on vocals, is one of the best rock albums from the late 60s, and I mean that. Once the album kicked off with Combination of the Two, a 6-minute instrumental blues jam that gets almost to Led Zeppelin territory in terms of heaviness, I knew I was in for a great time. Loud, bombastic guitar riffs and drumming, with Joplin's powerful brand of vocals (I can't believe she was only 25 when they recorded this), as well as some added production elements that makes this thing feel and flow like a live album, Cheap Thrills is one of my favorite albums I've listened to since starting this exercise. While Piece of My Heart is the big hit from this album, and a great tune overall, it's their cover of Summertime that puts this album to the next level. All Janis Joplin does here is sing her fucking ass off, rendering one of music's most popular standards into one of the single best blues ballads I've ever heard, and one of my all time favorite versions of the song by far. And ending it all with the 9-minute blues epic, Ball and Chain, another classic Joplin put her own unique twist on, was the icing on the cake. An outstanding piece of work, and one that I assumed I'd enjoy just fine, but came out of with newfound respect for Janis Joplin and co., and also came out of it with a new album to play on a random day this summer. Really good shit.
I really wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this, but I was surprised when I enjoyed the experience. The guitar just sounds so good. I generally wouldn't like the vocal, but it pairs so well with the rest of the sound. Everything feels like it goes together, like a puzzle set. Favorite track: Summertime
This is a pretty good '60s album. I'm not sure if it's entirely my thing though because I probably won't listen to anything on it again other than the one that comes on the radio every once in a while. The singing is the highlight, with Janis Joplin giving an incredible performance on vocals. Highlights: 3, 4, and 7.
I really liked the few Janis Joplin songs that I new, but never went out of my way to listen to her band. I really liked this album as a unit. It was really enjoyable to listen to and scratches that classic psychedelic rock itch very well. No one who has ever lived has had a voice quite like Janis Joplin's.
This is acid rock alright. The bluesier, harder cousin of psychedelia best exemplified by Clapton's Cream. It's incredibly raw, inspired by garage and jam bands of the time. Most psychedelic tracks are "Summertime", "Oh Sweet Mary", and "Ball and Chain." Janis is a fantastic frontman, her raunchy vocals compliment the chaotic screeches. There's a pop hit "Piece of my Heart" to pull in skeptical listeners. Hopefully Janis's reputation is enough reason for most people to give this acid rock landmark a fair shot.
More Janis. - second day in a row l. Luckily I live it - lots of fun to listen to.
Was good, need a bit of drugs though.
Beautiful blues-rock and Janis Joplin's vocals? Amazing. Most songs probably worked better when performed live, though, because they don't have a lot of structure.
A lot of blues, a little prog and the best female rock vocalist ever. Gershwin's Summertime and 'Piece of My Heart' get the proper love and respect Janis' legacy deserves, but the cover of Big Momma Thornton's "Ball and Chain" rounds this out as a great slice of Americana. 4.5/5.