Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 08/02/2005
Run Time: 220:34

A limited-edition five-CD box set comprising both albums that Janis Joplin made with Big Brother & the Holding Company (Cheap Thrills and Big Brother & the Holding Company), both of her solo albums (I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! and Pearl), and a bonus EP with five previously unreleased recordings. Each of these four albums includes previously unreleased bonus tracks (including live material), and each is available separately with the same bonus cuts. The tracks on the bonus EP aren't available anywhere else, and if you're devoted enough to consider laying out for this deluxe box, you're probably most interested in what's on that fifth disc. There are a couple of Cheap Thrills outtakes, "It's a Deal" and "Crazy Once You Know How," with a garagey feel and some typically scorching, uninhibited Big Brother lead guitar; it can be seen why they may not have been deemed strong enough for the album, but they're pretty cool to have. The live versions of "Maybe" (April 1969) and "Raise Your Hand" (October 1969) are OK, but not essential; of greater curiosity is the raw live charge through "Bo Diddley" (also October 1969). In the original long-box shaped release, each of the CDs is packaged in a mini-LP-type jacket, which would be really cool except for the fact that, cheapskates that Sony management is, none has an inner-sleeve, so the CDs tend to roll out of the sleeve once they're unsealed, unless you put them back in the box very carefully; additionally, the producers didn't re-create the gatefold design of Cheap Thrills; there are two subsequent versions of the set, a domestic wide CD-sized box containing full, jewel-cased versions of the five discs, and a Japanese version in mini-LP sleeves (with inner sleeves) and with two accompanying booklets. Note that this box does not include a good deal of material that has shown up on the Janis box, the Janis movie soundtrack, In Concert, and Farewell Song, so it's not a complete collection of Joplin's recordings.

~Richie Unterberger & Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

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Big Mama Thornton - ?
Sandra Crouch - Tambourine
Big Brother & the Holding Company - Band
Big Brother & the Holding Company - Performer
Janis Joplin - Guitar (Acoustic)
Janis Joplin - Arranger
Janis Joplin - Composer
Janis Joplin - Vocals
Janis Joplin - Choir, Chorus
Janis Joplin - Engineer
Janis Joplin - Main Performer
Janis Joplin - Assistant Engineer
Bobby Womack - Guitar (Acoustic)
Luis Gasca - Trumpet
John Simon - Piano
John Simon - Producer
Steven Berkowitz - A&R
Bobbye Hall - Bongos
Bobbye Hall - Conga
Peter Albin - Bass
Peter Albin - Composer
Sam Andrew - Guitar
Sam Andrew - Composer
Sam Andrew - Vocals
Sam Andrew - Liner Notes
Phil Badella - Vocals
Phil Badella - Choir, Chorus
Maury Baker - Drums
Richard Bell - Piano
Adam Block - Project Director
Brad Campbell - Bass
Lonnie Castille - Drums
Fred Catero - Engineer
Terry Clements - Sax (Tenor)
Robert Crumb - Artwork
Robert Crumb - Cover Lettering
Mark Feldman - Project Director
Cornelius "Snookey" Flowers - Sax (Baritone)
Cornelius "Snookey" Flowers - Vocals (Background)
Michael Friedman - Photography
Michael Friedman - Back Cover
David Getz - Composer
David Getz - Drums
David Getz - Liner Notes
David Getz - Author
James Gurley - Guitar
James Gurley - Composer
James Gurley - Engineer
James Gurley - Assistant Engineer
Lil Hardin - Composer
Jerry Hochman - Engineer
Alex Kazanegras - Engineer
Richard Kermode - Organ
Edwin H. Kramer - Engineer
Phil Macy - Engineer
Elliot Mazer - Producer
Gabriel Mekler - Organ
Gabriel Mekler - Arranger
Gabriel Mekler - Composer
Gabriel Mekler - Producer
Sy Mitchell - Engineer
Vince Mitchell - Vocals
Vince Mitchell - Choir, Chorus
Ken Pearson - Organ
Clark Pierson - Drums
Paul Rothchild - Producer
Roy Segal - Engineer
Bob Shad - Producer
Bruce Steinberg - Cover Photo
C. Taylor - Composer
John Till - Guitar
Tom Weir - Photography
Jud Cost - Liner Notes
Jim Marshall - Photography
Bob Irwin - Producer
Janis Joplin & the Full Tilt Boogie Band - Choir, Chorus
Janis Joplin & the Full Tilt Boogie Band - ?
David Gahr - Photography
David Gahr - Back Cover
Vic Anesini - Mastering
Vic Anesini - Mixing
Tom Wilkes - Design
Tom Wilkes - Photography
Fred Lombardi - Photography
Fred Lombardi - Back Cover
Barry Feinstein - Design
Barry Feinstein - Photography
Baron Wolman - Photography
Baron Wolman - Back Cover
Dubose Heyward - Composer
Joe Lizzi - Mixing
Smay Vision - Art Direction
Smay Vision - Design
Jen Wyler - Mixing
Elliott Landy - Photography
Patti Matheny - Artist Coordination
Nicholas Bennett - Packaging Manager
John Byrne Cooke - Vocals
John Byrne Cooke - Choir, Chorus
John Byrne Cooke - Liner Notes
Richard DiLello - Photography
Richard DiLello - Back Cover
Daniel Kramer - Photography
Mark Feldman - Project Director
A. Isbell - Composer
L. Hart - Composer
Abe Gurvin - Illustrations
Abe Gurvin - Paintings
Abe Gurvin - Cover Illustration
Yoram Kahana - Photography
Yoram Kahana - Tray Photo
Lee Osborne - Engineer
Sam Houston Andrew, III - Bass
Sam Houston Andrew, III - Guitar
Sam Houston Andrew, III - Arranger
Sam Houston Andrew, III - Vocals
Sam Houston Andrew, III - Vocals (Background)
Sam Houston Andrew, III - Liner Notes

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
    The Paul Butterfield Blues Band / CD / 1965
Crossroads
    Eric Clapton / CD / 1988
Led Zeppelin [Box Set]
    Led Zeppelin / CD / 1990
The Jimi Hendrix Experience [MCA Box]
    Jimi Hendrix / CD / 2000
Ultimate!
    The Yardbirds / CD / 2001
The Essential Janis Joplin
    Janis Joplin / CD / 2003

Release Date: 08/02/2005
Genre: rock
Run Time: 220:34