Janis Joplin died at 27 years old due to heroin overdose, and her rise and fall have been widely documented. But even with her short tenure in the music scene, she managed to release four strong studio albums. She left the world such a legacy that would last for decades and beyond.
5. Move Over
Joplin didn’ write most of her songs, as she was more of a singer, interpreter than a songwriter. But Move Over was all Janis Joplin. She penned the song and included it on her second solo album, Pearl released in 1971.
4. Ball and Chain
She released this song with her San Francisco psychedelic group, Big Brother and the Holding Company. She had her break with the group and Ball and Chain provided her success. A song originally penned by famous by R&B singer Big Mama Thornton. Included on the album Cheap Thrills released in 1968.
3. Cry Baby
Another Joplin soulful song. She worked with producer Paul Rothchild to record the song. Paul helped her to deliver one of her best songs during her journey as a solo artist. Included on her album, Pearl released in 1971.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWm81fpd1g8
2. Kozmic Blues
When Joplin left Big Brother and the Holding Company, she then achieved one of her biggest successes when she released the song, Kozmic Blues from her album, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Kozmic Blues highlighted Janis Joplin even more as one of the greatest singers and performers of her era.
1. Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)
Janis indeed had her break with Big Brother and the Holding Company, but after she split with her group, she recorded and release her debut I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! in 1969 and Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) was the opening track of the album, proving that she can handle it on her own.