Record Reviews

JANIS JOPLIN ~ PEARL (LEGACY EDITION) COLUMBIA 90282 ~ USA ~ Classic Rock It is truly tragic that America’s greatest female Blues / Rock singer Janis JoplinFind albums by this artist left this earthly plane with just a couple of albums to her name. Even if we count the two earlier albums she recorded with Big Brother And The Holding CompanyFind albums by this artist that comes up to four albums! That is a terrible waste of talent and a shame. Fortunately some live recordings appeared over the time (both with Big Brother and later groups), which expand her available recorded legacy, but that is just a limited solace. Therefore every time some new material by Janis becomes available, my heart jumps with joy and anticipation – I truly can’t get enough of her amazing talent. “PearlFind albums with this title” was of course Joplin’s second and last solo album, recorded in September 1970 and released posthumously (she died just a month later). Janis was persuaded (by ColumbiaFind albums on this label executives) to dump her original band (Big Brother) in order to play with “better” musicians. Such bullshit was very common at that time, when record companies had the power of “life and death” over their artists. It took a while until her final band crystallized and became the Full Tilt Boogie BandFind albums by this artist, heard on these recording. The Kozmic Blues BandFind albums by this artist, which recorded with her the first solo album (“I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!Find albums with this title”) had still ties to Big Brother via guitarist Sam AndrewFind albums by this artist. When he was gone, it was a complete new situation, which perhaps reflected better musicianship (technically), but lacked the power, passion and “street wisdom” of Big Brother, not to mention the years of experience of playing together with Janis. Nevertheless, whatever was missing on the part of the musicians, who played with Janis in her last months, was amply compensated by her own talent, virtuosity and heartbreaking musical honesty. “Pearl” presents a more mature, slightly more relaxed and contemplative Janis, who rather than screaming and crying her heart out about her distress (and there is plenty of distress there), addresses her pain with sadness and sarcasm. Her performance is, as usual, beyond reproach. The unaccompanied vocal treatment of “Mercedes Benz” is perhaps the absolute climax of the album, and perhaps of her entire career, or even life. After all everybody dies alone. This new edition does unearth some studio outtakes, previously unheard, which are fabulous. In addition the second album of the set present Janis and her band during the Canadian tour in June / July 1970, when the band finally came together as a well oiled unit and Janis was flying high in the stratosphere, as always, at the top of her artistic power. She was, after all, primarily a performer and a live concert situation was her natural habitat. The title “Legacy Edition” was never more appropriate for an album than this time. Nobody on this earth should die before hearing this album.

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend