1995 compilation album by Janis Joplin
18 Essential Songs is a collection of songs recorded throughout Janis Joplin 's career released in 1995 by Columbia Records . It included songs from her solo career as well as with Big Brother & the Holding Company . The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it as gold on April 12, 1999.
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [ 1]
AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann awarded the album 4.5 out of five stars and noted:
18 Essential Songs is a one-disc distillation of the triple-disc Janis box set. Running 70 minutes, it is a more extensive best-of than the ten-track 1973 Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits album. But it is denied "first pick" status because, unlike that album, it does not contain the hit version of Joplin's only number one single, "Me and Bobby McGee." (It does, however, contain an alternate demo version of that song.)[ 1]
Title Writer(s) Original album 1. "Trouble in Mind " Richard M. Jones demo (1963) 2:54 2. "Down on Me " traditional, arr. Janis Joplin Big Brother & the Holding Company 2:05 3. "Bye Bye Baby" Powell Saint John Big Brother & the Holding Company 2:38 4. "Ball and Chain " Big Mama Thornton recorded live 6/17/67 at Monterey Pop Festival 8:13 5. "Piece of My Heart " Bert Berns , Jerry Ragovoy Cheap Thrills 4:26 6. "I Need a Man to Love" Joplin, Sam Andrew Cheap Thrills 4:51 7. "Summertime " George , Ira Gershwin , DuBose Heyward Alternate take. Original on Cheap Thrills 4:06 8. "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" Ragovoy, Chip Taylor I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! 3:56 9. "One Good Man" Joplin I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! 4:09 10. "Kozmic Blues " Joplin, Gabriel Mekler I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! 4:22 11. "Raise Your Hand" Steve Cropper , Eddie Floyd , Alvertis Isbell recorded live 3/16/69 on The Ed Sullivan Show 2:18 12. "Tell Mama " Clarence Carter , Marcus Daniel, Wilbur TerrellFarewell Song 5:47 13. "Move Over" Joplin Pearl 3:40 14. "Mercedes Benz " Joplin, Mike McClure , Bob Neuwirth Pearl 1:46 15. "Get It While You Can" Ragovoy, Mort Shuman Pearl 3:23 16. "Half Moon" Johanna Hall, John Hall Pearl 3:52 17. "Trust Me" Bobby Womack Pearl 3:15 18. "Me and Bobby McGee " Kris Kristofferson , Fred Foster Alternate mono demo. Original on Pearl 3:58 Total length: 69:39
Janis Joplin – lead vocal, acoustic guitar (on "Me and Bobby McGee"), chorus voices
James Gurley , John Till , Jorma Kaukonen , Michael Bloomfield – guitars
Sam Andrew – guitars, backing vocals
Gabriel Mekler , Richard Kermode – keyboards
Ken Pearson – organ
Richard Bell – piano
Cornelius "Snooky" Flowers – baritone sax , backing vocals
Terry Clements – tenor sax
Luis Gasca – trumpet
Brad Campbell, Peter Albin – bass
Clark Pierson, Dave Getz , Lonnie Castille, Maury Baker, Roy Markowitz – drums, percussion
Sandra Crouch – tambourine
Bobbye Hall – conga/bongos
Full Tilt Boogie Band , Vince Mitchell, Phil Badella, John Cooke - chorus voices
Songs produced by Jorma Kaukonen , Bob Shad , John Phillips , Lou Adler , Elliot Mazer , Gabriel Mekler , Paul A. Rothchild
"Tell Mama" remixed by Elliot Mazer
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