Though she passed away in 1970, Janis Joplin’s voice is still raging into the horizon. Growling and angelic, the Port Arthur, Texas-born singer’s style and range were unparalleled in her time and remain so today. Though she is part of the unfortunate “27 Club,” or those artists who died too soon, Joplin’s legend continues to live on in classic rock offerings she recorded during her career.
Here below, we wanted to explore a trio of those songs. Three tracks from the artist that have since stood the test of time. Three offerings that prominently remain on the radio airwaves and in stereos to this day. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs from the powerful singer Janis Joplin that will last forever.
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“Me and Bobby McGee” from Pearl (1971)
Originally written by Kris Kristofferson and first performed by Roger Miller, this song became an international hit when sung and recorded by Janis Joplin. Released after her death, the track is about two wayward travelers working their way through the American South. In the end, the two—the singer and Bobby—depart one another. But the passion, emotion and raw way of living continues to hang in the singer’s mind, expressed via the passion of her performance. On the iconic song, Joplin sings,
Freedom is just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ hon’ if it ain’t free, no-no
And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues
You know feelin’ good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee
“Summertime” by Big Brother and the Holding Company from Cheap Thrills (1968)
Released on the 1968 Cheap Thrills album by the Joplin-led, San Francisco-born rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company, this song was originally written by George Gershwin for the 1935 musical Porgy and Bess. Since 1935, many have covered the song, from Sam Cooke to Nina Simone, but it was Joplin who turned it into a torrential storm of a track, screeching and moaning her way through. On the psychedelic offering, Joplin growls,
Summertime, time, time
Child, the living’s easy
Fish are jumping out
And the cotton, Lord
Cotton’s high, Lord, so high
Your daddy’s rich
And your ma’s so good-looking, baby
She’s looking good now
Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
No, no, no, no, don’t you cry
Don’t you cry
“Piece of My Heart” by Big Brother and the Holding Company from Cheap Thrills (1968)
Another from the 1968 Cheap Thrills LP, this song is a cover of the 1967 single by Erma Franklin. On the love song, Joplin builds and builds into an avalanche of sound, crashing over and smothering everything in her wake. By the time she passed away in 1970, the song was Joplin’s highest-charting track, hitting No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. On the song, which is about losing yourself in love, she belts,
I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (whoa, break it)
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah (whoa, have a)
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it if it makes you feel good
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Photo by John Byrne Cooke Estate/Getty Images
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