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Also available with BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY FEATURING JANIS JOPLIN, CHEAP THRILLS, PEARL and bonus disc RARE PEARLS in BOX OF PEARLS: THE JANIS JOPLIN COLLECTION.
Recorded in June 1969. Live bonus tracks recorded at Woodstock Festival, Woodstock, New York in August 1969.
KOZMIC BLUES officially marks the start of Janis Joplin's solo career, using Stax-Volt-style horn arrangements and a backing band including guitarist Sam Andrew, who she brought along from Big Brother And The Holding Company. While the band proves to be mightily up to its task, Joplin's tortured, insistent, blues-soaked performances leave little doubt as to who's in charge here.
With her whisper-to-a-roar dynamics and multi-octave range, Janis and The Kozmic Blues Band bury listeners in the soul blues. Her take on the Gibb Brothers "To Love Somebody" is impossibly funky. If she needs to make sure her man loves her enough, she'll "Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)" to let him know how she feels. While whooping it up at a wild, happening party, she enjoys all the fun but is really just looking for "One Good Man." Not many of the numerous Janis imitators in the US gained much notoriety, but it's certain that over in England, one Robert Plant was paying close attention.
Also available with CHEAP THRILLS and PEARL in a 3-CD set.
Includes liner notes by John Byrne Cooke.
Personnel: Janis Joplin (vocals); Sam Andrew (guitar, background vocals); Terry Clements (tenor saxophone); Cornelius "Snooky" Flowers (baritone saxophone, background vocals); Luis Gasca (trumpet); Richard Kermode, Gabriel Mekler (organ); Brad Campbell (bass); Maury Baker, Lonnie Castille (drums).
Producer: Gabriel Mekler.
Reissue producer: Bob Irwin.
Engineers: Sy Mitchell, Jerry Hochman, Alex Kazanegras.Rolling Stone (11/1/69, p.40) - "...a fine and solid [album]....'Kozmic Blues' itself is a small-but-large masterpiece, with luminous autobiographical lyrics and a fully realized performance....Lady Janis sermonizes beautifully..."
Q (11/99, p.156) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...she went in a more straightforward blues/pop direction, with the fluid, funky 'Try' and the Nina Samone ballad, 'Little Girl Blue'..."
I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Music
Janis Joplin - I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Songs
I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Music
I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Music Review
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    Little Girl Blue
I was intrigued by this album for quite some time. I saw the LP cover in a record shop that sells used albums, and just really thought the photo shot of Ms. Joplin was cool. Now I've bought the CD and am not disappointed (I've never bought any of her albums before). Some of the guitar work sounds a little ragged, but her backing musicians (I love the horns and organ) are right there for her. I usually don't like rating things, so this Janis album probably deserves five stars, but I am new to her work. Very good CD.
Submitted by Peter (Keokuk, IA USA) 
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 Last Will and Testamant.
This was not the last album, but is essentially Janis' last will and testament in musical form. It's all here. The aspiration to transcend adversity (TRY), the indecision (MAYBE) the hope for love (ONE GOOD MAN) and the realization that love was not on the cards for her (TO LOVE SOMEBODY, LITTLE GIRL BLUE). It all ties up with her resolution to sublimate her sense of loss in duty and hard work (WORK ME LORD).Janis sings, not screams, her heart out, and most of the performances are goosebump material. Don't waste this in a car, or as background listening. It deserves the quiet and respectful contemplation accorded to any soulful/bluesy classic from the golden ade of jazz. The live cuts tacked onto the end are welcome, but stop after WORK ME LORD, right where Janis wanted you to stop.Take a breath, and wonder to yourself, what if.....
Submitted by David Martin (Mt. Martha, Australia.)
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