A bad image (she was an...addict, a bad sudent, runaway daughter, etc...) made Janis Joplin a ahrd sell with parents to put it mildly. But after hearing her rendition of "Summertime" (the old Gershwin song from ''Porgy and Bess''), it was clear that whatever her personal shortcomings might have been, Janis Joplin was an awesomely talented singer. The rest of "Cheap Thrills" matched the quality of her rendition of "Summertime". So does the rest of theis "Greatest Hits" CD.

Janis Joplin was a huge fan of 'Big Mama' Thornton, a somewhat tragic figure in her own right. Thornton co-wrote and recorded the original version of "Hound Dog", a song Elvis made famous. "Hound Dog" was never recorded by Janis, but "Ball and Chain", an emotional plea for love and understanding -- or maybe a cry for help-- is here on the greatest hits CD. I doubt that a 9 minute song was really a 'top-40 hit', but this CD serves more as a heartfelt 'thanks' to Janis for the musical memories she left behind, ands not just a document of what radio stations played.

The blues singing here is as good as it gets, and the songs have never really gone away. The play "Love, Janis" (featuring nearly all the songs from this CD) still draws huge crowds, and because the music has aged well, it's the songs --not Janis' excessive lifestyle-- that people now remember.

"Move Over" and "Cry Baby" are two sides of the same coin: a love that's over and the pain of aftermath, when all that's left is the pain. It is almost impossible to sing the blues with so much conviction if you have not 'lived them'. So it seems that Janis Joplin, lived a very sad and lonely life.

Janis Joplin was a classically tragic figure from recent times. Not a "hero" by any stretch, but certainly a great talent lost. "Me and Bobby McGee" makes one wonder if Janis ever found a great love in her life. If not, then the tragedy of her death is even greater.

The songs collected here are not just radio hits. They are more like a requiem.


Perfect for any Newcomer   December 5, 2004
Blues Fan (USA)
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

I bought this album months ago and was blown away. I mean literally blown away. I spent hours and hours listening to it. I found Janis' voice so raw and unique that I couldn't put it down. After this album I bought every other Janis Joplin/Big Brother album out there and I just can't get enough of it. There are some great songs missing from this album, but I think that they included the most unique.

Piece of My Heart - A Erma Franklin cover. It's a great song, and a legendary pop hit.

Summertime - This is the most memorable song from Janis for me. It's a cover from Porgy & Bess. I'm pretty sure the original artists were Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, but I'm not certain. Either way it's amazing. Janis' voice can't compare to anything else. That's how distinctive it is.

Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) - A great pop/blues song. It's got an Otis Redding feel to it. The screeching at the end sends shivers up my spin.

Cry Baby - Another hit. I would have replaced it with Little Girl Blue, but it's just an unforgettable as any other song.

Me & Bobby McGee - To be completely honest, I didn't care for it at the beginning. I describe it as a song that grows on you. Once it grows you, it wont let go. Now it's one of my favorite songs of all time. It's another cover, but it's just matches her so well.

Down on Me - A Big Brother classic. It's a cool song that's got a hippy feel to it.

Get It While You Can - To me, this is one of the most underrated songs of all time. It's just so brilliant but it never gets the credit it deserves. It's bound to change your perspective on life.

Bye, Bye Baby - Like a lot of other classic hits, it's hard to categorize it.

Move Over - I believe Janis wrote it. It's a cool, simple song about moving on. Its guitar is infectious.

Ball N Chain - One of the best songs I've ever heard. Big Mama Thornton wrote it, but Janis and Sam Andrews gave it a special touch and made it an epic. This version doesn't include Sam, which kind of disappoints me. But it's a great live performance.

Maybe - This is by far my favorite song by Janis. It's got #1 out of every song I've ever heard. This song out souls any R&B singer hands down. The Chantels originally did it and was their only #1 hit. A couple years later Janis releases it on her Kozmic Blues album, and left me speechless. She changed the tune, the words, everything. She transformed it from a cool Do Woop hit, to an amazing blues cry. It's not raspy at all, totally clear. But if you enjoy the rasp (like me) get a copy of her on the Ed Sullivan show.

Mercedes Benz - A cool goofy song from Pearl. I personally think it's about how some people ask God for things they don't need. Even if I'm wrong, I still love it.

To sum it up - This is an album from a legendary singer with a legendary set of bands and musicians. It's great spread of songs for just three years.



Diamonds Falling From the Dust   April 11, 2000
Sayulita Robinsong (Humboldt State University, Ca)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

Janis Joplin was undeniably one of the most influential female rock vocalists of the 60's. Not only did she give her heart and soul to blues music, she opened a doorway for other women, letting them know that it is ok to release such true raw emotion as an art form. The Greatest hits collection is a fairly comprehensive overview of Janis' musical career. To hear the emotional jungle of a Janis performance listen to "Cry Baby." To listen to the depth of Janis' alchoholic depression listen to "Down on Me." Her final studio effort "Pearl" was perhaps her most diversly mature album ever. For a taste of this treat, give "Bobby McGee" a spin. The Greatest Hits Collection belongs on every blues fans cd rack!


Missing a few tracks...   August 19, 2001
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is a good "Greatest Hits" album, but it is definitely lacking a few of Janis Joplin's best songs. The more recent "18 Essential Songs" has almost all the songs on "Greatest Hits", as well as Summertime, Raise Your Hand, Half Moon, Kozmic Blues, I Need A Man To Love, Trouble in Mind, Tell Mama and Trust Me, most of which are lesser known but still essential. I'd recomend the "18 Essential Songs" as a more complete album (despite the "Greatest Hits" re-release with the bonus tracks) if you're looking to get into Janis, or if you like Janis already but don't want to go for the box set.