Janis Joplin - Pearl (Vinyl)

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Pearl is the second and final solo studio album by Janis Joplin, released on January 11, 1971, three months after her death on October 4, 1970. It was the final album with her direct participation, and the only Joplin album recorded with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, her final touring unit. The album has a more polished feel than the albums she recorded with Big Brother and the Holding Company and the Kozmic Blues Band due to the expertise of producer Paul A. Rothchild and her new backing musicians. Rothchild was best known as the recording studio producer of The Doors, and worked well with Joplin, calling her a producer's dream. Together they were able to craft an album that showcased her extraordinary vocal talents. They used Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles.

The Full Tilt Boogie Band were the musicians who accompanied her on the Festival Express, a concert tour by train of Canada, in the summer of 1970. Many of the songs on this album were recorded on the concert stage in Canada two months before Joplin and the band started their Los Angeles recording sessions. The band also appeared twice on The Dick Cavett Show. They also played many American cities, both before and after Festival Express, although no recordings of those concerts have been officially released.

All nine tracks that she sings on were personally approved and arranged by Joplin. Pearl features the number one hit "Me and Bobby McGee", on which she played acoustic guitar, written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster; "Trust Me", by Bobby Womack, written for Joplin; Howard Tate's "Get It While You Can", showcasing her vocal range; and the original songs "Move Over" and "Mercedes Benz", the latter co-written by Joplin, Bobby Neuwirth and Michael McClure.





1971 was a hell of a year for music. But, it was also a huge year for women in music too. This year produced this album, Joni Mitchell's Blue, Carole King's Tapestry, and Alice Coltrane's Journey in Satchidananda. I'd say that's a pretty big year. Anyway, I'm here to talk about the amazing Janis Joplin and her album Pearl.

Who doesn't love Janis? I mean come on, she's the "Queen of Rock n' Roll". Okay that's debatable. But she's most definitely the greatest blues singer ever. I want to know where her voice comes from. Like the vocals on "Cry Baby"? Where does she get that? This woman had soul like nobody's business. I often compare her to a candle. A candle that burnt so brightly, but because of that, went out way too quickly.

Everyone knows this story but I'll tell it anyway. Pearl was released posthumously after her tragic death at the age of 27 by heroin overdose. She was working on this album and finished all the tracks except "Buried Alive In the Blues" (which is just left as an instrumental). It's really sad, after her flawed but great debut, Janis seemed to have found her niche and a great backing band that actually matches her energy (which is no easy task). Pearl is SO Janis that no one could've pulled it off except her. Not just because of her incredible singing, but because of her energy and excitement throughout.

"Move Over" opens the album with a bang where she showcases how great her new band (The Full Tilt Boogie) is. Obviously "Cry Baby" is a definite highlight, and if you doubt my hype around her singing, this track will shut you up good. "A Woman Left Lonely" is a great ballad, very organ filled with Janis's emotional singing. "Half Moon" is a total boogie and lifts the spirts of the album back up. Everyone knows that acoustic intro to "Me and Bobby McGee". She does her version justice. Now I have no idea what political statement Janis was making with "Mercedes Benz" but I love it so much that I don't even care. It's just her singing and a drum beat (it might be a clap, I can't tell). The underrated highlight on here is "Trust Me". Janis I trust you, I promise, just please come back. We mortals need you. Lastly, "Get It While You Can" is a fantastic closer with great guitar work.

I love this woman so much it hurts. It's crazy to think that women didn't like her while she was still alive. That boggles my mind. She broke down so many barriers for them, barriers that those women were satisfied staying behind. The way she dressed, talked, presented her self, and how open she was with her sexuality, she was the real deal and a serious game changer. She was the only woman, at the time, that competed in a male dominated profession and often times did it better than they did. Those women should be bowing to a statue of her, but instead, they chose to make fun of her throughout her entire life for being different. From when she was a kid all the way until her death. People suck. That's why Janis wasn't a person, but a visionary who saw the future and left it behind. She did everything at 110% and didn't settle for being a dishwasher. She set her sights high and she exceeded those heights. Thank you Janis Joplin, you are surely missed.

By: kyleJohnson7



A1 Move Over
A2 Cry Baby
A3 A Woman Left Lonely
A4 Half Moon
A5 Buried Alive In The Blues
B1 My Baby 3:43
B2 Me & Bobby McGee
B3 Mercedes Benz
B4 Trust Me
B5 Get It While You Can

2020 "We are vinyl" Release
Originally released 1970 Sony Music Entertainment © 2011, 2020 Sony Music Entertainment
Made in the EU