Janis Joplin - The Pearl Sessions. Available April 17, 2012
Great news for Janis Joplin fans! 2012 will see the release of not one but two sets of unreleased Janis music from Columbia / Legacy Recordings! On April 17, 2012 “Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions” will be released. The double disc set will feature the entire “Pearl” album as well as the mono single masters of the tracks “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Half Moon,” “Cry Baby,” “Get It While You Can,” “Move Over” and “A Woman Left Lonely.” The second disc will feature 8 previously unissued takes from the recording sessions of “Pearl,” Joplin’s last LP as well as “in the studio chatter.”
The tracklist for disc 2 is:
Overheard in the Studio / Get It While You Can (Take 3) / Overheard in the Studio / Get It While You Can (Take 5) / Overheard in the Studio / Move Over (Take 6) / Move Over (Take 13) / Move Over (Take 17) / Me and Bobby McGee (demo) / Me and Bobby McGee (Take 5 – alternate) / Cry Baby (Alternate version) / A Woman Left Lonely (Alternate Vocal) / Overheard in the Studio / My Baby (Alternate Take) / Overheard in the studio / Get It While You Can (Take 3) / My Baby (Alternate Take) / Pearl (Instrumental) / Tell Mama (Live in Toronto)
If the Full Tilt Boogie Band is not your thing and you are more of a Big Brother and The Holding Company Janis fan, never fear – “Live At The Carousel Ballroom 1968,” a previously unreleased concert recorded in San Francisco, is being released on March 13, 2012.
The tracklist for “Live At the Carousel Ballroom 1968″ is:
Combination of the Two / I Need A Man To Love / Flower in the Sun / Light Is Faster Than Sound / Summertime / Catch Me Daddy / It’s a Deal / Call On Me / Jam – I’m Mad / Piece of My Heart / Coo Coo / Ball and Chain / Down On Me / Bonus Track: Call On Me (live)
Janis Joplin Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968. Released March 13, 2012.
Sometimes life is too surreal to be believed. I am a die-hard Janis Joplin fan and several years ago, I was elated that her appearances on the Dick Cavett Show were released in full on DVD. One of the best episodes was from 1970, where just mere months before Janis died, she appeared on the Dick Cavett Show and one of the other guests was actress Raquel Welch. The episode is epic in every way from Janis’ performance of “Get It While You Can,” to her and Raquel engaging in conversation with Dick Cavett. The Cavett box sets that are available on DVD are so great, if you don’t have them or haven’t seen them – I cannot recommend them highly enough. Now that you know the back story, imagine finding out that for a Raquel Welch retrospective film festival, the legendary Dick Cavett would interview Raquel in person to talk about her career?! I hoped that one of the discussion topics would be about Janis and lo and behold – the first part of the interview granted me my wish. I am passing this greatness onto you, so please enjoy watching Dick Cavett and Raquel Welch talking about Janis Joplin on February 11, 2012.
On February 11, 2012 when singer Whitney Houston was breaking on through to the other side at one of my old haunts in Los Angeles, 3000 miles away in New York, history was also being made – but on a happier note. All weekend at the Walter Reade Theatre, the Film Society at Lincoln Center has been paying tribute to one of the goddesses of the silver screen – Raquel Welch. When Raquel was getting her start in the 1970s, she appeared on Dick Cavett’s popular TV talk show. If you’ve ever seen her appearance (and it’s available on DVD – so seeing it is a must!), you saw the sparks fly between Dick Cavett and Raquel Welch. All these years later, the pair reunited for an in-person interview that was conducted prior to a screening of “The Three Musketeers,” starring Ms. Welch.
Raquel Welch
My first thoughts on getting the chance to see history being made before my eyes was my hope that Dick Cavett and Raquel Welch would reminisce about Raquel’s first appearance on the Dick Cavett Show because in addition to Raquel’s appearance, another one of my goddesses was on the show that night – Janis Joplin! As my incredible luck would have it (and don’t worry, I’ll be passing this luck on to you, my dear readers), the first thing they talked about was Janis! From that point on, you could knock me over with a feather, but the hour long interview was just like being at a taping of Cavett’s legendary show as he interjected his witty jokes in between questions and answers and Raquel Welch was more than happy to open up to fielding questions from all aspects of her incredible career.
Dick Cavett
Raquel looked absolutely stunning as the sex siren is 71 years old! She attributes her great body to her daily routine of Yoga and staying out of the sun. She joked that it takes her 9 hours to get ready every day. They also talked about the fact that Raquel has been voted the number two sexiest woman of film (with number 1 being Marilyn Monroe). Raquel said she never got a chance to meet Marilyn and that her and Monroe were nothing alike – though they are often compared to each other.
Dick Cavett and Raquel Welch
As I mentioned before, a video will be coming soon of Dick Cavett and Raquel Welch talking about Janis Joplin, so stay tuned. I am still in awe after seeing these two legends in this format right in front of my eyes! Thanks Dick and Raquel for a night I will never forget!
Top: A photo of Nikka Costa that I took. Bottom: Janis Joplin's "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama" album cover
A few years ago, I was in Los Angeles seeing one of my favorite performers, the one and only Nikka Costa. Her music, if you don’t know it, it soulful and funky. I’ve often tried to describe her sound to people as what you’d get if James Brown and Janis Joplin had a musical baby! If you’ve not heard Nikka’s music, I urge you to fix that immediately! I was in the front row watching Nikka Costa deliver a goose bump inducing performance of her song “Push and Pull.” (A video from Nikka performing ”Push and Pull” in New York will be coming soon, so stay tuned!) In the middle of the song, I couldn’t help but feel that Janis Joplin’s spirit was ever present in the room with us. I took out my camera and snapped a photo of Nikka Costa living completely in the moment. When I reviewed my pictures after the concert was over, I couldn’t believe the similarities between my photo (pictured on top) and the cover of Janis Joplin’s “I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama” album cover (as pictured below). Needless to say, the photo became my favorite photo I’ve ever taken.
I was fortunate enough to meet Nikka Costa last week when she performed another amazing show in New York and I was able to tell her the above story as well as having her sign my photo! Yay for me! Thanks again to Nikka Costa for always putting on a great show and for signing this photo which is already framed and hanging proudly in my house.
Happy birthday to one of my favorite all time singers, Janis Joplin. Janis died at age 27 from a heroin overdose in 1970. I love Janis’ music so much and it’s hard to pick a favorite album to recommend if you are discovering her gift for the first time. All of her albums are essential. What you’ll hear is a woman whose soul was on fire while she sang. I’ve rarely heard the rawness or intensity that exists on every Janis Joplin song. Happy birthday Pearl. We miss you!
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