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Janis Joplin - 18 Essential Songs Audio CD

A fair review of the Janis Joplin "18 Essential Songs" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Janis Joplin reviews here, or go back to the Janis Joplin tabs.

Janis Joplin Band: Janis Joplin
Title: 18 Essential Songs
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-01-24
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Trouble in Mind 2: Down on Me 3: Bye Bye Baby 4: Ball and Chain 5: Piece of My Heart 6: I Need a Man to Love 7: Summertime 8: Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) 9: One Good Man 10: Kozmic Blues 11: Raise Your Hand 12: Tell Mama 13: Move Over 14: Mercedes Benz 15: Get It While You Can 16: Half Moon 17: Trust Me 18: Me and Bobby McGee

Cream of Janis
If your budget will allow you just one CD, I would recommend "18 Essential Songs". I own every song ever released by the Queen of Rockin' Blues, but you may not want to make that investment. These selections were taken from the 3 CD box set "Janis" and features only good stuff. If you've only been a casual Janis listener, then this album contains all the songs you've heard and a few more you need to hear. The greatest virtue of this collection, aside from the driving blues that provide over 70 minutes of music, is that it is generally priced anywhere from reasonable to an incredible bargain!.


The "Blues Mama" Of "The Generation Of '68"
The 1960's, the time of this reviewer's "Generation of `68", was no exception. It is virtually a truism that every generation has its own cultural icons, for better or worst. Although there were no official creeds in the matter, in fact we scorned such thinking, a rough translation of what we thought we were about then could be summed up as follows- live fast, live young and live forever. Other, later generations have put their own imprint on that theme although I sense without our basically naïve and hopeful expectations of that phrase. All this is by way of saying that the artist under review, urban white blues and soul singer Janis Joplin, was one of our icons. That she crashed and burned well before her time, and well before forever, only adds poignancy to her fate.

The role of "blues mama" for a generation is certainly no task for the faint-hearted, as Janis's life, life style, and fame attest to. That she was able to translate the black blues idiom and style of the likes of her idol "Big Mama" Thornton, of necessity, had to take its toll on that tiny hard scrabble Texas-raised body. But that is the fundamental tragedy (and beauty) of the blues. Not only must you `pay your dues' but this genre cannot be faked. If you have not lived a hard scrabble existence, faced the depths of what society has to offer and come out swinging you flat-out cannot convey that message the way it is suppose to be done. Janis could. Other white women blues singers as fine performers as they are, like Tracey Nelson and Rory Block, approximate that sound but there is just a little too much "refinement" in the voice to pass this test.

So what did Janis (and her fellow musicians of Big Brother and The Holding Company who generally rose to the occasion and created great sounds to go with that Joplin voice) leave us? Well, as contained in this above average CD compilation of her work, most of the essential woman's blues numbers of the 1960's that will stand the test of time. Not bad, right? Start off, as always, with `Big Mama's" "Ball and Chain" (that blew them away at the Monterrey Pops Festival). Move on to the classic Gershwin tune "Summertime". Feast on her own "I Need A Man To Love" and "Kozmic Blues". And close out with Kris Kristofferson's 1960's traveling anthem "Me And Booby McGee". And in between a dozen more memorable tunes. I defy anyone to find a song in this compilation that is less than above average. And that kind of says it all. Janis Joplin's star burned out far too quickly and those of us from her generation are now coming to terms with the fact that, despite our youthful beliefs, we will not live forever. Her music, however, will.
.


Janis at her BEST!
In this CD, she calls out, sings out in LOVE and Pain and in loneliness. Listen to this CD and understand the greatness of Janis Joplin's talent before the drugs owned her and her voice. Listen to this and understand why she ended up with the drugs. A musical plea in every song for life and love and then, unfortunately, a solution that prevented either from happening and her songs live on in albums like this. You will not make a mistake in choosing this CD to understand the greatness of Joplin. Be prepared though that your heart will break along with hers but you will survive it. A great only one, if that is the case, Joplin CD to add to any music collection/selection!.


Great for two tracks
Also of exception and making this collection worth the $$ spent is the acoustic version of "Me and Bobby McGee". I bought this because it has the better version of "Down On Me" as recorded on Mainstream Records . . . it's a nice alternative to the original full band version. . . revealing the best qualities of Janis's voice. .


Here's How "Essential" This CD Is!
I just discovered about 20 minutes ago that my much loved copy is broken & I am already purchasing a new one! Hope I can hold on long enough for delivery ("I'll wait for delivery, each day until 3. ")LOL!

This is the best compilation I have seen so far. Far more superior than "Greatest Hits" for sure. The only disappointment is that they didnt include "Cry Baby", the live version of "Try" from Pearl or the standard version of "Me and Bobby McGee". However, I do love the alternate version of "Bobby" included here. I am also glad that they included "Get It While You Can", which I think is often times overlooked as possibly one of her best songs.

I highly recommend this to any Janis fan, old or new, as they will surely find many treasures here. .


You can see a complete list of all Janis Joplin discography, or go back to the Janis Joplin tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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