Pearl

I was a Janis Joplin apologist at one point - I require my class to listen to her cover of "Summertime" with BB & the HC and I cover her as a part of the counterculture/psychedelic scene. The polarizing nature of Joplin's voice and performance was half the point of talking about her, and the class is always mesmerized by the mythology of the 27 club. But over the last few years, I wonder if I'm spending the time wisely covering Joplin? At any rate, she - particularly on this album - is hailed as a masterful white interpreter of black music, as we needed/need more of those. These might be blues-based tunes, but calling her a white blues/soul singer has never sat well with me. Amy Winehouse would like a word. Oh, wait. There is no warmth or richness to her voice, it's all rasp and sheer force. But Joplin's voice is singular, and at the beginning of "Cry Baby" you can hear the oddity of her scream projecting multiple, distinguishable tones at the same time. Maybe it's the trained singer in me that just cringes at her timbre - knowing the vocal nodes in her future would have been devastating to her signature yowl, had she lived. And yet, I find myself awed and pulled into her energy here and there. Damn - this band is cooking in "Half Moon" (far too few people have heard the Rufus/Chaka Kahn version) and dig that funky bass keyboard in "Buried Alive..." But I could go the rest of my life without hearing Janis sing "Me and Bobby McGee" or "Mercedes Benz" again. This is a good album though, all told - but I'm not convinced it's worth all the praise that has been thrust upon it over the years. Should you have to go to the extremes physically and emotionally and mentally - literally dying in the process - to creat great art? If she hadn't ODed duing the making of this album, would it still be held in such high regard? 2 stars from me.

You don't get singers like this anymore, mostly because chainsmoking is frowned upon.

cry baby changed my life. i wish janis joplin was my girlfriend and also my mum and my friend and my aunt and voice of a chain smoking angel

Mother of Axel Rose?

Sassy. Cry Baby itched my brain. My Baby 🤌🤌 Me and Bobby McGee i started singing alone didn’t even know i knew this song. But i rlly jammed wish i could get down to it on Karaoke.

Thought it was good. Enjoyed the entire album. It’s a very high 3 for me. But I can’t justify putting it in the 4 star and above category. Best - Move Over Favourite - Buried Alive in the Blues

I mean, Janis Joplin is a legend, but sometimes even a legend is a bit much for a Tuesday morning.

I feel like I could listen to "Cry Baby" on repeat forever. I wonder how long I would actually put up with that. 8 keepers in 10 (80%) 2 bangers (20%) 100

No private session used for Spotify. I don't think I have ever sat down to listen to a Janis Joplin album. I listened to this one three times in the course of the day. It's about what I expected, 60's rock with Janis's vocals on top, the rock organ was a nice touch. It's good, but won't be on heavy rotation.

Iconic voice but I found the music a little ‘generic’. No instruments on Mercedes Benz though and the best track on the album!

Background music for me but still enjoyed it. solid 3

Such a tragedy she was taken too early from us. I really wonder what would have come.

goddamn she had pipes. 4/5.

A lot of late 60s blues jam band stuff doesn't do it for me, this one does.

Cara, gostei pra caralho, nunca tinha ouvido de verdade Janis Joplin e achei incrível, espero revisitar

Another great classic from the late 60’s/early 70’s. No one can sing quite like Janis. More of a blend of other styles with the rock roots here.

She’s just not for me which is a shame

rocks

мощно, но так скучно нескольких треков достаточно чтобы понять что будет весь альбом переслушивать не буду 2.5

Rate: 10/10.

Clásico

listened when i was in my classic rock era

Loved this. Not my usual genre but sometimes good music transcends genre.

I forgot how much I used to listen to and love this album Favorite Song - Cry Baby

good album, also not super my vibe. fun contrast with talking heads, as that was very experimental and had a bunch going on, whereas joplin is vocally super strong and keeps the music a lot more lowkey, allowing centre stage for her vocals. good reminder why she’s such an icon.

CRYYYYYYYYYYBABY. Anyways pretty rock and roll! Fun!

I can't put my finger on why I like it. But the same goes for why I dislike it.

Pas that bad pour vrai

Back half much stronger than the first. Too many songs sound the same. A strong 6 / light 7, bumped up to an 8 by the presence of Me and Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz.

It was good. 3.5

Enjoyed the guitars a lot, her voice not so much. Still decent. 3

Bonito

Not a fan of Janis, sorry queen

5/5

I liked it, it was fun

Not a bad album. I enjoy the vibe and most of the songs are interesting and upbeat. Although I really didn’t like Mercedes-benz. But I did really like half moon. But the rest is definitely good with a nice country folk vibe.

It has some truly great songs. 4.5/5

Her voice is certainly bluesy, unique, and nuanced. It's got an earnest grit to it that is very engaging. Songs are varied and very compelling. This album is really excellent.

Phwoarrrrrr how good. Incredible voice and just incredible fun songwriting and instrumentation. Hell yeah.

What a voice.

Lovely album

forgot to write notes whilst listening - we all know Cry Baby by Janis Joplin so it was fun to hear how versatile her voice is across this whole album. she has so much control over her vocals and the band backing her have such good synergy. Enjoyed listening to an album from the 70s as it's a decade I rarely gravitate to listening to

Que gran álbum. Primera vez escuchando a esta artista y me gustó demasiado. Unos solos tremendos. Volvería a escuchar sin ninguna duda.

Ehhhhhhhh

I was pleasantly surprised by this album--I am not a big Janis fan. But she does bring it on this album and it was relatively enjoyable throughout. Top tracks: "Me and Bobby McGee," "Cry Baby"

--Move Over...classic --Cry Baby...what a voice --A Woman Left Lonely...her voice is stressed here but that's part of the charm --Half Moon...starts hot. killer piano/bass interplay --Buried Alive in the Blues...funky instrumental in which Janis is not involved. that's a bit odd. (edit: it's because she died the day she was supposed to record the vocals. now I feel like an asshole) --My Baby...some soul --Me and Bobby McGee...classic. TIL this was co-written by Kris Kristofferson --Mercedes Benz...my momma used to sing this in kitchen while making food --Trust Me...great Bobby Womack cover --Get It While You Can...pretty much "Cry Baby" again

She knows how to sing and isn't afraid to throw herself into it. The songs are banging and if I can't give this wonderful effort a full 5 then why the hell and I spending my time listening to all these albums?

This is gonna be my first blues album I've listened to in full. I'm not sure what I am expecting. I am hoping it's not some pretentious prog-rock BS that insists upon itself. Track 1: Move Over. Wow. I am already catching onto this album from the first track. The vocals especially are really getting me going. And the instrumental portion I'm hearing as I write this is fucking awesome. Overall a very good opening track. 9/10 Track 2: Cry Baby. WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS SONG BEFORE!? I know that fucking chorus! I need to find out where I heard this before. Apart from that it's a relative step down from track 1. Even with the amazing outro I feel like I would prefer listening to Move Over 9 times out of 10. 7/10 Track 3: A Woman Left Lonely. I don't have much to say. The vocals be vocaling. The pianos be pianoing. The organs be organing. I just feel like something is missing here and I can't put my finger on it. Also the piano sounds like it's about to go into the Gracie Films logo jingle at times. 5/10 Track 4: Half Moon. Ooohhh this song is funky! I really prefer this song over A Woman or even Cry Baby for that matter. And that instrumental portion again my GOD. This song wants to make me boogie! The vocals bring the same vibe as a preacher especially at the end, which is fitting because I'm thanking god for showing me this album. 10/10 Track 5: Buried Alive In the Blues. Oh shit? An instrumental song? I didn't think we'd be getting one in a 10 song tracklist but here we are. The guitars are rocking harder than most rock albums I've heard from this time and combined with the Honky-Tonk pianos and organs, I am loving this album so far. 8/10 Track 6: My Baby. Another step-down on the album for me. But I think this one is needed. After a genuine 10/10 and one of the best instrumental songs I've heard, I believe this album needed a cooldown. 6/10 Track 7: Me and Bobby McGee. Not sure why this is the most popular song on the album especially since other tracks like Half Moon and Move Over have more emotional vocal performances and outstanding instrumentation. In my opinion this is my least favourite song on the album so far. 5/10 Track 8: Mercedez Benz. Wow. This is different. I ain't against it however. It's almost like an old-timey work song. It's kinda depressing that she's singing alone though, especially after she calls for everybody to sing along. Maybe this song was made for live performances? IDK. Either way I dig it. 7/10. Track 9: Trust Me. Not sure what I can say about this track that I haven't said about the others. The vocals are amazing as usual and the instrumentation reaches into my soul. Although I will say maybe the vocals sound a bit too strained this time around. She's putting too much of her jopussy into it. 7/10 Track 10: Get It While You Can. A slow closing track for an otherwise mostly fast paced album. I think it's a neat little closer. Emotional and yet catchy. Overall I was not expecting to like this album as much as I did. The slower tracks didn't really do a lot for me but Janis's vocals really carried most of the album. I'll give the album an overall 8/10

Classic album by a classic artist. I have to admit that a little Janis goes a long way with me. But I won't deny the talent and contribution to rock history.

I quite liked this

Great record.

Everyone knows her voice so I prefer to talk about the music. I love the sound of 60 psychedelic blues when it has this nice crunchy warmth to it. So many artists try to create this sound but it comes out way to clean. I also appreciate when there aren’t three minute blues guitar solos in every song.

What. a. woman. what a voice! few songs into my playlists.

Another artist who left too soon, Janis had a lasting impact in modern music. Pearl mixes various elements of soul, R&B, and blues across ten tracks. It's not my favorite, but it's impossible to ignore the impact her music has had. Favorite Song: Cry Baby Score: 84/100

I like Janis from time to time. Certainly some iconic songs. I feel she’s slightly overrated, but most critics love her music. Can’t quite give it a 5. (Always enjoy the Mercedes Benz song!)

Stunning, passionate vocals. Can't dismiss her mastery of singing. Instrumentals felt the same at times, but who cares with a voice like that.

The vocals were amazing, the instrumentals were really good, and despite not being groundbreaking, the songwriting was at least decent enough that it didn't get in the way.

Just excellent. Will always be in awe of her voice.

Pretty good, she has a good voice. Sounds simultaneously powerful and fragile. Average late 60s blues rock fare. Well recorded.

Toujours pas transcendé par le rock mais je dois reconnaître que la performance vocale est au rendez-vous.

phenomenal

Not only is her voice thunder, but the backing band is so much groovy and creative! I love that her music is not just a vehicle for vocal, and they come off as stronger 'cause of the storm they are mingled in. Hell yeah!

Each song has such a incredible groove - the backing band (piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums) is so in the pocket, yet matches Joplin's irrepressible vocal energy throughout. And what a voice. By turns sweet then ferocious, controlled then ecstatic. It is not just one explosion throughout. She knows exactly what she is doing, going soft and restrained then shredding her voice a moment later, choosing the right approach for each song and individual lyric. An astonishingly dynamic blues voice. Loved it.

a lot of different things going on here. started good with move over. then i did not enjoy the next half of this album, but the last four songs were great. me and bobby mcgee was the standout for me.

I love Janis' voice. I like the power it gives when there are some bluesy riffs behind it, I particularly loved the organ that sounded like it had smoked 40 packs a day for several years. So gnarly. I'm not sure the songs were quite there with this one. I really like some of the tracks from other releases, but here the blues stuff was fun but not memorable. I'm not a big fan of bobby magee, just never grabbed me. I do really like Mercedes Benz, but the other less bluesy tracks made it drop off a bit later in the album. Overall I enjoyed it though. Low 4 I think.

Purchased during my peak teenage CD acquisition years, back when kids had side jobs to get spending money to go buy music in music stores. This 1999 issue has a sticker with many exclamations. Remastered from the Original Tapes! Includes 4 Unreleased Bonus Tracks! Plus Unseen Photos & New Liner Notes! Janis gives me big feelings.

I don’t think I’ll ever fully grasp the appeal of Janis Joplin. Despite being hailed as one of the greatest singers of all time and being a woman that many men were crazy about, those aspects just don’t resonate with me. However, I have immense respect for the significant mark she left on music history. She showcased her vocal prowess on this album, seamlessly blending psychedelic rock with blues and soul. Even though her raspy voice and rugged, gravelly tone don’t do it for me, I can’t deny her talent. The musicianship on this album is top-notch, and the music is truly exceptional.

I really enjoyed this! Her voice took a bit of getting used to but once I did I started to really like it. This album honestly sounds like she had a blast making it which is always great. There was a bit of that plucky bass sound that I don’t like but the other instruments, especially the electric guitar were great. I think I would definitely listen again, overall 3.8991/5

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this album as I'm only familiar with her radio hits. I really loved some of the lesser-known songs and definitely would add this album to my rotation. Amazing voice. 4.5 stars

Such an intriguing musician with a unique vibe! Sad that she died so young. I know her hits but had never listened to a whole album. I love the substantial use of keyboards! Must have been very fun to be a pianist and organist on these tracks!

It was alright

This was a bit better than the album we got early in the list, really solid and enjoyed through the morning, nice variety and soulful singing of course. Buried Alive in the Blues was cool, Cry Baby and My Baby (Janis is great at repeatedly screaming 'Baby!' and 'No'), Me and Bobby McGee all time classic. Half Moon cool too. Fun.

I liked this a lot more than our previous Jackie Jorkjomp album. I think a large part of that is that she sounded way less like Jenna Maroney's exaggerated impression and like a real person. Another part is that it's just full of fun, energetic blues that feel authentic. Felt like I got to know her music a lot better with this one.

Really cool album. Loved the styles and she has an awesome voice. Some parts were a little flat but overall I had a good time with it and my kid liked it too

she was really good

What a voice! Made the whole album. So soulful and unique. Favorite songs were: Cry Baby and Mercedes Benz. Didn't really love Me and Bobby McGee as much as it is built up as her best song.

#106 It's such a shame that she died so young, this album shows that her best work was yet to come. Much better than her earlier work with Big Brother & The Holding Company. She really had full control of her iconic voice at this point. Highlights: Cry Baby, Me And Bobby McGee

Legende... allerdings klingt Janis Joplin etwas zu überdreht und aufgekratzt... trotzdem: faszinierende Sängerin...

Heerlijke plaat

Janis Joplin is absolutely my favorite female artist of all time and "Pearl" was just the beginning of what she had in store for the world. I still can't believe she died before she knew how big of a track "Me and Bobby McGee" was going to be and I often wonder if she felt it while she was recording it, because that track in particular is perfection. I have listened to everything Janis ever recorded and while her work with her previous bands is what propelled her to fame, "Pearl" is where she really shines and her voice is truly the star of the show where it deserves to be. I'm so sad we didn't get more because we know those would have been fire, but I am so incredibly happy that we have what we do. Thank you, Janis.

*Pearl* remains Janis Joplin's most focused and musically accomplished statement—a posthumous release that captures her finally finding a band capable of matching her volcanic voice without smothering it. Released three months after her death in October 1970, the album is both a definitive artistic achievement and an accidental farewell . ### Lyrics and Themes The lyrical content of *Pearl* oscillates between vulnerability and defiance, often within the same song. Joplin didn't write most of the material—only "Move Over" and "Mercedes Benz" carry her credit —but she inhabited these songs with a specificity that made them feel autobiographical. **Loneliness and longing** dominate the album's emotional core. "A Woman Left Lonely" (written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham) became a signature vehicle for Joplin's ability to transform a relatively straightforward country-soul ballad into something devastating. Penn later said he had no idea a singer could do what she did with that song; she "brought so much feeling to it" . "Cry Baby" similarly turns anguish into a kind of triumph—the chorus soars even as the verses document emotional wreckage. **Independence and self-assertion** appear most explicitly on "Move Over," where Joplin warns a lover not to mistake her freedom for availability. The opening track establishes the album's central tension: a woman demanding space while simultaneously aching for connection. **"Me and Bobby McGee"** deserves separate consideration. Kris Kristofferson's road-song narrative about freedom and loss found its definitive interpreter in Joplin. Her version, recorded just days before her death, transforms the song from a folk-country travelogue into a meditation on impermanence. The line "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" carries a weight in her voice that no other version approaches . **"Mercedes Benz"** functions as comic relief and sharp social commentary. The a cappella track—Joplin's last recording—mocks materialist culture with a mock-prayer asking the Lord for luxury goods. The giggle at the end, followed by "that's it," has become haunting in retrospect . ### Music and Production The musical shift on *Pearl* is as significant as any lyrical content. Where *Cheap Thrills* (1968) was raw, chaotic, and defined by Big Brother's acid-rock primitivism, *Pearl* is polished, disciplined, and grounded in soul and R&B . **The Full Tilt Boogie Band** was the first backing group that could match Joplin's intensity without competing with it. Producer Paul Rothchild (fresh from The Doors) assembled Canadian musicians—guitarist John Till, pianist Richard Bell, organist Ken Pearson, bassist Brad Campbell, drummer Clark Pierson—who played with restraint and precision . Rothchild's approach was deliberate: Joplin wanted "pure kids," not "too-hip, too-wise, or too-stoned guys" who might try to dominate the sessions . The result is a band that knows when to step back and let the voice carry the emotional weight. **Rothchild's production** marked a dramatic improvement over the muddled *I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!* (1969). Critics had complained that the Kozmic Blues Band fought Joplin for space; Rothchild ensured the arrangements framed her vocals rather than buried them . The sound is cleaner, more spacious, and more dynamic. Tracks like "Get It While You Can" build methodically, allowing Joplin to move from restraint to full-throated release without the band overwhelming the transition. The album's **sonic palette** draws from Stax-style soul ("Cry Baby"), country-rock ("Me and Bobby McGee"), gospel-tinged balladry ("A Woman Left Lonely"), and straight blues-rock ("Move Over"). This eclecticism works because Joplin's voice serves as the unifying force—she could credibly inhabit all of these idioms without sounding like a tourist. **"Buried Alive in the Blues"** stands as the album's tragic anomaly. The instrumental track—all ten musicians present, no vocal—was recorded the day before Joplin was scheduled to add her vocals. She died the night before that session . The song's title and its incomplete state have made it a permanent reminder of what was lost. ### Influence and Legacy *Pearl* achieved commercial success that Joplin had never experienced as a solo artist. It topped the Billboard album chart for nine weeks, and "Me and Bobby McGee" became her only #1 single—the second posthumous chart-topper in rock history after Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" . As of 2020, *Pearl* ranked #259 on *Rolling Stone*'s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . **Musical influence** extends across several generations. Joplin's ability to synthesize blues, soul, and rock into a singular vocal persona paved the way for artists like Stevie Nicks, P!nk, Joss Stone, and Melissa Etheridge, all of whom have cited her as an inspiration or covered her work . The album also demonstrated that a white female singer could be taken seriously in Black musical idioms—a significant achievement in the racially charged context of late-1960s and early-1970s America . **Cultural impact** is harder to quantify but no less real. The *Pearl* cover image—Joplin reclining on a Victorian loveseat, resplendent in pink feathers and bohemian finery—has become one of rock's most recognizable photographs . The "Pearl" persona itself, a "fast-talking, sock-it-to-me broad" that Joplin invented as a protective alter ego, blurred the line between performance and identity in ways that anticipated later conversations about authenticity and self-presentation in popular music . ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** - The most consistent and polished album of Joplin's career, with production that finally serves her voice rather than fighting it . - The Full Tilt Boogie Band provides sympathetic, skilled backing that understands dynamics and restraint . - Contains definitive versions of "Me and Bobby McGee," "Cry Baby," and "Get It While You Can," plus the iconic "Mercedes Benz." - Demonstrates Joplin's range as an interpreter across soul, country, blues, and gospel idioms. - Commercially and critically successful, cementing her legacy as one of rock's greatest vocalists . **Cons:** - Joplin's songwriting contributions are minimal; the album relies heavily on outside material . - "Buried Alive in the Blues" remains an instrumental, a permanent reminder of the album's—and Joplin's—incompleteness . - Some critics argue the polish comes at the cost of the raw, threatening energy of Big Brother-era Joplin; Robert Christgau wrote that while Full Tilt Boogie was her "most musicianly" band, they did her a "disservice" by smoothing away the underclass threat of her earlier work . - Tracks like "Half Moon" feel relatively slight compared to the album's strongest moments . *Pearl* endures not despite its tragic context but because it transcends it. The album captures an artist in transition—away from the psychedelic chaos of San Francisco, toward a more disciplined and emotionally direct mode of expression. That the transition was never completed is the album's sorrow and its power.

No liked songs, I see the appeal though

Finally, Janis Joplin shedded from Big Brother & The Holding Company. I don't dislike the band, but they feel like any other basic 60's Blues Rock band while Janis Joplin is something special. She can belt really well on songs like the opening track. The songs are more creative and the performances are better than ever before. Shame this is the last of her work, Mercedes Benz would've probably been great as a fully completed song as well.

꽤 신나는 노래도 있었고, 아쉬운 노래도 있어서 전체적으로 평범한 느낌이었다. Overall, it felt like a fairly ordinary mix—there were some pretty exciting songs, but also others that were just average.

Ah, Janis Joplin ! Bien entendu qu'on allait avoir au moins un album. Ce que je retiens de cet album, c'est Janis Joplin en elle-même. J'ai trouvé les composition très cool, mais pas forcément très marquante. Par contre, cette voix ! Je connaissais déjà la voix de Janis Joplin, avec son côté cassé et ses interprétation intenses. Mais écouter un album entier, c'est une toute autre expérience que d'entendre des extraits çà et là. Elle est très versatile, souvent à fond et elle a une personnalité et un charisme que beaucoup pourraient lui envier ! Je comprends sa popularité et même si j'accroche pas autant que je le voudrais (rapport à l'aspect musical en lui-même), je pense qu'avec d'autres écoutes, je ne ferais qu'accrocher davantage. Mais bon, 4/5 quand même, parce qu'elle est quand même phénoménale.

W sumie to fajne. 4

bra

Ikke helt min stil, her tror jeg man trenger kontekst, en kul bar et sted. Ikke forferdelig dårlig, gir 2 av 5. Fire pils inne og en hipp bar så kan denne lukte på en femmer på en god dag

Did I enjoy this? It was alright. Would i listen to it again? No.

Very unique voice. Sometimes very nail on chalkboard though

Classic

Beautiful, chill, and nostalgic

Good record from one of the great 60s rock voices. Backing band do their jobs, can't fault the performances. Me and Bobby McGee is a complete classic and there's some other nice tracks, album is probably stronger taken as a whole together as a few songs aren't as good taken out of this package. 6/10

09/19 Not a fan

Another great record and one that emphasises what a loss she was. A truly distinctive voice, a great band and great songs. Lovely.

Excellent

Eindelijk een vrouw yeeyyy Ik vind haar rauwe stem in het begin heel anders maar ik word er wel een klein beetje moe van.

Janis Joplin was one bad ass bitch, and she had an incredible set of pipes to match. Perfect example of rockstars living their lives fast and dying way, WAY too young. One year she’s the lead singer of Big Brother & The Holding Company having a modest but passionate fan base. The next, after a few years with the band she breaks out into stardom in a huge way, goes solo, and releases a solo album. Finally, she writes one more, Pearl, which releases after her death. Drugs, obviously. Her dealer gave her as well as others a dose way stronger than they were used to. At age 27, she could have been the biggest name in music, but tragically, she died instead. This mirrors so many others who either died of a drug overdose, suicide, or any other reason really at the exact same age. I’m sure you’re familiar with the 27 club popularized by Kurt Cobain, but Janis was a founding member of said club. It’s so weird how patterns can form like that and then become the stuff of haunting urban legends. Now, there is a reason I’m mentioning all of that, and it’s because the knowledge of Janis’s death at a young age is felt when listening to this album, knowing she wasn’t even alive to hear it when it released herself. Pearl is full of raw energy, and it once again proves that if she was still alive, Janis would have only risen higher and higher in popularity. The parallels between her and Kurt are very easy to see. This is the second and final album featuring Janis that I’ve listened to for this project, following her work in the previously mentioned Big Brother & The Holding Company with the album Cheap Thrills, which I gave a 4 star review. Now, I’m going to do the same thing with Pearl, because her singing and the guitar playing are something truly special. There was only one Janis Joplin because no one else could possibly sound like her, and match the electric energy she provided. My one downside to this album is her final song “Mercedes Benz” is pretty bad. It’s not the last song on the album, but it was the last thing she recorded, which does make it special in a messed up sort of way. My personal favorite song on this album was the opener, “Move Over”. I think the album opens on such a badass note that it gets you hyped for the rest, and you probably will remain hyped if you like that first song too. To wrap this one up, Janis lived and died as a rockstar. She was here and then she wasn’t, and that’s probably the way she would have wanted it. Just look at that album art. Look at that cool legend just hanging out, not having a care in the world. That is one bad ass bitch!! Great album, I’m going to give this one 4 out of 5 stars. More of this type of sound would be very welcomed.

Tätä on tullut jo kasarmilla kuunneltua ja on hyvä levy. Joplinin rouhea ääni pääsee oikeuksiinsa.

The dulcet sounds of Jackie Jormp-Jomp ring one-note in my ears. Listen to "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs" for the episode on "Piece of My Heart" for a deep dive on Janis. I think she made the most of limited talent and great passion. It's not something I'm drawn to, though her 'softer' songs ("Bobbie McGee", "Mercedes Benz") are more appealing.