Brian riffs on the last studio album by Janis Joplin, “Pearl” from January of 1971 (Move Over / Cry Baby / Me and Bobby McGee / Mercedes Benz). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family (from the television series “The Partridge Family”) STAFF PICKS: “Love the One You're With” by Stephen Stills — Rob. “Stoney End” by Barbara Streisand — Bruce. “Superstar” by Murray Head & Choir — Wayne. “One Man Band” by Three Dog Night — Brian. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: "Way Back Home" — the Jazz Crusaders. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
Texas born Janis Joplin died on October 4, 1970, and Pearl was posthumously released in January. Producer Paul A. Rothchild created a more polished sound on this album than her previous solo work or her work with other bands. The Full Tilt Boogie Band, Joplin's touring band at the time, also participated in this studio album. It would be her best selling album, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard 200, and being certified quadruple platinum.
After leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company at the end of 1968, Joplin moved away from the psychedelic sound towards a more R&B orientation with the Kozmic Blues Band, her backing band at the time. Although her first album went gold within two weeks of its release, reviews were mixed as critics had trouble with the new soul and blues orientation. Pearl would continue the blues trend and would receive much more positive reviews, certainly influenced by its posthumous release.
Joplin's struggles with drug abuse were well known, and she died of a heroin overdose towards the end of the recording sessions.
Move Over
Joplin composed the opening track to the album. It is her take on how men can end a relationship but refuse to move on, but instead drag the woman around long afterwards.
Cry Baby
This is a song written by Bert Berms and Jerry Ragovoy was originally recorded in 1963 by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters in 1963. Mimms' rendition went to number 4 on the charts, while Joplin's went to number 42.
Me and Bobby McGee
When most think of Janis Joplin, they think of this single, her most successful. Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster penned the song, and it was originally performed by Roger Miller in 1969. Miller's version hit number 12 on the country charts, but Joplin's would go to number 1 on the Hot 100.
Mercedes Benz
The second song penned by Joplin, this track was recorded a cappella in one take on October 1, 1970, three days before Joplin's death. It is a tongue in cheek critique of consumerism.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family
"The Partridge Family" began its 5-year run as a sitcom in the fall of 1970, and this song was on the top of the charts in January 1971.
STAFF PICKS:
Love the One You're With by Stephen Stills
If Rob's staff pick sounds more like Crosby Stills and Nash than a Stills solo effort, that may be because David Crosby and Graham Nash are singing on this track, along with a host of other well known musicians of the time. Both Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix played on the album.
Stoney End by Barbara Streisand
Bruce risks the ire of the group by making Streisand his staff pick this week. The title track to Streisand's 12th studio album was the one that found her successfully making the jump from Broadway music to the pop/rock genre. The song itself is a story of bad choices with a boy leading down a bad road to a stony end.
Superstar by Murray Head & Choir
Wayne's staff pick is the theme of the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar," and represents a questioning ghost of Judas asking Jesus if he intended for things to happen the way they did. In addition to the hippie culture of the time, there was also an ascendant Jesus movement happening in culture which this musical successfully tapped.
One Man Band by Three Dog Night
Brian wraps up the staff picks with a harmonic hit from Three Dog Night's album "Naturally." The song peaked at number 19 in the U.S.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Way Back Home by the Jazz Crusaders
This instrumental was on the charts just before the Jazz Crusaders shortened their name to the Crusaders in 1971.