Farewell Song
This collection features Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company as well as live with the Kozmic Blues Band. There’s also a tear-down-the walls version of Etta James’s “Tell Mama” with Full Tilt Boogie, recorded live in Toronto. Other highlights include a studio recording of “One Night Stand” (produced by Todd Rundgren) and a marvelous rendition of Sam Andrews’s poignant “Farewell Song,” taken from a 1968 Winterland show. Ending the CD is Joplin’s killer “Catch Me Daddy,” taken from a Cheap Thrills session. The members of Big Brother dislike this album intensely, since the producer replaced the band’s instrumentals with those of studio musicians. This is one of Joplin’s most inspired studio vocals, and it would be interesting to hear the instrumental track that brought out such an incredible performance...

Karen Elson
Vinicio Capossela
Charlotte Church
Diana Krall
ABBA