Janis Joplin
Albums, Anthology, Career
Janis Joplin singer and songwriter. An iconic element in the 1960s Rock and Roll Scene and among the most successful rock performers of her era and genre. She masterfully bended blues and Jazz with Rock Music with her strong and somewhat unique mezzo-soprano vocal range. Her stage presence was dynamic and mesmerizing.
She initially appeared on the Rock radar following an appearance at a three-day music festival held June 16 to 18, 1967 in Monterey California. The Monterey International Pop Festival presented Janis as the lead singer for Big Brother and the Holding Company. Her career went stratospheric after that. She would release 2 albums with Big Brother before leaving to perform as a solo artist with several different backing groups. Janis Joplin announced via her manager, Albert Grossman that she was leaving Big Brother & the Holding Company. Her new group, The Kozmic Blues Band, didn't last very long, and she eventually recorded as a solo artist.
She performed at Woodstock in 1969 as well other live performances. Some of her singles hit the Billboard Hot 100, including "Me and Bobby McGee", which climbed to number one in March 1971 after Janis crashed from orbit on her Heroin fueled rocket ship. Her most popular songs include "Mercedes Benz" which was her finale, last recording. Other top hits include "Piece of My Heart", "Cry Baby", "Down on Me", "Ball and Chain", and "Summertime".
Janis performed her final concert at Harvard on September 25, 1970. And she made her last recording on October 1, 1970 singing "Mercedes Benz," which is included on her posthumous Pearl album. She was found dead at the Landmark Hotel in Los Angeles on October 4th.
Her second solo album, Pearl, came in January 1971, three months after her demise. It reached number one on the Billboard 200. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. As of 2014 the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certificatied sales of over 18 million albums.
Janis Joplin Albums
This Is Janis Joplin 1965
Released by James Gurley in 1995. Originally recorded in 1965. The Original recording was just Joplin and her guitar, a full band was later added to the tracks.
Big Brother & The Holding Company January 31, 1967
Not actually an original Janis Joplin Album. Columbia took over the Big Brother & The Holding Company’s contract and placed “featuring Janis Joplin” on the cover as well as several other manipulations.
Live at Newport Folk Festival 1968
Live at Winterland ’68 With Big Brother And The Holding Company
Live Carousel Ballroom 1968
I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! September 11, 1969
Pearl
Janis Joplin In Concert - Recorded 1970 / Released 1972
Big Brother and the Holding Company on sides 1 & 2 and the Full Tilt Boogie Band on sides 3 & 4.
Rare Pearls 1999
Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits 1973
On June 19th 1966, Janis Joplin performed her first live concert at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. This poster commemorates the event!
A revealing and intimate biography about Janis Joplin, the Queen of Classic Rock, written by her younger sister.