Janis Joplin — Cheap Thrills

Big Brother & The Holding Company on Black Vinyl LP

On this 2012 reissue of the classic 1968 album, Janis Joplin belts it like no other on her heart-stopping final album with Big Brother & The Holding Company. Her fiery “Piece Of My Heart” takes every ounce of her emotional soul laid bare, and even today her powerful voice still haunts and captivates audiences. Surprisingly, the song only peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968, while the album climbed straight to #1 in late summer ’68. Other classic numbers include “Ball & Chain” and “Turtle Blues.” They also do a rendition of “Summertime” that was embraced by hippies, but infuriated its composer George Gershwin.

Released: 8/21/12