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JANIS JOPLIN – The Late Great Voice Had Her ‘PEARL’ Album Out 55 Years Ago Today

Significant longplayers from the past

11 January 2026

The late great voice and charismatic performer JANIS JOPLIN
(January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) had her second and final
solo LP, named PEARL, out on 11 January 1971, today 55 years ago,
3 months after she passed away following a drug overdose.

The LP went to No. 1 in the US and #20 in the UK.

Pearl features the number one hit ‘Me and Bobby McGee’, written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster (Joplin played acoustic guitar on this track); ‘Trust Me’ by Bobby Womack, Howard Tate wrote ‘Get It While You Can’. ‘Move Over‘ and ‘Mercedes Benz‘, the latter co-written by Joplin, Bobby Neuwirth, and Michael McClure.

Rolling Stone: “Pearl is a good record and Janis is often magnificent. The voice cut off was clearly in its prime. I suspect that some of the tracks are not in their final shape, but these are not scraps, and there is every indication that Janis was working toward a new maturity and confidence.”

Janis Joplin: “I’m one of those regular weird people.”

TUTV: That voice! A pearl of a record! Janis 4ever!

– SINGLE –

– ALBUM –

Short Bio

British Starry-Eyed Voice PEARL Shines On Debut EP ‘WHERE I GO’

Posted on July 23, 2023 by JL

23 July 2023

British singer-songwriter/producer PEARL who grew up in the English countryside,
much of her childhood centred around building dens in the forest, has released her delightful 4-track, titled WHERE I GO

“PEARL is my birthstone and holds a lot of symbolism
for me. I finally feel grounded and sure of myself.”

The EP showcases four tracks which touch on the theme of acceptance. Each song
was written as a way of processing emotions and events and moving on from them
in a positive way.

PEARL explains: “Writing these songs was a really reflective process, I would look back at a memory, make sense of it, and plot a path through. It was really cathartic. Music is very visual for me, and I love to create little worlds around it. This EP is verdant, a secret spot in the garden with round velvet chairs, cocooned and warm, with soft edges and lots of plants. I look at the music as biophilic, the synths, drums and production are the architecture, and my voice, the organic sounds, and the lyrics are the green and natural elements that run through…I’ve
always had an overactive imagination!”

TUTV: PEARL’s voice is the star in the middle, operating in a universe where you also can listen to Cocteau Twin‘s shiny vocalist Liz Fraser and Kate Bush‘s moonstruck moments. An instrumental instrument for four melodic ruminations, four sonic rainbows in the air and yours to take and to embrace. Where I Go is indie synth pop for dreamers who love to look at the bright side of life but fully know that reality can be a drag. Four-star debut. Another proof of how music can have a healing and soothing power.

VIDEOS for Years and Go!