I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama

What a voice, what a star, love Janis!

Janis Joplin wasn't what you might call prolific. Although there are numerous live albums, compilations and box sets of outtakes and other stuff, she recorded just four studio albums between 1967 and 1971; two with Big Brother and The Holding Company, one with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, and this her third, but first solo album backed by the Kozmic Blues Band. Originally just eight tracks but here with the addition of three bonus interesting tracks.But focussing on the original eight track release, this is the album that saw Joplin stepping out of the shadow of Big Brother and the Holding Company to take control of her sound and direction moving away from the heavier blues-rock sound of "Cheap Thrills" towards an r'n'b/funky groove. While there are still touches of blues-rock in opener "Try", as side one progress the direction moves firmly towards the funky and the horns take centre stage for the closer "As Good As You've Been To This World", and continue up-front into the second side that opens with Joplin's take on the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody". Elsewhere Joplin tries on different hats, in "Little Girl Blue" she's Joplin the soul-singer while "Work Me, Lord" is Joplin in gospel mode, but with exception of the self-penned numbers, blues ballad "One Good Man" and rocker "Kozmic Blues" this is largely new Joplin the soul-funkster not old Joplin the rocker.So yes it's Janis Joplin, and yes it's far better produced than her earlier work but for me this is both too funky and too anodyne lacking the chaotic excitement of the Big Brother and the Holding Company recordings that were produced when she was just one of the boys in the band [and yes I know people will disagree with me] . But it's still Janis Joplin and she still has that magnificent voice so it's still four stars.

Not a great sound

She came she concord, beautiful work Janis, shining star that burned too fast.Love what you did RIP well deserved.You smarhed it girl. They were fools you were gold.Always remembered.

Listen to this album and then tell me that JJ couldn't move you to your soul! I think that 'Little Girl Blue' is the finest performance Janis ever put on record, it's so deep and beautiful. 'Try (Just a little bit harder)' swings and rocks like crazy. 'Maybe' features some of Janis's most magical flights into her high-register. 'Work Me, Lord' is the record to put on when you're feeling like you're having a 'Long Dark Night of the Soul', the closing moments are absolutely wrenching. JJ might have been having some of her hardest battles with drink and heroin at the time, but on this album she pulled out performances any singer would have been proud of.Rolling Stone repeatedly panned Janis throughout her brief career, then eulogised her to the clouds when she died. The review of 'Pearl' was respectful, whereas 'Kozmic Blues' got a huge thumbs-down.But come on and give it a spin. I think you'll want to keep it and replay it. Let Janis tell it to you like it is - she still moves me to my soul!

Slammed at the time by dopes like Ralph Gleason, Joplin is utterly brilliant throughout and the band smokes too. Unmissable.