Big Brother and the Holding Company were an established, largely instrumental band when they got Janis Joplin on board. She recorded two albums with them (this is the second) before spitting to get her solo career underway.
It's hard to know whether this would be the timeless classic it is without Joplin's voice. The band and the music are great. Their version of 'Summertime' in particular is delicate and haunting, but Janis just lifts it further. Likewise, 'Ball and chain' is screaming otherworldly blues, but it just feels that bit wilder with Janis moving from a croon to a throat-bleeding wail over it.
As always with members of the 27 club, you have to wonder what Janis could have done, had she lived a longer life.
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