I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Janis Joplin

• 1 Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) 03:55
• 2 Maybe 03:39
• 3 One Good Man 04:10
• 4 As Good As You've Been to This World 05:25
• 5 To Love Somebody 05:13
• 6 Kozmic Blues 04:22
• 7 Little Girl Blue 03:49
• 8 Work Me, Lord 06:36
• Total Runtime 37:09

Info for I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!

Kozmic Blues officially marks the start of Janis Joplin's solo career, using Stax-Volt-style horn arrangements and a backing band including guitarist Sam Andrew, who she brought along from Big Brother And The Holding Company. While the band proves to be mightily up to its task, Joplin's tortured, insistent, blues-soaked performances leave little doubt as to who's in charge here.

With her whisper-to-a-roar dynamics and multi-octave range, Janis and The Kozmic Blues Band bury listeners in the soul blues. Her take on the Gibb Brothers 'To Love Somebody' is impossibly funky. If she needs to make sure her man loves her enough, she'll 'Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)' to let him know how she feels. While whooping it up at a wild, happening party, she enjoys all the fun but is really just looking for 'One Good Man.' Not many of the numerous Janis imitators in the US gained much notoriety, but it's certain that over in England, one Robert Plant was paying close attention.

„Janis Joplin's solo debut was a letdown at the time of release, suffering in comparison with Big Brother's Cheap Thrills from the previous year, and shifting her style toward soul-rock in a way that disappointed some fans. Removed from that context, it sounds better today, though it's still flawed. Fronting the short-lived Kozmic Blues Band, the arrangements are horn heavy and the material soulful and bluesy. The band sounds a little stiff, though, and although Joplin's singing is good, she would sound more electrifying on various live versions of some of the songs that have come out over the years. The shortage of quality original compositions -- indeed, there are only eight tracks total on the album -- didn't help either, and the cover selections were erratic, particularly the Bee Gees' 'To Love Somebody.' On the other hand, 'Try' is one of her best soul outings, and the reading of Rodgers & Hart's 'Little Girl Blue' is inspired.“ (Richie Unterberger, AMG)

Janis Joplin, lead vocals, guitar
Sam Andrew, guitar, vocals
Michael Monarch, guitar
Mike Bloomfield, guitar (One Good Man, Work Me Lord, Maybe)
Brad Campbell, bass, brass instrumentation
Richard Kermode, electronic organ, keyboards
Gabriel Mekler, electronic organ, keyboards
Goldy McJohn, electronic organ, keyboards
Maury Baker, drums
Lonnie Castille, drums
Jerry Edmonton, drums
Terry Clements, tenor saxophone
Cornelius Flowers, baritone saxophone
Luis Gasca, trumpet

Recorded June 16-26, 1969, Columbia Records Studios, New York City
Engineered by Sy Mitchell, Jerry Hochman, Alex Kazanegras
Produced by Gabriel Mekler

Digitally remastered

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This album contains no booklet.