Any fan of Janis Joplin who got to hear Pearl when it was first released in 1971 was both blessed and bereaved. The second and final solo album by the famed blues rock singer is an incredible piece of work that showcases just how talented she really was. Sadly, the album was also a posthumous release. Pearl was released just three months after Joplin died from an accidental heroin overdose.
Videos by American Songwriter
Even though the notion is sad, Janis Joplin’s death and the pain that led to it are core parts of the album. Her being gone lent some context to the pain that listeners could quite literally feel when listening to the album for the first time.
There’s a lot to love about Pearl, aside from the beautiful connection between Joplin and the record. The artwork is on another level, the production is incredible, and Joplin’s band went above and beyond. The record was always meant to be something that listeners would never forget.
The Beauty and Pain of ‘Pearl’ by Janis Joplin
Pearl proved that Joplin wasn’t just another late-1960s vocalist to make it big with a different band. She was more than capable of holding her own as a soloist. And she tried very hard to get there, despite coming off as aloof.
“She didn’t want people to know how hard she worked,” said biographer Holly George-Warren. “She wanted people to think she was just this vessel, or this megaphone, or something that was just up there on stage, and the music and emotions were just coming out of her.”
Pearl really embodied Joplin’s entire range of emotions as a soul singer. And, both beautifully and sadly, it also showed how much pain she was in. Despite her persona composed of big smiles and virtually endless charisma, Joplin was struggling. Specifically, her battle with drug addiction was a losing game that eventually claimed her life. And she dealt with internal struggles involving her fame, her sexuality, and living with mental health problems.
“She wasn’t just standing up there singing,” George-Warren continued. “She was basically emptying out her guts through that amazing voice of hers, and touching her audience members like they had never been touched before.”
“Mercedes Benz” was the last song Joplin recorded for the album. The song ends with her saying “that’s it” and giggling with that signature cackle. It’s haunting, in a way, as if Joplin knew she wasn’t going to be around for a very long time.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.