Big Brother and The Holding Company

3-31-09 Big Brother & The Holding Company

Couldn’t find a Big Brother or Janis Joplin blog, so here goes…

LP BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN MAINSTREAM US S/6099

1966 10 TRKS stereo, original issue

LP BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN CBS/SONY JPN 25AP 1242

1966 12 TRKS re-issue (2 x bonus tracks)

CD BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN SONY JPN SICP-1665

1966 14 TRKS ('07 issue) (4 x bonus tracks) kami sleeve

CD BIG BROTHER & HOLDING CO. featuring JANIS JOPLIN COLUMBIA US CK 66425

1966 14 TRKS ('99 issue) (4 x bonus tracks)

LP CHEAP THRILLS CBS UK 63382

1968 7 TRKS U.K. pressing

CD CHEAP THRILLS SONY JPN SICP-1666

1968 11 TRKS (4 x bonus tracks) ('07 issue) kami sleeve

CD CHEAP THRILLS COLUMBIA US CK 65784

1968 11 TRKS re-mastered (4 x bonus tracks)

7" DOWN ON ME / CALL ON ME MAINSTREAM US 662

1967? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" LAST TIME, THE / COO COO MAINSTREAM US 678

1966? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD LIVE AT WINTERLAND '68 COLUMBIA US CK 64869

1998 14 TRKS Live 4/12/68

Janis solo:

CD I GOT DEM OL' KOZMIC BLUES re COLUMBIA US CK 65785

1969 11 TRKS re-mastered

LP PEARL COLUMBIA US KC 30322

1970 10 TRKS original issue

CD PEARL re COLUMBIA US CK 65786

1970 14 TRKS re-mastered (4 x bonus tracks)

CD RARE PEARLS (Collection) COLUMBIA US CK 65936

1999 5 TRK EP Collection

I believe my older sister Marilyn let me hear “Cheap Thrills” by Big Brother, probably towards the end of 1968. Straight-forward San Francisco rock music. I loved the Robert Crumb cover art on “Cheap Thrills” I think my brother had their debut LP, and I really liked that one – “Blind Man”, “Down On Me” etc.

I thought enough of these two albums to get Japanese kami sleeve (paper sleeve) CD’s of them. I was always pleased that they added the “Last Time” b/w “Coo Coo” 45 to this CD. Never so fond of the live songs or out-takes that usually grace Janis Joplin releases. The best stuff usually made the original LP.

I was about 12 when she died. I knew it had been a ‘drug death’. I felt a sense of loss, but I got over it. But I always kept my Big Brother 45’s & LP’s. I am less fond of her two solo albums, “Pearl” and “I Got Dem Ol’…” – Big Brother were sure good in the “Monterey Pop” film. And I really enjoyed the “Live At Winterland” CD. I read a few of the books, too.

I remain a fan, if only for the two Big Brother LP’s / CD’s.