Posted on 05/02/2020 5:52:16 PM PDT by DallasBiff
I know some here will disagree, but Janis Joplin was very talented. She left us to soon.
Summertime was fabulous. But I always liked ‘Ball and Chain’ best - not just for her singing, but the band, too.
They were all 27 years old when they died.
Is it a coincidence that someone just posted a First Things article entitled “Freedom Isn’t Just Another Word”? Or that’s why you were thinking of this song. ANyway it’s superb
Possessing a lot of talent - and especially the sensitivity that feeds it - can be very difficult.
It’s been this way forever. Survey the long list of great artistic talents who have burned-out, been sexually profligate, become drug addicts or alcoholics, or went nuts.
I don’t think there’s anything puzzling about it at all. We’re all built and raised differently, and we all deal with the temperament we’re born with differently.
I’m grateful for all of the great ART that various gifted but very fallible people have given us; and sorry for those who couldn’t bear the burden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk
Bill Bennett went once on a date with her. Not surprisingly, it didn’t work out.
If only she could’ve learned how to sing. Her voice was like a drill going through my ears.
Karen Carpenter had a voice of silk. As did dozens of other female vocalists. I’d rather listen to a horse neigh than Janice Joplin.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Amy Winehouse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuanbnnzXQ4
Saw her with Big Brother and the Holding Company at the old Houston Music Theater in the summer of ‘68. She didn’t have her bottle of Southern Comfort on stage. Her parents from nearby Port Arthur were in attendance.
I would be lying if I said I could guarantee I would hold my integrity and honor if I was a young upcoming star as women to my delight would fall all over me or I could have self control if I suddenly came in possession of great wealth really fast. We all have besetting sins that trips us up and we don’t know for sure how we would react unless we actually experienced it
Different ‘genres’ - (if we can use such a hifalutin term when referring to something as ‘trite’ as popular music is often assumed to be.)
Here’s something nice for you to look at and listen to as you prepare for bed, dear:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_RnlOWmZD4
She was not pretty nor ugly. However as a young man in the seventies I could have only dreamed of being in bed with her when she was half a bottle down of Jack and a joint or two.
She was an incredible talent and died too young.
Port Arthur Texas is where she was from. She got her start in Austin singing the local clubs and in particular “Thread Gills.”
First heard that rasping screech in 1970. Went out of her way to sound sweat ugly. Too bad Janis Joplin died the way she did, just like Jimi Hendrix that same year; I was through with rock music except “Oye como va” the following year. Great to watch girls dancing to it.
Years later I was stationed in Germany and bought a nice grey market Mercedes 450 SE. I had to endure choruses of
“My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends,
“Oh, Lord, won’t ya buy me a Mercedes Benz!!”.
Only sold that car a year ago. Such memories.
Yes, Kristofferson wrote it. Sung from a male perspective and Bobby McGee as a girl does change the feel of the song. Re: Janis, I became a fan much later in life, years after she died. But do remember the day the report of her death came and how the Junior High School halls were abuzz. Saw a couple interviews she had. Seemed like an innocent way out of her depth and bluffing her way through. Musically speaking, somehow that little homely white girl from Arkansas sang the Blues better than almost anyone ever has. RIP.
Loved the movie about her life, titled I think, “Janis.”
I’ve been to Cleveland to the R&R HOF a couple times. Don’t know if it’s still there but there was a letter written to her mother when she was getting popular in SF. Saying she wanted “A really good cook book.” for her upcoming birthday.
For some reason that seemed to make her so everyday girl/woman in my mind. She wanted to be loved by the public and a star but also wanted to be loved and respected by a good man - which she evidently never got to have.
Kristopherson did write it.
I recall a story (told by many) told by Waylon Jennings regarding a night where Joplin, Kristopherson, Gordon Lightfoot, Waylon Jennings and a few
others were crashing in Nashville on the floor of the house of a lady by the name of Susan Brewer.
They sang recently written songs for each other and Joplin really liked Bobby McGee.
Within two year, several of the people there had hits from another writer in the room.
Susan Brewer was well known in Nashville for allowing down and out artists sleep on her couch and floor, and often had 3-4 guests each night until they got on their feet.
Kris Kristophersom and Shil Silverstein wrote a song called “On Susan’s Floor” about the times they stayed there.
Later in life when she got cancer, Waylon moved his primary residence from
his Nashville house (Southern Comfort) to his Phoenix home with Jessie Coulter in order to give Susan Baker a free place to stay the remainder of her life.
He (Waylon) stayed at her house often during the early days, and all remained friends for life.
Although she was not a musician, she was awarded into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Waylon and others set up a foundation also in her name.
On Susan’s Floor is a great song and really takes on a different meaning when you know who she was.
Just about every artist that stayed on Susan’s floor sang a version of that song.
There was a TV special where a lot of old artists played in tribute to her generosity and told stories about nights there.
It is on YouTube.
The TV set is made up like her living room, sofa and all.
That’s exactly true with regard to those who achieve fame and honor in their own time. It’s often too fast and heady, and a lot of them become overwhelmed.
But a lot of artists never made/make it to ‘success’ in their lifetimes.
Van Gogh was never appreciated when he was alive. It was only later that we recognized his genius. That doesn’t change the fact that he suffered all of his life for his gift, and for his unique sanity:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh
I saw a performer who played a show with Janis Joplin and Big Mama Thornton. He says she gave him his first sugarcube and some whiskey
He may have even still been in high school then. He went on to have a song on Lenny Kaye’s Nuggets compilation on Elektra and had a label with his wife for over 40 years before his recent death.
Come to think of it, HE sang a bit like Janis at times.
trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNt7kDP0kPw
I can’t find any web links to the black and white videotape footage from the stage at Woodstock of Janis Joplin. She kicked her shoes off and went into the show. Like midnight-4am some time slot. Near Sly and the Family Stone and before the Who.
No fancy light show. No video screens. Just give the show.
He did indeed and here’s the original and best version !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-J7mLyD3yc
In one place in my post I call her Susan Baker.
Her name was Susan Brewer. Sorry about that.
I used to know a Sue Baker, so it just got written wrong.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.