I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 11, 1969 | |||
Recorded | June 16–26, 1969 | |||
Studio | Columbia Records Studios, New York City, New York | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 37:31 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Gabriel Mekler | |||
Janis Joplin chronology | ||||
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I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! is the debut solo and third studio album overall by American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin, released on September 11, 1969. It was the first album which Joplin recorded after leaving her former band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, [2] and the only solo album released during her lifetime.
Recording began on June 16, 1969, in New York City and ceased on June 26.[ citation needed ] For the album, Joplin recruited guitarist Sam Andrew of the Holding Company to take part in development, along with the Kozmic Blues Band. Joplin installed a brass and horn section into the tracks, a feature her previous band would not allow. It was a total contrast to Joplin's previous psychedelic rock as the compositions chosen were more soul and blues driven. [3] All but two tracks were cover versions that producer Gabriel Mekler and Joplin chose. The other two tracks, "One Good Man" and "Kozmic Blues", were written by Joplin herself. Overall, the album was a more polished work, but was not as successful as Cheap Thrills . [4]
The LP was released on September 11, 1969, and reached gold record status within two months of its release. [5] It was issued by Columbia under #KCS 9913. The first pressing was titled only on the spine and disc labels. Later, the title of the album was added as a sticker designed by Robert Crumb and stuck to the shrink wrap. The album was re-released by Columbia as WKPC 9913 and again as PC 9913 both on vinyl. The re-issued album did not have the same title sticker, instead the re-issues had the title printed on the cover and the Sony's "Nice Price" sticker on the shrink wrap. Some of the newer PC 9913 have a bar code. A 180 Gram Limited Edition classic LP high-definition Virgin Heavy Vinyl pressing was also released in 2010. Technically, this album was reissued on vinyl a total of six times. Many collectors are mistaken in thinking the issue that included the R. Crumb sticker was the original issue; it was not. The hard-to-find original sealed issue is KCS 9913, which had no R. Crumb sticker, and the title was only on the spine of the cover. Columbia Records released as a single "Kozmic Blues" b/w "Little Girl Blue" 4-45023. The single peaked at #41 on the US Billboard charts. [4]
I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! also contains the hits "Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)," "Kozmic Blues" and "To Love Somebody." The 1999 CD reissue of the album includes the outtake cover of Bob Dylan's "Dear Landlord," with new lyrics and arrangements provided by Joplin, and versions of "Summertime" and "Piece of My Heart" recorded live at Woodstock as bonus tracks. [6]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [7] |
Robert Christgau | A− [8] |
Rolling Stone | (favorable) [9] |
John Burks of Rolling Stone wrote in a November 1, 1969, interview praising Joplin's vocal performance. However, he notes that her vocals are hindered by her backup band's instrumental role in the album. Overall, Burks was satisfied with Joplin's change in musical direction, but recommends "reaching the point where you are able to shut out the band". [10]
According to Richie Unterberger, [2] the album was poorly reviewed on its initial release, due in part to its shift towards soul/R&B and away from the hard rock/psychedelic sound that brought her to fame with Big Brother and the Holding Company. Over the decades, Unterberger notes that opinions of the album have warmed somewhat and that taken on its own merits the album has its strengths, but he nonetheless describes it as a "flawed" effort due in part to the backing musicians sounding "a little stiff".
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" | Jerry Ragovoy, Chip Taylor | 3:57 |
2. | "Maybe" (The Chantels cover) | Richard Barrett | 3:41 |
3. | "One Good Man" | Janis Joplin | 4:12 |
4. | "As Good as You've Been to This World" | Nick Gravenites | 5:27 |
5. | "To Love Somebody" | Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb | 5:14 |
6. | "Kozmic Blues" | Joplin, Gabriel Mekler | 4:24 |
7. | "Little Girl Blue" | Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers | 3:51 |
8. | "Work Me, Lord" | Nick Gravenites | 6:45 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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9. | "Dear Landlord" (Session Outtake 6.17.69) | Bob Dylan, Joplin | 2:32 |
10. | "Summertime" (Live at Woodstock, August 1969) | George Gershwin | 5:04 |
11. | "Piece of My Heart" (Live at Woodstock, August 1969) | Ragovoy, Bert Berns | 6:31 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [11] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most successful and widely known rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage presence.
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Airplane. After some initial personnel changes, the band became well known with the lineup of vocalist Janis Joplin, guitarists Sam Andrew and James Gurley, bassist Peter Albin, and drummer Dave Getz. Their second album Cheap Thrills, released in 1968, is considered one of the masterpieces of the psychedelic sound of San Francisco; it reached number one on the Billboard charts, and was ranked number 338 in Rolling Stone's the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album is also listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Pearl is the second and final solo album by Janis Joplin, released on January 11, 1971, three months after her death on October 4, 1970. It was the final album with her direct participation, and the only Joplin album recorded with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, her final touring unit. It peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, holding that spot for nine weeks. It has been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.
Michael Monarch is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with the band Steppenwolf.
Sam Houston Andrew III was an American rock musician, singer, songwriter, composer, artist and founding member and guitarist of Big Brother and the Holding Company. During his career as musician and composer, Andrew had three platinum albums and two hit singles. His songs have been used in numerous major motion picture soundtracks and documentaries.
Try or TRY may refer to:
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"Kozmic Blues" is a song from American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin's I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! album, her first after departing Big Brother and the Holding Company. It was a part of Joplin's set at the Woodstock Festival in 1969.
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