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Copyright © 2002-2004
by James P. Hauser except where otherwise noted.  All rights reserved.

The Blues Connections Of

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin was one of the greatest female rock'n'roll singers of all time. Her raw, powerhouse performance of Big Mama Thornton's "Ball and Chain" at the 1967 Monterey Pop Music Festival made her a star. But she lived a sad, painful and short life. She tried to live up to her fans' image of her as a hard livin', hard lovin', and hard drinkin' blues mama. On the outside, she sure enough seemed to be one tough chick, with more guts, more grit, and more gumption than a one-armed gogo dancer. But, on the inside, she was insecure, lonely, and sensitive. She couldn't find the love and comfort that she looked for from the people in her life; like in that old blues song, she asked them for water but all she got was gasoline. And having all those adoring fans didn't help none--she once said "Onstage I make love to 25,000 people. Then I go home alone". No wonder her blues sounded so desperaate.

Joplin's biggest influence was the classic blues singer Bessie Smith. Her other influences include Billie Holiday (she carried Holiday's autobiography with her everywhere she went), the folk-blues singer Odetta, and Big Mama Thornton. A list of blues and R&B songs that Joplin recorded is below, arranged alphabetically by the name of the musician who composed, originally recorded, or popularized the song

Bo Diddley: Bo Diddley

Eddie Floyd: Raise Your Hand

Etta James: Tell Mama

Big Mama Thornton: Ball and Chain

Tommy Tucker: Hi-Heel Sneakers (as a medley with Amazing Grace)

Georgia White: Trouble in Mind

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