Pearl

She is explosive, and more than her keeping up with the energy of the band, it's more like she demands this intensity from them. The production is great, and she's one of a kind. And there's not a second on tape where she's not delivering 100%. My only issue is that I tire of the wailing energy before the album's over. I guess it's a preference thing, cause she's on her own level.

Really enjoyed this. Especially the songs I was less familiar with.

a nice blues album

insane voice

Beautiful silky smooth but gravelly voice. Souuuuuuly blues. Jop jop jop

So good. Taken too soon.

Really good

Really solid album. I can definitely see why singers have been described Janis Joplin-esque.

Shit slapped at the beach

Solid album by an exceptional singer who died way too soon.

Really enjoyed this. Some great songs. As a child I heard Mercedes Benz and thought that one day I’d own one. Well , one day I did. The song is still way cooler than the car though.

Never listened to any Janis Joplin, or so I thought, but recognised a couple of these and had never realised it was her. Was interested to listen to this though as was aware she was highly regarded by a lot of people. And it didn’t disappoint. Enjoyed this one a lot.

All about the voice and the vibes. Would be hard to not enjoy this.

Me and Bobby McGee is a fucking stellar song, wow

Puissant. Je n’avais jamais vraiment écouté du Janis Joplin. Mais c’est très bon. Un voix étonnante. Et un très bon band qui est avec elle.

wonderful

I wish I could've seen this woman live, the absolute voice on her is so goddamn good. She's funny, the songs are very groovy, the production is tight, it's just a great record full of emotion and personality. God bless her, wish we could've gotten more.

Started a little slower but I liked it more as it went on. That woman can SING.

janis joplin is one of the 65% of my listening taste that i genetically inherited from my grandpa. despite this, i had really only properly heard me and bobby mcgee. this was very fun, her voice alone can take you all the way but the music is another perfect layer. it feels wrong to give an iconic album like this anything less than a four. liked: a woman left lonely, half moon, buried alive in the blues, me and bobby mcgee,

The band sounds great, her vocals are insane. Very close to being a 5 for me. Would have loved to hear what came next from her. 4.5/5.

For me, Janis Joplin's name has only ever come up when people talk about the '27 Club'. So, it was refreshing to actually listen to some. This girl can/could sing. And, she comes straight out of the gate belting it on '...Move Over'. She then proceeds to continue throughout. Her voice is raspy and on the edge of peaking at times, but it's pleasant. I listened to this album after 'Elvis is Back' and while both albums were quite similar (in a way), it was nicely welcome. How were they similar? They're both albums that focus highly on the vocal performance. Elvis is Elvis! But, Janis has a great variation in the performance of her backing band. There is a nice mix of different styles of songs. I really enjoyed the accapella bluesy Mercedes Benz. The only downside was the organ sound. It's all a bit 1970s for me. I can't describe it. But I was turned off by each song, the more the organ arrived. And, yes, it got heavier as the album went on. Still, a great performance. 4 Stars.

Solid album. Good catch rockk

Very good. An album bursting with talent. Enjoyed

Probably a 5 star when I was 18, now a 4 star.

Amazing voice and the hits really hit, but for an album with only 10 tracks (one of which is an instrumental) there are a few too many forgettable tunes to justify 5 stars

There were two songs I wasn’t that fussed on but I loved the rest. Really good album overall, she has a brilliant voice. Top Track - Half Moon

I can’t believe I haven’t listen to her before 🌞

Une voix à la fois puissante et fragile, vulnérable, tout à fait singulière

Pipes

What a voice. Really rocking album. Joplin’s vocals really soar above all the songs. Enjoyed listening to this on very much.

Pretty great stuff. Mercedes-Benz aside.

👍

Delightful, though it gets a bit samey after a while. The highs are HIGH and Bobby McGee rips. Great musicianship all around. Loved the organ on A Woman Left Lonely.

Good, belts it ot

Always a classic

pretty good

Great vocals, legendary, band is great too. Love Janis.

Awesome vocals

It's good, no doubt about it. Even though her career wasn't very long, she recorded enough music to make a 5/5 best of compilation. However, these individual studio albums don't go over 4/5, because even though there aren't any bad songs, some feel like filler.

So far this album is a perfect blend of soul, blues, pop and rock, this album blends it so perfectly together. It’s gets your feet tapping whilst also telling a story a very good story with the lyrics, Best listen “Cry Baby”

So that's what Janis Joplin sounds like. She's not too bad, and very croony.

Love the blues style. AMAZING voice, loved it

An empowering example of music and culture. What a fantastic listen.

Rocks.

I like it. A bit folky, a bit funky, and a good bit of rock make for an excellent listen.

Her voice is sooooo unique and the songs are classics. I am a huge fan of 'Cry Baby'

Mercedes Benz was a sleeper song fs

Not a perfect album (songs like Cry Baby are a bit too overwrought and 60s pop sounding for me) but Janis was an incredible singer and performer and songs like Me and Bobby McGee and Move Over are classics. I've spent years - many years now - wishing I could sing like Janis. Both the husky quality she had at such a young age and the complete fearlessness with which she was able to perform. She was an all time great front woman, one of my favourites, and extremely influential. Four for the album, although Janis herself is always 5/5.

Good

She was a powerhouse singer. This is an iconic album. Every song is perfect. But, until now, I never paid enough attention to Richard Bell’s piano playing. It just fits perfectly and adds as much to the funky feel of the album as Joplin’s singing. The whole band is a monster.

I think everyone knows what they're in for when they get a Janis Joplin album; just solid, gritty, blues rock with an iconic voice! While I can understand that her voice might not be for everyone, I personally love it. That said, this still isn't really an album that I can see myself throwing on all the time, but I did thoroughly enjoy listening to it.

This is a great album - Although I could have lived without the track Buried Alice in the Blues

Would buy

This is a great album. I really liked it!

Love me some Jackie Jormp-Jomp. In all seriousness I actually quite enjoyed this album, it was some nice country-pop fun. Give that woman another cigarette y'know? Move Over, Cry Baby, and My Baby were probably my favourites. 4/5 stars.

It's very of it's time and now sounds dated but I'm sure this was pretty hot stuff when it came out. It does get a little boring though.

Man, Janis Joplin was great. Personally, I’m more of a Big Brother and The Holding Company guy, but she’s gonna fit in nicely anywhere. 4.5⭐️

I know of Janis Joplin, but I've never gone out of my way to listen to her before. I enjoyed this album quite a bit. With the exception of Mercedes Benz, which reminded me of the cancer of American Christian materialism. Besides that though, I liked her raspy voice and will definitely include some of her tracks on my playlists.

Listened to just the original album songs, which were all great. I like Janis' raw voice and the variety of styles on the album. Polished but not. I'm not like a hippie and find some of these sentiments kinda dumb, but whatever. She can write too. "Windshield wipers slappin’ time" is a great example.

Really good album, once or twice I was just unable to get into the vocals but overall amazing

Solid, easy listening. 4?

I think at this point in time, you need to seek out Janis Joplin--she's not really in the zeitgeist any more, except when someone brings up the 27 club. No one, man or woman, had a more American voice than Janis. This is probably the best showcase of that voice, and her band is on point.

One of the most iconic if not THE most iconic voice in late 60s early 70s rock. Pearl is a good album, with the standout singles to my mind being "Me and Bobby McGee" and the a cappella "Mercedes Benz" Her backing band, the Full Tilt Boogie, keeps her on track to produce what I think is her greatest album.

Dad- 8 Mom- 9.5 Mike- 8 Lori- 8 Michael- 9 Miles- 6 Cole- 5 Avg- 7.64

Pearled

Forgot how good the band is on this record

Could be a 4.5, I reserve the right to take it to the island. 🏝️

i was introduced to joplin through the grateful dead’s cover of bobby mcgee. and i really liked that and her original version of it! my band even plays it but i hadn’t delved deeper into her discography at all so this was nice. super solid overall - this type of music just isn’t made anymore. having a solid acapella track on your album is SUCH a cool move

Funky, souly, enjoyable.

freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RIP to a legend. Went out at the top of her game. Lived too hard.

drei bis vier trust me

Marge Simpsons' 2e album! En wat een banger is het eigenlijk. Ik ben er na Cheap Thrills later zo hard op terug gekomen dat ik het 'maar' 3 sterren gaf, want ik heb Piece of my Heart daarna grijsgedraaid(En mee geschreeuwd). Mijn overtuiging? Janis is een acquired taste. Soms klinkt het geweldig, soms klinkt het verschrikkelijk. Je moet er van houden. Maar kleine aanrader; lees wat over haar leven, deze vrouw klinkt als een doorrookte 50er, maar is lid van de 27 club. Het is ontzettend tragisch, maar voegt zoveel toe aan haar muziek. Dit album dan? Ja haar raspende zingen is natuurlijk overal hier. Het pakt je aandacht, of drijft je juist weg. Bij haar beste nummers, naar mijn mening, begint ze rustiger en gaat het nummer steeds wat harder. Meer rock dan blues eigenlijk. Maar op alle nummers vind ik haar echt sterk. Niet alles pakt me echter, ik hoor soms nog steeds een beetje Marge Simpson, maar ik heb na het album altijd een beetje spijt gehad dat ik geen 4 sterren had gegeven aan Cheap Thrills. Dat maak ik dan maar bij deze goed! FAVO: Cry Baby, Half Moon, Me and Bobby Mcgee, Get It While You Can

Great album. My first ever listen! Still prefer big brother and the holding company but after a few more listens i might change minds.

An incredible voice, Joplin can do it all.

This is great rock and roll. The musicians are fantastic and of course Joplin is on fire. This album has a little emotional baggage in the way In Utero does. I’m not sure if that adds or subtracts anything for me.

Exactly why i started doing this, i would have never listened to this album it it wasn't for this project. Loved it.

Classic Janis

Janis Joplin had amazing voice. I'd love to listen more to her, but she gets tiring after some time

Yeah, we lost Janis just as she found her fully adult voice with this album. Some unforgettable renditions of some great songs.

Solid album

An album full of unpolished, natural vocals which were very strong and versatile and excelled in every song in slightly different styles. Definitely a strong introduction to JJ and will likely gladly listen to any songs in the future. 4/5.

Very good album. Janis was able to display her powerful voice throughout delivering a classic blend of bluesy rock. Fav tracks: Me and Bobby mcGee & Mercedes Benz

Rough, raw, genuine music. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

I liked this. Not an album I'd put in my regular rotation, but one I enjoyed nonetheless. Bluesy, confident and cool. Would've loved a bit more variation, like when they brought in the acoustic more for Me and Bobby McGee, but that's a personal preference.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Had no idea that her career was only 4 years long, and only two solo albums. What a voice and legacy to leave. Loved the Apple Music notes that she died before putting vocals on “Buried Alive” so it was included as a “posthumous…moment of silence.” Damn.

If everything on this list of 1001 carried as much authenticity and conviction as this, I would have no votes below a 3.

Man didn’t realise she died before this release, what a great vocal performance all through the album though, it’s a little bit rough sound wise sometimes but nothing too serious, this album also has some great hits with some good deep cuts around it aswell. I’m usually not the biggest fan of American blues music but Janis is an exception I guess cause that was pretty great, the instrumentation was also neat especially the purely instrumental song. Overall, 7/10.

Classic.

I really enjoyed this, what a great voice.

I’d give it a 4.5 if I could. Had never listened to Janis Joplin before, what an amazing voice and talent. Can’t wait to listen to more!

Back to back albums from 1971 after Surf’s Up. She’s electric, the band is on fire. What a classic.

Janis was such a powerful singer and immensely talented. The world lost a great musician when she died. This album is bitter sweet and tremendously great.

That grimy, soulful voice will live on forever.

Pearl is Janis Joplin’s final and most cohesive album, released posthumously shortly after her death. Her vocal range is impressive, especially in the mid-register where emotion and control truly shine. The album is deep, intimate, and well-produced, with standout tracks like Me and Bobby McGee and Cry Baby. Still, despite its undeniable quality, it doesn’t quite captivate me enough to become a record I’ll return to often. 4/5

I don't think I realized just how many Janis Joplin songs I actually know! Enjoyed this album so much, I listened to it 3 times in a row.

enjoyed!!!

Her voice is absolutely an acquired taste, but she certainly got the groove across along with the band.

Great vocals and instrumentals

A very good album. the passion really comes through. She really belts it out.

Why did I think I didn't like Janis Joplin?

Great front to back.

I have so much respect for Janis' ability to express feeling through her vocals. Regardless of my dislike for her voice tone (it gives me the same feeling as italicised singing lol), she was a very passionate singer and it showed. She is raw, true to herself, and did not hide her intentions. She may not be my cup of tea, but as a fellow vocalist who respects folks who are passionate about the skill, and who have made lasting impact to all those who take it up, I think Janis has carved a spot for herself eternally. This album is a solid representation of her art, skill, and love for what she did in her short time with us.

Great music, not quite my cup of tea. Instrumentation was excellent. Love the Mercedes Benz song.

Nice voice and energetic album. Easy to understand for lyrics. Could be a 5 stars. Would definitely listen to it again

This album is great as much for the contribution of the excellent Full Tilt Boogie Band as that of JJ herself. It’s a real ensemble piece. I love it from start to finish.

Pretty great!

Never gave Joplin a fair shake before but this record was really fun. She has incredible vocal range

As a kid, I did not love it when openmindz would throw on some Janis but today I can say I'm in. Used to be her voice that got me and the bluesy tone but now listening with a more mature ear, she got it...that raw emotion and charisma that only true talents have. She said it well with "Get It While You Can" and "freedom just another word for nothing left to lose." I'm sure she lived and died by those words. Shame to lose another great soulful singer so young. I recommend checking the alt. versions and outtakes on the Legacy edition of the album...some pure gold. "Move Over" for Pearl cause she's comin in at 3.65 stars.

This is pretty great, but some of the songs are skippable.

I knew I liked Janis Joplin but this album showed me I love her.

This is a very nice album, recorded right up until her death and released afterwards. It has some great songs but there is not a dud on here. The sound is very polished, which gives her voice extra life. I would listen again for sure.

Wow! What a voice! Incredible talent, hard to believe she was white at times! What a pity she was only 27 when she died, fantastic album!

one of the most unique and talented voices of the 70s, i’ve loved janis joplin for ages now and she’s so awesome to listen to, can’t believe she’s dead man, so much soul and groove omg

3.5. round up

Joplin never had the chance to see the success that would be her second, and final, album. Pearl was released posthumously in 1971, three months after Joplin’s death in October 1970. What would come of it would be a good album, one with incredible vocals, soul-catching moments and everything inbetween. As is so often the case with this journey I’m on, this isn’t an album, or genre of music, that I would have found organically. Blues and Soul have never been in my repertoire. In saying that, I’m glad it is now. Cry Baby, Me and Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz all standout tracks. Three stars.

Nice and soulful, but the production is definitely a bit dated.

ja, wieso musste die uns so früh verlassen

Janis really puts some power behind her voice. A really solid album from a hippie icon.

wonderfull voice, not my vibe

Unique in all the best ways, lots of piano, organs and other keys which is appreciated, and surprising indebted to gospel. Not to mention the obvious,Joplin’s legendary voice.

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been 133 albums since my last confession.” “What would you like to confess today?” “I’m embarrassed to admit it. I fear I am beyond forgiveness.” “Do not be afraid, my child. God is always ready to forgive.” “Okay… I confess… that I don’t like Janis Joplin as much as I’m supposed to.” “…It is not a sin to dislike Janis Joplin.” “Oh no, I don’t dislike her. It’s just… she’s one of those artists you’re supposed to love. Like, rock legend, voice of a generation, tragic icon. But I only kinda dig it. Like…she’s good, but sometimes her voice is a little grating, ya know? “…This is not quite what the sacrament of confession is for.” “I mean, Piece of My Heart? Slaps. Me and Bobby McGee? Classic. But like…am I really going to sit down and choose to throw on her album over any of the other millions of albums to choose from? “…did you actually have any *sins* to confess today?” “Also, the album cover was kinda freaking me out. She was sitting there on the couch just kind of judging me…like ‘Really? You like Amy Winehouse more than me?’” “…my child, do you understand what…oh never mind… do you have anything else to confess today?” “Yeah, I don’t like Rush either.” “Very well…Three Hail Marys. And listen to Cheap Thrills with better headphones. Now go in peace.” 4/5 Highlights: Cry Baby Half Moon Me and Bobby McGee Mercedes Benz

Love me some Janis. Such a unique voice.

It’s good. It’s not great. But….That voice is amazing. By far the best song here is Me & Bobby McGee. Janis could have gone this route country wise. It’s a shame. The album starts of strong, but these are not that different from her earlier stuff. That said, it’s still 4 stars for her voice and the three standout songs.

One of the greatest female voices ever. Extremely recognizable and powerful. This album has a lot of hits and just sounds great. I can't get bored of hearing her.

An old voice trapped in such a young persons body. And what a voice at that!

Very 70s rock, elton john, fun times, music vibes! I liked this one. I like the elton john stuff and i thought this was very closely related. I have heard the name Janis Joplin so many times but had never listened to her music before this. It was good to finally hear

I love Janis's raspy wail but what I like about this album is that she seems ready to use it more judiciously - Cry Baby turns it all the way up to 11 from the off, but other tracks have a bit more light and shade. It would have been so interesting to see where she went next, but sadly we'll never know.

Pretty decent bluesy sixties rock that would be wholly unremarkable but for that Janis has and amazingly supple and powerful voice. Her early death is right up there with Joni Hendrix or Buddy Holly in how much it robbed the world- how much more she’d have done were she not taken in the first phase of her career.

Consistently good blues rock album. Janis makes much better use of her unique voice on this compared to the Big Brother album I heard previously. Half Moon was my favourite track on first listen.

The hits that I remember from this album are pretty good. I heard a song I had never heard before called half Moon that I really really liked.

Janis could really wail.

It's no secret that Joplin had some pipes. Loved the KK (may he rest in peace) cover as well.

Very enjoyable and I'm not a singer-songwriter fan normally

Love her powerful bluesy vocals :)

more enjoyable than i expected

You can’t argue with a bit of Janis. Some good songs on it (hello soundtrack of look who’s talking), and you can’t deny she’s bloody talented.

Ooh okay I'm interested. Oh bangers. Shame Cry Baby has been fucked by being in that advert. Happen I could listen to it enough to undo that maybe bc it goes hardddd. Damn this is good huh. Should I be on heroin. Couple of songs that I didn't love but I get it.

3.6 Great vocals, great band, maybe both are a bit over the top at times. Note for me to check out Festival Express

Before: I don’t know as much Janis Joplin as I should! Me and Bobby MeGee is the only one on this record that I’m familiar with. Excited to get going; Janis is iconic and very influential. Standout tracks: Cry Baby Me and Bobby McGee Weakest tracks: Half Moon Standout lyrics: “And when you try to walk around the world, babe, you said you’d try to find the end of the road. You might find out later that the road’ll end in Detroit. Honey, the road will even end in Kathmandu.” - Cry Baby During/after: God, the sentiment of Move Over is such a universal female experience, lol. As much as I love songs about yearning, it’s nice to hear one about a woman who is actually laying down the law. These men ain’t shit really and truly, girl. She has a very unique and gravelly voice, especially for a woman. The mixing on this track sucks and there wasn’t a whole lot that really stuck out aside from the theme, so overall it’s fine. The belting at the beginning of Cry Baby was powerful and was a solid transition from the previous track. I’m appreciating the continuing “girl power” theme. Joplin’s vocal versatility is highlighted there as well through the seamless and impressive switches from loud, chaotic belting to quieter vibrato-filled singing. During the bridge there is a candid spoken-word quality to the vocals as well. The dynamic backing instrumentation with complex piano, guitar, and organ riffs added to the epic wall of sound that is this track. I liked this one a LOT. Also, DETROIT MENTIONED <3. A Woman Left Lonely was a nice reprieve from the in-your-face-ness of Cry Baby while maintaining the consistent theme and highlighting Joplin’s soulful and powerful vocals. There are more twinkly organs and some jazzy percussion that adds a lot to this song as well. The mixing sounds a lot better than it did on the first track as well. OKAY Half Moon is FUNKY. And maybe my mind is in the gutter here but lyrically….. Nvm. This track is fun with very exaggerated instrumentals. It’s not one that I think I’ll return to a ton because it was just *a lot* for my sensitive lil ears, but it stood out because it was so different. The next track, Buried Alive In the Blues, is a driving instrumental track full of loud, interesting organ and powerful rock guitar. The mixing wasn’t great; the percussion seemed very overpowering. My Baby wasn’t my favorite song on this album at all, but I love the guitar solo halfway through. I’m almost picking up on some gospel or Motown in this song too - I’m not sure if it’s the way that the backing vocals sound or if it’s something else, but there was absolutely some gospel influence that made this track stand out a bit in a way that some of the others didn’t. It’s interesting that Me and Bobby McGee is the most streamed song on this album because it’s so different from the rest. Maybe because (so far) it’s the tamest and easiest to listen to, so it appeals to a wider audience? The beginning was gentle without as much belting. This song had themes of longing and nostalgia without being whiny at all too, which is impressive when it’s done well. Unfortunately, this song would be a favorite of mine IF it didn’t have that “la-da-da” part throughout the middle and end, and instead stuck to more storytelling. The first half was great, the second half was just kind of grating and disappointing. Mercedes Benz is super short and starts out with Joplin announcing in spoken word that she’s going to be singing a song of “great social and political import” - I’m always a fan of a candid intro or outro like this one. But Janis girl… I don’t think this song is as deep or as much of a statement as you think it is. We all want a Mercedes, but there’s not a whole lot of analysis or relevant cultural components. On an album filled with loud and pervasive instrumentals, I liked the inclusion of an a capella track. It really highlighted the uniqueness of Joplin’s voice. This one felt a little more country and twangy - I liked it! Trust Me was similar to most of the other songs on this album with strong vocals and instrumentals. This was one that didn’t stick out a ton but still pretty good. The next track, Get It While You Can blends with the last song and much of the rest of this record, but again, it’s still good. I appreciated the guitar solo here - I’m finding that the guitar solos throughout this record have catchy and anthemic sounding melodies which I like. It represented the record pretty well and was a fitting ending to the record, though I wasn’t terribly impressed or wowed by it. I liked this album a lot overall! It was short but sweet, and I am a fan of the messaging and theme throughout as it felt very “girl power.” Joplin has a very unique and adaptable voice and her vocals were the star of the show here in my opinion. However, I would almost argue that the second star was actually the organ. I feel like I don’t often hear organ like this on loud rock songs and it’s done VERY well here. This is quintessential “women in rock” and lots of times I picked up on lots of similarities in sound to Led Zeppelin which is fine because I really like Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin are contemporaries and I wonder how much they inspired each other. My main complaints are that a lot of the songs sounded very similar - good, but similar. The lyricism left quite a bit to be desired as well. Just… not very good lol. Overall though, I was a fan! 4/5.

high energy and emotional blues-influenced soul that was Joplin's second solo album and final studio album really showcases her emotional vocal range over tracks that encapsulate her generational voice. Working with Paul Rothchild (The Doors, etc.) helped create a polished album that was incredibly impactful in highlighting her soaring tones.

Varied and interesting

Good bluesy rock

Solid

I mean it's fucking Janis Joplin. How can you not like?

I loved this album. I wasn't super familiar with many of Joplins songs, and holy moly this album was beautiful and soulful and an excellent vibe. Closer to a 4.5 for me

solid listen, what a voice, great tunes

I've been a huge fan of 60s and 70s music most of my life but have a few albums I've embarrassingly missed out on. This was one of them. Really enjoyed it.

I liked the blues stuff

Lovely voice, listened to the album a couple of times. Move Over, Cry Baby, and My Baby were my favourites. Slightly overplayed - I can hear karaoke versions of Cry Baby resonating in my head from a few nights out round local pubs in Liverpool. Still, a wonderful listen, intriguing and complex album. Died a bit too young.

An amazing album that proves to me that some classic rock albums ARE deserving of their praise. Some songs are clearly a 10/10, but in its entirity I think a strooong 4 is right for my taste

Imagine seeing this woman live. Even recordings are incredible.

Incredible voice really great album. Not sure I would listen to it casually though

Wow. Great album! I'd heard a few songs from this one but wow. Great to hear it all together.

Although this is my first listen to this album (actually that’s the case for 95% of these albums), I am familiar with many of the tracks. Very good album overall, nothing fancy - just classic rock.

Songs: Me and Bobby McGee, Cry Baby

Really enjoyed this album, it has some great tracks on it

Great album!

What a voice! What a band! I hadn't listened to Janis Joplin records before this one, but this record is a lot of fun and has some real soul and groove to it.

I've heard Janis's music sparingly, but have never sat and listened to an album of hers. Obviously, she has some pipes, but the songwriting is great too. Solid listen, would probably pick up a copy if I came across one.

Move Over - 4/5 Cry Baby - 5/5 A Woman Left Lonely - 4/5 Half Moon - 4/5 Buried Alive In the Blues - 3/5 My Baby - 3/5 Me and Bobby McGee - 5/5 Mercedes Benz - 3/5 Trust Me- 4/5 Get It While You Can - 5/5 Average score: 4.1/5 don't think i can say anything about Janis Joplin that hasn't been said by others. this woman had some pipes

I enjoyed this but in a way I can understand how other music came from this. First half is way better than the second half

Great voice and obviously a fuckin canadian legend

Great album

I liked this quite a lot, especially musically. And while it is undeniable that she has an awesome voice, it unfortunately did not always click with me and the raspiness was a bit overwhelming at times. Still, there were more than enough great moments to make this a 4/5. Favourite songs: Me and Bobby McGee, Get It While You Can

I feel like I actually haven't had so much fun listening to a psychadelic rock album. It's just so playful and I love that about it, especially compared to how there's so much psych rock out there that just takes itself so seriously, this is nice amd refreshing.

Ye pretty good. Pretty clear where Robert Plant got a lot of his singing style. Organ sounded something out of a pokemon game

Pretty good vibes, reckon Robert plant would be a fan

Great stuff here! Even the kind of shouty bits are very listenable. Top-notch stuff from Janis.

Didn't expect this, but I genuinely loved this.

любимка оч класно но не все ставлю 4

A pearl indeed. The vocal quality on this is absolutely beyond almost anything else. I actually think it would be nice if the vocals took slightly more centre stage than they do, but it was such a warm bath of an album to bathe in, and had a kind of aching quality to it.

Very good blues album, it seems interesting that it’s a Joplin album when most of the songs were written by others and other than one guitar track all music is handled by a backing band.

Wall to wall bangers.

Really fun album. She has such an expressive voice, and the band was energetic.

The first few songs are great, but then you get tired of Janis' emotional vocals, so it's a stretch to say only 7 out of 10.

Cry Baby. So good.

Classic Janis!

Fun, energetic, passionate blues rock. Just how I like it, but nothing groundbreaking... And Mercedes Benz is also there, I guess...

I never realized how bluesy, rocky, and just plain fun Janis Joplin was. It's a shame she's part of the 27 Club. Favorite Track: "Move Over".

Nice album. Very upbeat most of it. Never really listened to Janice - stand out song - Half moon

Quite enjoyable. I thought I'd get tired of her voice but it wasn't the case. And the instrumentals were great. Good dynamics, solos, etc... I'd listen again

First time I’ve heard a full album and it was terrific.

4.5

Great album, the vibes reminded me of when my parents would take me to gatherings with family friends and they would listen to that kind of music. This was a nice album to have in the background, the only song missing was Piece of My Heart but it's okay, it was still great.

Very familiar with this album - Some great vocal performances on this

This is classic blues singing. Janis puts so much emotion into her words. This is definitely an album we all should hear before we die. 4/5

I've never listened to much Janis other than a few popular ones but I really enjoyed this.

Janis at her very best. Just one of the best to ever do it.

Great voice

Good songs and performance

Great Artist, but her voice gets annoying pretty quickly

Overplayed and overhyped, but goddamm what a singular voice, and the production is killer.

This is a really good album. Her voice is really great as expected. I think overall I preferred Cheap Thrills to this. Favorite songs were Cry Baby, Half Moon, Me And Bobby McGee, and Trust Me

iconic.

Janis killed it here. Her voice was powerful and emotionally raw in every single song. I don’t think this album would’ve been as good without her voice(and I also don’t think many people can sound as good as she does with this type of singing either). Also the instrumental aspects to these songs were amazing and so early 1970’s, loved it.

May as well be a picture of Janis Joplin next to “aura” in the dictionary

Rougher than I imagined. Enjoyed it though.

I've always liked Joplin's voice and the accompanying music. The album started to replay, and I let it.

nice sound, i love her voice

Hell of a singer Hell of a set of songs

It's a decent mixture of blues, soul and rock with Janis Joplin on top form vocally.

Liked this a lot more than I thought I would, definitely an unexpected treat

Really quite enjoyable.

Psychedelic blues with some fun writing and beautiful signing …. Enjoyed this a lot … the instrumental work is really fun it shines though in the buried alive , Mercedes Benz is one of the most unique standout songs ( I wonder how that would be received today ) and me and bobby mcgee brings them together perfectly I seem to have a soft spot for early 70s rock

Such an amazing voice! Very good album

Attractive songs with a very attractive singing style, nice instrumentals, with a playful moment on in. Unsure if I want to put it on repeat, tho. But I think 4/5 is very fair for this one.

4.5

My absolute favorite Janis album.. Her last two albums are bleedin' masterpieces... I have Kozmic Blues at 4½ as well (9.6) ★★★★½

Very good album. Basically up to the level of Cheap Thrills with iconic tracks such as Me And Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz to fit alongside Piece Of My Heart. A few more albums like this and she would have had a quite impressive pearl necklace.

Good grit. 4.

What a voice goddamn

I like this album a lot, great voice. In too much of an uninspired mood to say more ;)

84/100.

This album is such a bop throughout. Mercedez Benz made me laugh tbh. I feel like not enough albums do that.

favorite songs: move over, cry baby, half moon, buried alive in the blues, me and bobby mcgee, mercedes benz

Haven’t heard of this album or the artist before. This is what makes doing this project worth it. Favorite track: Me and Bobby Mcgee other picks: buried alive in blues, mercedes benz, cry baby

Had this on 8 track in my car in high school. A few years later when I went over to my girlfriend's (now wife's) house she excused herself to go to the bathroom and change clothes. I saw a Peaches crate of albums and thumbed through them while left alone, and this album was near the front. I think you can learn a lot about a woman by figuring out what sort of music she listens to. :-)

Awesome album, Janis's vocals are just on another level and really pull you into every song.

Pretty good

bit of a heartbreaker when u consider it's a posthumous album. amazing groove throughout, and joplin's voice has the perfect cragginess for these tunes about rough love. fav tracks: half moon, buried alive in the blues.

bella, m'è piaciuta

I'd never listened through, and Pearl is absolutely lovely. In particular, the band, arrangements, and performances on the album absolutely entranced me. Obviously, Janis' voice is singular and filled with the all the emotions available in the universe, channeled through vocal chords. It's short and sweet, also. Ten songs. Little over thirty minutes. A few absolute classics, and the other songs are worth the full ride.

A strong 4: what a pity that we lost Janis before this album came out.

Some meh songs, but a few that cause frisson. Interesting combination of singing with abandon and control. Me and Bobby McGee is one of my favorite songs.

Lots of raw talent here, another lost too young. Despite the drug issues, she maintains a clear, strong voice for this album. There were reports of bad concerts, but she doesn't seem to have deteriorated as badly as Winehouse before the end came. She achieves a combination of blues, jazz, and soul mixed in with the rock. I enjoyed this, as well as some of her other work and the Big Brother output with her (apparently, Big Brother and the Holding Company is still around and still issuing albums!) and would liked to have heard how she develop her style had she had more time to do so.

Such a talent...so sad that we lost so many from that era so young.

Mostly new songs to me, very good album. Loved that it ended with singing me happy birthday

Very good music, such a shame she died at such a young age.

It's no surprise this made it to #1 as a posthumous release. Janis was a unique and special singer here for a good time not a long time. Not many artists come to mind even 50 years later that match her energy. Was that the drugs? Maybe. She sounds and looks almost twice her age here and I mean the sound part as a compliment at least. It's hard to imagine her in her actual 50s or older, unlike some other singers gone too soon. I don't know what that means,and I mean no disrespect. I still wonder why there hasn't been really anyone that seems to catch this style or energy since. At least none I'm aware of. I've always kind of linked her and Joe Cocker, but that is around the same time. Such a unique approach to songs like the wild intro to Cry Baby and how it just kind of transitions to almost just talking later on. I need to go look up the story of the Mercedes Benz track too- another unique track. Overall not the greatest album but definitely one of the most special in terms of style and coming out after the singer passed. Favorite track " Me and Bobby McGee" 4/5

3-4 stars

I should listen more to blues! This album is really good. Janis really gets her emotions across with her unique style of singing. I heard a lot of "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Mercedes Benz" growing up so it was nice hearing it in context.

Classical album from '71.

Excellent album I enjoyed the whole thing. She was a fantastic singer and very unique. The lyrics are great, the music is excellent and the vocal delivery is amazing. What's not to like about this album. I'm glad I listened to it and will definitely be listening to it again.

Cry Baby is an obvious classic and this has my favourite JJ track on it, Me and Bobby Mc-Gee!

Janis Joplin was a powerful singer with her signature raspy voice that most will recognize. This is a fantastic blues/rock album that was her most successful work. Cry Baby, Me and Bobby McGee, and Mercedes Benz are all well known from this one. Definitely worth listening to. This was released after her heroin overdose death that made her one of the charter members of the original 27 Club. One can only imagine what she might have done if she hadn't OD'd. Don't do drugs kids.

Legendary raspy voice. Great songs, wonderful songwriting.

The first thing I noticed here was Janis Joplin's energy. It's electric and intense. Her emotions jump right off the disc/vinyl/Spotify. The energy is tied to her voice. She doesn't have a pristine voice, but the wavering style brings out the unabashed emotion. Her voice is so unique, and honestly I'm obsessed with it. Rock, blues, and her voice make this album one-of a kind--a pearl, truly.

Janis Joplin's Pearl is probably the diamond of her discography. Her eccentric and powerful voice is on full display here; each song gets its own vocal treatment that is unique to the soul of the song. She demonstrates what all she is capable of on this album and leaves everything on the table, somehow achieving a balancing act between raw and polished. By the end of this album, one understands why Janis was a one-of-a-kind talent.

Yes very good. 2 or 3 great tracks. Not listening to the legacy edition though.

Favourite songs: Me and Bobby McGee, Move Over, Mercedes Benz, Cry Baby, Get It While You Can Least favourite songs: A Woman Left Lonely 4/5

3.75

One of the better classic rock albums on here.

Def grunge and of the time. Not too bad

Hard not to admire both the power and personality of Joplin's vocals. At first I thought I was enjoying Pearl purely due to the instrumentals however, Mercedes Benz was so playful and I couldn't help but smile. It carried me into the next few songs with a different appreciation. I played the album over and it grew on me. Not an album I think I'll come back to a lot but I did enjoy it.

Good album. Love the 70s aesthetic. A few standout songs, especially when Joplin vocals gets to be the focus of the song.

ace

Like a female Van Morrison for me. My first exposure to Janis Joplin. Sadly her last album.

First track feels very lo-fi. Due to my lack of knowledge of this era I always mix up Janis Joplin and Joan Baez. And sometimes Stevie Nicks even though it doesn't make any sense. I felt myself grooving more to this album than the Mamas and the Papas (my previous album). Felt powerful at times... especially as opposed to the Mamas and Papas. Maybe that the difference between rock and pop? Me and Bobby Mcgee was the most familiar track thanks to Rock Band and LPS. Also Mercedes Benz. Other stand-outs: Cry Baby, A Woman Left Lonely, Buried Alive in the Blues (super groovy instrumental)

On

Absolute classic, a singer who lets you hear all her emotional turmoil with every note, the band are too notch aswell.

Move Over 3.4 Cry Baby 3.8 A Woman Left Lonely 3.6 Half Moon 3.4 Buried Alive in the Blues 3.6 My Baby 4 Me and Bobby McGee 4 Mercedes Benz 3 Trust Me 3.5 Get It While You Can 3.6 Score: 3.59

Honest, raw and polished in equal measure. A good listen. Sadly one of the prominent members of the 27 Club. 4⭐️

This is an album I should listen to more often! It is so damn good. I just have to make sure it’s the right time for it or it would be like welding without a mask on. It’s so full, loud, energetic and soulful. And there are some real iconic tunes on here.

Janis Joplin - Pearl It's a great album coming from someone who passed away really young. Part of the 27 club, Janis Joplin has some of the most relaxing and yet upbeat moments that the album has. It takes time to be accustomed with her vocals, but once you get used to it, you'll appreciate it for it's highlights that have to offer, this is great! 1.- Move Over = 10 2.- Cry Baby = 9 3.- A Woman Left Lonely = 8 4.- Half Moon = 8 5.- Buried Alive In the Blues = 7 6.- My Baby = 9 7.- Me and Bobby McGee = 8 8.- Mercedez Bens = 6 9.- Trust Me = 9 10.- Get It While You Can = 10 FINAL SCORE: 8.4/10

What a tour de force

Janis! The exception that proves the rule—that cover of Cry Baby was straight fire.

Cool!

Is there another voice out there quite like Janis Joplin’s? Obviously I’m familiar with her work, but I think this is the first time I’ve ever listened to this album and it lived up to my expectations. I knew the classic “Me and Bobby McGee” would be here, but had forgotten other standouts like “Cry Baby” and the sleeper hit “Mercedes Benz” were waiting to be rediscovered. Overall, there’s not really a bad song in the bunch (though “Half Moon” was probably my least favorite) it’s just that this album feels slightly incomplete. At only 33 minutes, it leaves you wanting something more or maybe another epic jam as opposed to a few that feel more demo-y? I believe this album was released posthumously which sadly could be why it feels like it’s missing just a little extra something.

She’s good huh sad that she didn’t live longer. What a voice, I really enjoyed trust me

Nossa, que album muito bom. Nem parece ser um álbum dos anos 70. Se lançasse hoje, eu compraria e com certeza iria num show dela. Gostei muito de Buried Alive In the Blues, Move Over, A Woman Left Lonely e Me and Bobby McGee.

This was about as close to a five star album as I can imagine without quite getting there. I enjoyed the musicianship and I can imagine listening to this again in the future. But it just wasn't quite enough for five stars somehow.

4.5

The always amazing Janis Joplin goes down some new roads here with funk, gospel, country, straight up blues. Fantastic album, and a bit sad in retrospect.

This was good stuff! Simpsons: No

Mostly liked it, a few bangers I'd heard before. Varied but in a good way.

hell yeah.

Best song: Cry Baby Honourable mentions: Move over, Get it while you can

3.5 stars, I started appreciating it more in the second half of the album.

7/10 Solid but not a lot of variety Favourite Song= A woman left lonely Least Favourite Song=Happy Birthday John

Her reputation precedes her.

Janis got the juice

Such an iconic voice paired with a very cool groovy, jammy, bluesy style of rock music. The album flows well and is very listenable on repeat.

On EVERYONES soul (except mine, my family, my friends, and my favorite celebrities) Mercedes Benz is the best song of all time 🙏

that voice man

Janis Joplin, a talent that was too big for this world. This is a fantastic album.

gostei e me supreendi

This was the first Joplin project I listened through and I was pretty excited. She definitely leans into blues and folk music and her music has a kind of classic quality to it. Her voice is really the hallmark, it's got such a coarse and damaged quality that it would feel insensitive to try to copy it. These tracks as a whole are all solid, I love some of the more desperate bits like on Cry Baby "A good man, to one woman, one time..." I think it comes off as so authentic and fits with the story of who she was. She desperately wanted to be herself and be happy (without drugs). It's a sad story but listening to this album you can tell she was always trying to be positive. I really liked Mercedes Benz you could tell she just loved to sing and loved to put herself on the song. As a whole I think this album is great. It's unique, balanced, powerful. I liked it.

My mom used to belt out “oh lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz” whenever I asked for something expensive so I’m well aware of Janis here. I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did; I have to admit I figured her for much more of a folk singer than a rock singer, and she is very much the latter. I won’t say too much about her singing, which is powerful and unique in a “I smoked so many cigarettes between now and 2 hours ago” way. I mean that as complimentary as possible. The band though, that’s what makes this record. The sound they produce matches her voice perfectly. It’s never all put together but it’s so smooth at the same time. The instrumental blues track was probably my favorite though “move over” is also great. A nice surprise from something I groaned at when I opened the page this morning to what it actually is.

Listening to this makes me want to die of a heroin overdose 13 years ago. This was a fun ride. It was almost simplistic for the reverence I hear her receive. All around good listen, love her voice, and the music is easy to follow.

Very Nice! Powerfull voice with soul groove and blues.

She sings with pretty much every fiber of her being. Such a soulful rock star. Love the hits on this so much. The rest didn’t draw me in QUITE as much as I was hoping for, but it was still great.

Not a huge fan of Cry Baby but for the most part I can really get down with the rest of the album. I really love Janis Joplins soulful voice.

Lekker!

didn’t like Big Brother and the Holding Company at all so I went into this album thinking I just wasn’t a fan of Janis Joplin as a singer. Could not have been more wrong, she’s got an incredible voice. Production kicks ass too

Classic. Such feeling in her singing.

das isch seehr guete soul, move over het seehr geili giti sounds. sie singt insane geil. cry baby au haaammer wie sie schreit. aber halt schöns schreie. a woman left lonely setzt sie au wieder super ih und d instrument mached easy viel aber lönd ihre platz. ihri stimm isch konstant am aschlag. mega schöne song. fuck s het sache glöscht aber half moon isch extrem geil und funky und mega geil jo. burued alive in the blues meeega geil instrumental fuzz gitarre tönt soo geil, de klavierbueb chaaan öppissss. sie chönd alli öppis huii die sind am cooke. afoch instrumental huere hard. my baby wieder janis time yeees. huuii de chor slappt OEFF. lieb wie ide strophe d band ein schlag (nochem 3) afoch leer loht huere geil. ES HET EN IGSCHOBENE SCHLAG im refrain?? afoch 7/6 huuuere geil. bobby mcgee sehr simpel rocknroll aber cool. aaah mercedes benz chli ihren signature song oder? accapella power. hard. trust me au hardomat. aber ihres schreie chan biitz ermürbend wirke. get it while you can noodly cool rock chords jo voll nice.

The raspiest blues rock this side of steel guitar and methanol poisoning.

This album feels raw and soulful. The vocals are gritty, yet vulnerable, drawing you in with every note. It’s like listening to someone pour their heart out, similar to the energy you might feel from someone like Otis Redding. The instrumentation is tight but not too polished, leaving room for emotion to shine through. There’s a bittersweet undercurrent that pulls at you throughout.

I'm just ranking disc 1 of this album (and not disc 2 with the live tracks), but wow, what a great album. Bluesy, soulful, and raw in the best way. 8.75/10 (4.375/5)

Where have all the Janets gone?

Sing it, Janis.

I can honestly say that I never really listened to Janice Joplin before this album. and WHOA, she rocks yo. Move Over straight up starts by kicking you in the teeth with a killer beat/baseline and the album keeps on rolling. Joplin covers a ton of ground, from slow melodies to folk and rock. Shame that we didn't get more material from her. Highly recommend listening to the Pearl (Legacy) edition and catching her live tracks. She sounds incredible live. Definitely will be listening again.

Upbeat and groovy. For some reason, I had the impression Joplin was completely “rock” style, but there is quite a lot of variety here, some blues, some country(ish), some rock. I had no idea she wrote Mercedes-Benz.

I've never listened to Janice Joplin before. I've know her name forever, but never experienced her work. This album is kicks ass! I thought people just loved her for her voice and lyrics, but the music itself is just as good. Awesome album that I wish I would have known about sooner. I never knew "Mercedes Benz" was a Joplin song. I thought it came off some comedy album that everyone covered. It's always fun to start piecing together all these songs that I've heard over the years.

-interesting and very innovative for its time! Janis Joplin seemed like a really fascinating person and maybe the first big “female rockstar”. Her voice is kind of an acquired taste to some ig, but she has some amazing range which is shown off as early as the first two tracks -Favorites are Move Over, Cry Baby, and Half Moon

deja sa voix frr

posthumous albums make me feel crazy - second half of the album slays

Don't even try to tell me this isn't Robert Plant. Jokes aside, I didn't expect to like Janis this much. Powerful vocals all the way. 60's blues rock at its finest. Fun record.

Fun