Janis Joplin - Greatest Hits

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Janis' 1973 'best of' on a gold disc in a standard jewel casewithin an embossed, die-cut slipcase cover. 10 tracks, including 'Down On Me', 'Piece Of My Heart', 'Me And Bobby McGee', 'Summertime' and 'Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)'. 1998 Columbia release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Tracks:

Piece Of My Heart
Summertime
Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
Cry Baby
Me And Bobby McGee
Down On Me
Get It While You Can
Bye, Bye Baby
Move Over
Ball And Chain
Maybe
Mercedes Benz

Amazon.com essential recording

More than Cheap Thrills or even Pearl, Greatest Hits has helped keep Janis Joplin's short-lived recording career alive for listeners who came along after her 1970 death. "Me and Bobby McGee" is the biggest draw, of course--it was a posthumous No. 1 single--but the rest is equally exciting. Despite the familiarity of the titles here, this goes far beyond the merely serviceable. Finally, the cover photo of Janis smiling in a sunny park is as poignant a shot of her as exists. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Great compliation of Janis.......2007-07-06

This album is a great compliation of Janis Joplin's classic sound. You should pick it up too, your music collection needs it!

Wasted life, wasted lady.......2007-05-21

A friend of mine once went to a party with Janis and his one comment about her was "She was a real mean drunk". I believe it. I also believe someone, like a record exec, should have grabbed her by the back of the neck and shook some sense into her. She'd have made a way cool old lady.

That didn't happen. The folks who owned a piece of her were much more interested in the cash cow than it's health. Now she's dead and all we have left of her is her music. I own everything she's ever done and while this particular cd isn't all-inclusive by any means, it still has some good tunes and gives us some fine examples of what she can do. In particular BALL AND CHAIN and DOWN ON ME. She's beautiful in SUMMERTIME but you don't really get a good sense of Janis unless she's getting into the song and letting us feel everything she is singing about.

Well worth having.

Janis Joplin - Greatest Hits.......2007-04-04

She must have recorded these w/o the Southern Comfort. These are the Greatest Hits? I have better recordings. She sounds better live. Alive?

A Very Good Introduction To Janis.......2007-02-25

This compilation, while certainly not comprehensive, is very good for those who aren't familiar with Janis Joplin's work (such as I). The only songs of hers that I had truly been familiar with are "Take Another Piece Of My Heart", "Me And Bobby McGee" and "Mercedes Benz", When I heard this disc, all of the other songs, I hadn't been familiar with, so from a casual perspective, this CD is quite good and I wasn't disappointed with hearing any of the songs I didn't know. So, I recommend this CD to anyone who has a limited knowledge of Janis Joplin's songs and wants to "start out", so to speak, getting to know her work. I was really pleased with every song on this disc and the sound is excellent, also.

Greatest is an understatement.......2007-01-30

This is an extraordinary CD. Janis' rendition of "Maybe" gives me goose bumps. She really could belt out a song and had outstanding range before the drugs and alcohol took over. I enjoyed every song, and until I purchased this CD, failed to realize the extraordinary talent of Janis Joplin.

What a shame that she left us so early.

Big Brother & the Holding Company/Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits/Live at Winterland '68

Average customer rating:

Blues with a twist

Big Brother & the Holding Company/Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits/Live at Winterland '68
Janis Joplin
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000056VJ4
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Tracks:

Bye, Bye Baby - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Easy Rider - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Intruder - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Light Is Faster Than Sound - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Call On Me - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Women Is Losers - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Blindman - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Down On Me - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Caterpillar - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
All Is Loneliness - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Coo Coo - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
The Last Time - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Call On Me (Alternate Take) - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin
Bye, Bye Baby (Alternate Take) - Big Brother & The Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin

Tracks:

Piece Of My Heart - Janis Joplin
Summertime - Janis Joplin
Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) - Janis Joplin
Cry Baby - Janis Joplin
Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
Down On Me - Janis Joplin
Get It While You Can - Janis Joplin
Bye, Bye Baby - Janis Joplin
Move Over - Janis Joplin
Ball And Chain - Janis Joplin
Maybe - Janis Joplin
Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin

Tracks:

Down On Me - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Flower In The Sun - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
I Need A Man To Love - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Bye Bye Baby - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Easy Rider - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Combination Of The Two - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Farewell Song - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Piece Of My Heart - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Catch Me Daddy - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Magic Of Love - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Summertime - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Light Is Faster Than Sound - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Ball & Chain - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Down On Me - Janis Joplin With Big Brother & The Holding Co.

Customer Reviews:

Blues with a twist.......2001-09-13

I only recently began listening to Janis Joplin. Naturally like most people I had only heard about her as having died from a drug overdose along with Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison. I can honestly say that listening to Janis Joplin sing "Summertime" was one of the defining moments of my life and when she belted out "Ball and Chain" I knew that I would be a fan forever. Janis has often been singled out as a white woman who sings the blues. That label fails to do her unique timbre and her own tortured version of music justice. Frankly, I think Joplin's bluesy and earthy style have revolutionized music in more ways than one and these CDs are great representatives of Janis's work especially as they offer some of her live songs which are once again of amazing intensity and strength.

Average customer rating:

Not comprehensive

Greatest Hits

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005G9G7
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Customer Reviews:

Not comprehensive.......2006-03-17

Although Janis Joplin's genius is evident on all of these tracks, the selection is inadequate. An album with a title like this needs to contain Combination Of The Two (from Cheap Thrills, with Big Brother and the Holding Company) and Joplin's version of the Bee Gees' To Love Somebody (from Kozmic Blues).

Luckily there are more comprehensive compilations available, and this album would do as an introduction to the Joplin novice. It contains the impressive acid rock onslaught of Piece Of My Heart, the original version of the timeless Me And Bobby McGee (a huge posthumous hit for her in 1971), the wrenching Maybe from Kozmic Blues and her popular novelty song Mercedes Benz.

Most of the tracks are from Pearl and while I love all of them, especially Cry Baby, Move Over and Get It While You Can, one must never forget her lesser known albums that contain many gems. The obscure Farewell Song, for example, has brilliant tracks like The Magic Of Love, One Night Stand and the title track.

For devoted Joplin fans and those who would like to get more of her best in one place, there are The Essential Janis Joplin, a 2-CD set with 30 tracks, and The Janis Joplin anthology, a brilliant compilation of 19 of her very best performances.

Average customer rating:

Great Blue-rock and Hard Rock from one of the giants of 60's rock
A Piece of our Hearts

Janis Joplin - Greatest Hits
Janis Joplin
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000IPKE
Release Date: 1998-11-09

Tracks:

Piece of My Heart - Big Brother & the Holding Company, Janis Joplin
Summertime - Big Brother & the Holding Company, Janis Joplin
Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) - Janis Joplin, Janis Joplin & Her Kozmic Blues Band
Cry Baby - Janis Joplin
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin & the Full Tilt Boogie Band, Janis Joplin
Down on Me - Big Brother & the Holding Company, Janis Joplin
Get It While You Can - Janis Joplin
Bye Bye Baby - Big Brother & the Holding Company, Janis Joplin
Move Over - Janis Joplin
Ball and Chain - Janis Joplin

Album Description

Janis' 1973 'best of' on a gold disc in a standard jewel casewithin an embossed, die-cut slipcase cover. 10 tracks, including 'Down On Me', 'Piece Of My Heart', 'Me And Bobby McGee', 'Summertime' and 'Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)'. 1998 Columbia release.

Album Details

Best of the Best Gold CD plus original Booklet

Customer Reviews:

Great Blue-rock and Hard Rock from one of the giants of 60's rock.......2006-12-04

A very good sample of Janis Joplin and her amazing melodic combinations and blues rock. These are some of Joplin's best known and best loved works.

Some of my personal favourites include the charismatic blues Piece Of My Heart , the breezy Summertime , the contemplative Try (Just A Little Bit Harder), the hard rock Down On Me and Ball and Chain and the folk-style Me and Bobby McGee . Janis Joplin played an important role in the evolution of rock.

A Piece of our Hearts.......1999-08-28

This review is based on a budget-priced CD, "Highlights" issued by Pickwick several years ago, but its contents should not be significantly different from other compilations.

I "discovered" Janis Joplin courtesy of this disc, buying it more out of curiosity than as a knowledgeable record buyer. However what I heard floored me.

Tracks:

Piece Of My Heart (Take Another)
Summertime
Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
Cry Baby
Me and Bobby McGee
Down On Me
Get It While You Can
Bye, Bye, Bye
Move Over
Ball And Chain

Amazon.com

More than Cheap Thrills or even Pearl, Greatest Hits has helped keep Janis Joplin's short-lived recording career alive for listeners who came along after her 1970 death. "Me and Bobby McGee" is the biggest draw, of course--it was a posthumous No. 1 single--but the rest is equally exciting. Despite the familiarity of the titles here, this goes far beyond the merely serviceable, particularly on a previously unreleased, utterly smashing live version of "Down on Me" cut with Big Brother. Finally, the cover photo of Janis smiling in a sunny park is as poignant a shot of her as exists. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Good appetizer.......2005-08-24

This release is a good appetizer for the uninitiated and is always good for a quick Joplin fix. I think it's been established that there are better Joplin Greatest Hits releases, but this one isn't bad!

Great Role Model..........2005-05-31

Janis Joplin would be a great role model for younger kids. Instead of looking up to Pop stars, porn stars and other girls who are only popular for looks, and showing off there bodies. Janis was popular for her voice, and the things she done. I admire anyone that can do anything she could of done. Her voice was so strong that it was so beautiful shes been though so many things as a young kid and she proved them all wrong when she became one of the best Women singers...I admire Janis Joplin. She would be a great role model.

My first introduction to Janis........2004-12-30

First I must say that this CD will always be special to me, as it introduced me to Janis Joplin. I would like to point out that most of Janis' best songs are not featured here. I would really recommend buying "The Essential Janis Joplin". However, this album is an excellent place to start.

What I love most about Janis on this album is her signature raspy vocals, unleashed raw energy and the real true gem of this record, is the live version of "Ball And Chain".(Which is one of my VERY favorite songs of hers).

One cannot deny the power and substance of such stellar tracks here such as "Piece Of My Heart", "Me And Bobby McGee" and "Move Over". Another exciting highlight on this greatest hits compilation would be Janis' cover of the Gershwin classic "Summertime".

Overall an excellent snapshot of Janis and the music of the late 60's.

my favorite singer.......1999-05-12

i truly do love janis, but "18 essential songs" is a far better collection. If i were you, i'd wait till about june, cause that's when they're supposed to release remastered works of her albums, so if your a new fan, be patient!!!

Wow............1999-05-06

I recently bought this CD after seeing Janis Joplin's performances in the concert movies Monterey Pop and Woodstock. I have since fallen in love with Janis. Her voice is simply mesmerizing whether she's singing a soulful blues ballad or rowdy rock and roll. The sound quality on this one isn't that bad, either. I will definitely be getting more of Janis' albums. Great stuff!!!