Janis Joplin was an iconic American singer and songwriter known for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and electric stage presence.
She received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her significant impact on music.
Joplin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as a rock legend.
Biography
Early Life
Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Dorothy Bonita East and Seth Ward Joplin. Growing up with two younger siblings, Janis often felt the need for more attention than her siblings received. As a teenager, she befriended a group of outcasts and was influenced by blues artists like Bessie Smith and Lead Belly, which inspired her to pursue a career in music. Despite facing bullying and struggles with her appearance, she graduated high school in 1960 and briefly attended Lamar State College and the University of Texas at Austin.
Career
Joplin's musical journey began in earnest when she moved to San Francisco in 1963, where she recorded her first song, "What Good Can Drinkin' Do." She became known for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and electric stage presence, quickly rising to fame as a member of Big Brother and the Holding Company. Her career was marked by iconic albums such as "Pearl," "I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!" and "Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits." Joplin's music blended genres, including psychedelic rock, blues rock, and soul, and she became a defining figure of the 1960s rock scene.
Personal Life
Throughout her life, Joplin had significant relationships with both men and women, including notable figures like Kris Kristofferson and Peggy Caserta. Her tumultuous personal life was often overshadowed by her struggles with substance abuse, which began in her early years in San Francisco. Despite these challenges, she remained a beloved figure in music, known for her authenticity and emotional depth in her performances.
Legacy
Janis Joplin's untimely death at the age of 27 in October 1970 shocked the music world, placing her among the infamous "27 Club" of rock legends. Her powerful voice and captivating performances left an indelible mark on music history, earning her posthumous accolades such as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Joplin's legacy continues to inspire artists and fans alike, celebrated for her unique contributions to rock music and her role as a trailblazer for women in the industry.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
The Legendary Typewriter Tape 6/25/64 Jorma's House2022
- 1.“Are We Taping Now?”0:47
- 2.Trouble in Mind2:53
- 3.Long Black Train3:54
- 4.Kansas City Blues3:23
- 5.Hesitation Blues3:58
- 6.Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out3:20
- 7.“How ’Bout This?”1:10
- 8.Daddy, Daddy, Daddy3:56
Box of Pearls: The Janis Joplin Collection1999
- 1.Bye, Bye Baby2:39
- 2.Easy Rider2:25
- 3.Intruder2:29
- 4.Light Is Faster Than Sound2:32
- 5.Call on Me2:35
- 6.Women Is Losers2:05
- 7.Blindman2:25
- 8.Down on Me2:07
- 9.Caterpillar2:20
- 10.All Is Loneliness2:32
- 11.Coo Coo (single)1:58
- 12.The Last Time (single)2:17
- 13.Call on Me (alternate take)2:41
- 14.Bye, Bye Baby (alternate take)2:39
- 15.Combination of the Two5:47
- 16.I Need a Man to Love4:54
- 17.Summertime4:00
- 18.Piece of My Heart4:15
- 19.Turtle Blues4:22
- 20.Oh, Sweet Mary4:16
- 21.Ball and Chain9:37
- 22.Roadblock (Studio outtake)5:33
- 23.Flower in the Sun (Studio outtake)3:05
- 24.Catch Me Daddy (live)5:31
- 25.Magic of Love (live)3:58
- 26.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:57
- 27.Maybe3:41
- 28.One Good Man4:12
- 29.As Good as You've Been to This World5:27
- 30.To Love Somebody5:14
- 31.Kozmic Blues4:24
- 32.Little Girl Blue3:51
- 33.Work Me, Lord6:45
- 34.Dear Landlord (session outtake)2:32
- 35.Summertime (live at Woodstock)5:04
- 36.Piece of My Heart (live at Woodstock)6:31
- 37.Move Over3:44
- 38.Cry Baby3:59
- 39.A Woman Left Lonely3:30
- 40.Half Moon3:54
- 41.Buried Alive in the Blues2:27
- 42.My Baby3:46
- 43.Me and Bobby McGee4:31
- 44.Mercedes Benz1:48
- 45.Trust Me3:18
- 46.Get It While You Can3:33
- 47.Tell Mama (live)6:32
- 48.Little Girl Blue (live)3:56
- 49.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (live)6:52
- 50.Cry Baby (live)6:30
- 51.It's a Deal (Studio outtake)2:19
- 52.Easy Once You Know How (Studio outtake)3:53
- 53.Maybe (live)4:00
- 54.Raise Your Hand (live)5:16
- 55.Bo Diddley (live)6:13
Best of Janis Joplin1999
- 1.Mercedes Benz1:48
- 2.Cry Baby3:59
- 3.Me and Bobby McGee4:34
- 4.Piece of My Heart4:17
- 5.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:54
- 6.Summertime4:03
- 7.Move Over3:42
- 8.Down on Me3:02
- 9.Ball and Chain7:55
- 10.Bye, Bye Baby2:39
- 11.Get It While You Can3:27
- 12.My Baby3:44
- 13.Trust Me3:18
- 14.A Woman Left Lonely3:31
- 15.Half Moon3:56
- 16.Kozmic Blues5:28
- 17.Ego Rock7:32
Janis Joplin - Digitally Remastered1998
- 1.Me and Bobby McGee4:33
- 2.Mercedes Benz1:49
- 3.Kozmic Blues4:25
- 4.Piece of My Heart4:17
- 5.Ball and Chain (live)8:00
- 6.Work Me, Lord6:36
- 7.Move Over3:44
- 8.Summertime4:01
- 9.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)4:01
- 10.To Love Somebody5:19
- 11.Cry Baby4:00
- 12.I Need a Man to Love (live)4:58
- 13.Little Girl Blue3:52
- 14.Oh, Sweet Mary4:15
The Ultimate Collection1998
- 1.Me and Bobby McGee4:31
- 2.Move Over3:42
- 3.Kozmic Blues4:23
- 4.Piece of My Heart4:28
- 5.Down on Me3:07
- 6.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:57
- 7.My Baby3:44
- 8.Ball and Chain5:17
- 9.I'll Drown in My Own Tears1:45
- 10.Maybe4:02
- 11.To Love Somebody5:20
- 12.A Woman Left Lonely3:28
- 13.Raise Your Hand3:46
- 14.Magic of Love3:03
- 15.Bye, Bye Baby3:42
- 16.Buried Alive in the Blues2:25
- 17.Cry Baby4:00
- 18.Get It While You Can3:24
- 19.Mercedes Benz1:47
- 20.Little Girl Blue3:51
- 21.Work Me Lord6:38
- 22.Summertime4:41
- 23.Half Moon3:54
- 24.Silver Threads and Golden Needles2:25
- 25.San Francisco Bay Blues1:51
- 26.Trust Me3:17
- 27.Misery 'N4:15
- 28.One Good Man4:11
- 29.Tell Mama5:49
- 30.Amazing Grace / Hi Heel Sneakers2:40
- 31.One Night Stand3:08
- 32.Farewell Song4:36
10 grandes éxitos en versión original1998
- 1.Piece of My Heart4:14
- 2.Try (Just a Little Bit Longer)3:56
- 3.Turtle Blues4:21
- 4.I Need a Man to Love4:54
- 5.Kozmic Blues4:22
- 6.To Love Somebody5:17
- 7.Maybe3:43
- 8.One Good Man4:09
- 9.Ball and Chain7:56
- 10.Work Me Lord6:33
Absolute Janis1997
- 1.Cry Baby4:00
- 2.Get It While You Can3:27
- 3.A Woman Left Lonely3:30
- 4.Piece of My Heart4:12
- 5.Down on Me3:08
- 6.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:59
- 7.My Baby3:46
- 8.Kozmic Blues4:23
- 9.Ball & Chain5:18
- 10.I’ll Drown in My Own Tears1:45
- 11.Maybe4:09
- 12.To Love Somebody5:20
- 13.Raise Your Hand (live)3:48
- 14.Magic of Love3:08
- 15.Bye, Bye Baby3:43
- 16.Buried Alive in the Blues2:26
- 17.Me and Bobby McGee4:34
- 18.Move Over3:44
- 19.Little Girl Blue3:52
- 20.Mercedes Benz1:49
- 21.Work Me, Lord6:38
- 22.Summertime4:45
- 23.Half Moon3:54
- 24.Silver Threads and Golden Needles2:25
- 25.San Francisco Bay Blues1:51
- 26.Trust Me3:18
- 27.Misery ’n4:15
- 28.One Good Man4:12
- 29.Tell Mama5:49
- 30.Medley: Amazing Grace / Hi Heel Sneakers2:39
- 31.One Night Stand3:07
- 32.Farewell Song4:35
The Best Of: Janis Joplin Collection1997
- 1.Piece of My Heart4:14
- 2.Summertime3:59
- 3.To Love Somebody5:17
- 4.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:58
- 5.Turtle Blues4:20
- 6.I Need a Man to Love4:54
- 7.Combination of the Two5:49
- 8.Kozmic Blues4:22
- 9.Oh, Sweet Mary4:15
- 10.Mercedes Benz1:45
- 11.Move Over3:40
- 12.Cry Baby3:56
- 13.Me and Bobby McGee4:29
- 14.Ball and Chain (live)4:55
18 Essential Songs1995
- 1.Trouble in Mind2:57
- 2.Down on Me2:07
- 3.Bye, Bye Baby2:40
- 4.Ball and Chain (live)8:15
- 5.Piece of My Heart4:16
- 6.I Need a Man to Love4:53
- 7.Summertime (alternate version)4:08
- 8.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:58
- 9.One Good Man4:11
- 10.Kozmic Blues4:24
- 11.Raise Your Hand (live)2:27
- 12.Tell Mama (live)5:48
- 13.Move Over3:42
- 14.Mercedes Benz1:48
- 15.Get It While You Can3:25
- 16.Half Moon3:54
- 17.Trust Me3:17
- 18.Me and Bobby McGee (acoustic demo)3:58
Mercedes Benz (Best)1995
- 1.Kozmic Blues4:23
- 2.Summertime4:00
- 3.Cry Baby3:58
- 4.Piece of My Heart4:28
- 5.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:58
- 6.Move Over3:41
- 7.Trust Me3:16
- 8.Mercedes Benz2:12
- 9.Down On Me (live)3:12
- 10.Ball and Chain (live)7:52
- 11.Bye, Bye Baby (live)3:45
- 12.One Good Man4:10
- 13.Get It While You Can3:24
- 14.Halfmoon3:53
- 15.A Woman Left Lonely3:29
- 16.Me and Bobby McGee4:30
The Legend1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
Janis1993
- 1.What Good Can Drinkin' Do2:45
- 2.Trouble in Mind3:03
- 3.Hesitation Blues4:05
- 4.Easy Rider2:24
- 5.Coo Coo2:06
- 6.Down on Me2:07
- 7.The Last Time2:17
- 8.All Is Loneliness2:20
- 9.Call on Me (live)3:38
- 10.Women Is Losers5:08
- 11.Intruder2:32
- 12.Light Is Faster Than Sound2:32
- 13.Bye, Bye Baby2:40
- 14.Farewell Song (take 3)4:24
- 15.Flower in the Sun (live)3:13
- 16.Misery'n (alternate version)4:10
- 17.Road Block (live)6:12
- 18.Ball and Chain (live)8:08
- 19.Combination of the Two5:52
- 20.I Need a Man to Love4:53
- 21.Piece of My Heart4:28
- 22.Turtle Blues4:31
- 23.Oh, Sweet Mary4:16
- 24.Catch Me Daddy4:56
- 25.Summertime (alternate version)4:08
- 26.Kozmic Blues4:24
- 27.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)3:58
- 28.One Good Man4:11
- 29.Dear Landlord2:33
- 30.To Love Somebody5:19
- 31.As Good as You've Been in This World5:27
- 32.Little Girl Blue3:51
- 33.Work Me, Lord6:38
- 34.Raise Your Hand (live)2:18
- 35.Maybe (live)4:07
- 36.Me and Bobby McGee (acoustic demo)4:49
- 37.One Night Stand (alternate take)3:11
- 38.Tell Mama (live)5:48
- 39.Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (live)8:16
- 40.Cry Baby4:59
- 41.Move Over3:42
- 42.A Woman Left Lonely3:30
- 43.Half Moon3:54
- 44.Happy Birthday, John (Happy Trails)1:11
- 45.My Baby3:46
- 46.Mercedes Benz2:14
- 47.Trust Me3:17
- 48.Get It While You Can3:25
- 49.Me and Bobby McGee4:30
Janis Joplin1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
STARBOX1989
Tracklist not collected yet.
Golden Highlights1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Very Best of Janis Joplin1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
The History of Rock, Volume Fifteen1983
Tracklist not collected yet.
Farewell Song1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Anthology1980
Tracklist not collected yet.
Janis1975
Tracklist not collected yet.
Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Pearl1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Great Janis1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Big Brother & The Holding Company1967
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Columbia Records
- Record label
- Mainstream Records
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Groups
- Full Tilt Boogie Bandcurrent
- Kozmic Blues Bandcurrent
- Big Brother & the Holding Companylead vocals · 1966–1968
Played together with
- Darby GouldBig Brother & the Holding Company · lead vocals
- Dave GetzBig Brother & the Holding Company
- James GurleyBig Brother & the Holding Company
- Nick GravenitesBig Brother & the Holding Company
- Peter AlbinBig Brother & the Holding Company
- Sam AndrewBig Brother & the Holding Company
- Tom FinchBig Brother & the Holding Company · 1997–2008 · guitar
- Tom FinchBig Brother & the Holding Company · 2015 · guitar
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Janis Joplin (w, Janis Lyn Joplin, Joplin, Janis
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her electric stage presence.
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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