Rooftop Reviews: Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin passed away 40 years ago today at the all too young age of 27. Her figure as a heavy drinking, heroin shooting blues singer has endured the 4 decades since her death. But there was so much more to this woman than the plug of drugs and booze. She actually was a very talented singer who was in command of her career, and it's direction, right until the end.

With both movies and books depicting her as just a stoned out blues singer,acting at the way of others, it is often difficult to retain plenty of the sight and talent she possessed. Not many artists can have a song, which is already a hit by somebody else, and make it their own. Janis Joplin did this several times. From George Gershwins "Summertime", and The Chantels "Maybe",and yet such standards as "Little Girl Down" by Rodgers and Hart, time and again Ms. Joplin was capable to transform established songs into new plant that still resonate today. Take Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" as an example. This was a country-folk song written and recorded by Mr. Kristofferson in 1969. It was one of his first big hits and made him a star. But when that record comes on the radio, even Mr. Kristofferson has to break and listen. Here is the demo that Ms. Joplin recorded a few months before her death. She simply walked into the studio, announced that she was doing this call and ends it by saying it needs an ending.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnWzQyp3BEAThe finished version is just the same distance as this demo. The sole interchange is the increase of the electrical instruments and her improvised vocal ending. This lady had some serious talent and vision. She did the like matter with the seemingly banal "To Know Somebody" by The Bee Gees, turning the 4 minute pop song into a lengthy blues number backed by a brass section. And who can ever forget her ballsy live adaptation of Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton's "Ball and Range" from the album "Cheap Thrills." Also on that album is a real gem written by Ms. Joplin, "Turtle Blues." When it came to cover art, Ms. Joplin was as far reaching as you can imagine. Take this back by Robert Crumb for the 1968 release "Cheap Thrills." You can literally spend 20 or 30 minutes digesting all the wacky and colorful things which are crammed in this 12" x 12" space. The covers of her subsequent albums were equally daring - the out of focus photo taken under the red and dreary stage lights that adorns the top of "I've Got 'Dem Old Kozmic Blues Again" album is a capital example. Working with Big Brother and the Holding Company really pushed her into the light, but that lot was a bit confining for her. She cherished a lot like James Brown had, complete with brass. With that idea in intellect she formed The Full Tilt Boogie Band, which would be her last. They were the epitome of the Stax Record sound. When viewing live performances of her on YouTube you can see the shift in her manner of singing, often delivering spontaneous blues "raps" in the centre of her numbers. This was standard James Brown procedure, really preaching the vapors to a more than receptive audience.We will never know where Ms. Joplin's career might have taken us. What direction was she going in future? But her unique way of delivering the blues will ever be with us to enjoy. Just hit YouTube sometime now and stay out the live videos from TV shows like Tom Jones, Dick Cavett and all the rest. You will be astonied at the energy and feel of temper that ultimately define her.