Artist: Big Brother & The Holding Company
Album: Cheap Thrills
Year: 1968
This album is best known as the first big showcase for Janis Joplin, one of the most iconic female singers in the history of rock. This woman certainly has an powerhouse voice--gritty and raspy in some spots, overpowering in others, but not without a degree of vulnerability.
Musically this album is kind of in the same general territory as Jefferson Airplane, with more of a blues influence. The whole thing has a live feel although only one of the songs ("Ball and Chain") was recorded in front of an audience. Songs of "Piece of My Heart" and "Summertime" were popular at the time and have since become standards of classic rock.
I was kind of indifferent to this album. It does sound like a number of other (better) records I've heard recently, with the big difference being Joplin's voice dominating the proceedings here. There are times when her voice works for me, but most of the time it kind of alternates between screechy and gravelly, not the best combo really. I can see how some people would probably like this and I don't doubt the influence she had on female-fronted rock. But wasn't Grace Slick doing the same thing more or less, and doing it better?
Rating: Not worth a listen
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