[2018-11-30] Big Brother And The Holding Company "Sex, Dope And Cheap Thrills" 2CD set (Legacy)

Charlie · **Joined:** 23 Dec 2014 **Posts:** 14195

Description
Sex, Dope And Cheap Thrills takes listeners into the sessions of Big Brother and The Holding Company's landmark second album Cheap Thrills - the album that introduced the world to the raw power of vocalist Janis Joplin. This 2CD set features 16 alternate takes (14 of which are previously unreleased) of unforgettable songs from Cheap Thrills, including "Piece Of My Heart," "Summertime," "Ball and Chain" and "Catch Me Daddy." Liner notes by Big Brother drummer Dave Getz and Jefferson Airplane vocalist Grace Slick set the scene as one of the decade's most powerful rock and roll singers put forth a document that would inspire generations to come.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. Combination Of The Two (Take 3)
2. I Need A Man To Love (Take 4)
3. Summertime (Take 2) *
4. Piece Of My Heart (Take 6)
5. Harry (Take 10)
6. Turtle Blues (Take 4)
7. Oh, Sweet Mary
8. Ball And Chain (Live, The Winterland Ballroom, April 12, 1968)
9. Roadblock (Take 1) *
10. Catch Me Daddy (Take 1)
11. It's A Deal (Take 1) *
12. Easy Once You Know How (Take 1) *
13. How Many Times Blues Jam
14. Farewell Song (Take 7)

[CD2]
1. Flower In The Sun (Take 3)
2. Oh Sweet Mary
3. Summertime (Take 1)
4. Piece Of My Heart (Take 4)
5. Catch Me Daddy (Take 9)
6. Catch Me Daddy (Take 10)
7. I Need A Man To Love (Take 3)
8. Harry (Take 9)
9. Farewell Song (Take 4)
10. Misery'n (Takes 2 & 3)
11. Misery'n (Take 4)
12. Magic Of Love (Take 1) *
13. Turtle Blues (Take 9)
14. Turtle Blues (Last Verse Takes 1-3)
15. Piece Of My Heart (Take 3)
16. Farewell Song (Take 5)

* Previously released

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HC3VFGK/?tag=imwan-20

Larry · **Joined:** 10 Feb 2008 **Posts:** 5099

Oh wow! <swooning>

Thanks Charlie!

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

Stumpy Joe · **Joined:** 29 Apr 2014 **Posts:** 1538

Nice! I'm just confused to the extent that I'm not sure of the take numbers of the previously released stuff--and the fact that the blurb promises 14 previously unreleased tracks, yet the track listing indicates five out of thirty tracks as previously released.

Still--looks like a pretty impressive collection. (Is it intended to stay ahead of the 50-year EU copyright provision?)

Has there ever been an official explanation as to whatever happened to the "Kozmic Blues" session tapes?

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

Here's a slightly longer version of what Charlie posted:

Rolling Stone wrote:

Big Brother & the Holding Company's 'Cheap Thrills' will be reissued under its original title, 'Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills.'

Malcolm Lubliner/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Big Brother & the Holding Company‘s Cheap Thrills — Janis Joplin‘s breakout album and her final one with the band — will be reissued on November 30th via Columbia/Legacy Recordings. The 50th anniversary set will be released under its original title, Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills, which Columbia considered too controversial in 1968.

The new reissue revisits the 1968 sessions that produced the chart-topping Cheap Thrills and comprises alternate song takes. On the 2-CD edition (a different 2-LP edition will also be available), 25 of the 30 songs have never been previously released.

It also offers a new version of “Ball and Chain.” On the original Cheap Thrills, dubbed-in crowd noise was added to mimic a live album, despite “Ball and Chain” being the only track that was recorded at a concert. Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills includes an alternate live version of the song, which was taped at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on April 12th, 1968.

The reissue features liner notes penned by Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick and Big Brother & the Holding Company drummer Dave Getz.

“Cheap Thrills seems to have stood the test of time,” Getz writes in the liner notes. “It might be because it is arguably the greatest work by a great artist, Janis Joplin. It is certainly the greatest and closest representation of what Big Brother & the Holding Company was as a band and I would add to that argument that Big Brother/Janis as a band, and as a SOUND, was the embodiment of the San Francisco, psychedelic, counter-culture of the 1960s.”

“On another, more metaphorical level and in the perspective created by the distance of 50 years, I see Cheap Thrills as a time capsule for the year 1968,” he adds. “That year might have been the moment when it all came to a boil for Big Brother, Janis and the entire 1960s, acid-infused, revved-to-the-max, counter-culture generation.”

Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills 2-CD Edition Track List

Disc One
1. “Combination of the Two” (Take 3)
2. “I Need a Man to Love” (Take 4)
3. “Summertime” (Take 2) *
4. “Piece of My Heart” (Take 6)
5. “Harry” (Take 10)
6. “Turtle Blues” (Take 4)
7. “Oh, Sweet Mary”
8. “Ball and Chain” (live, The Winterland Ballroom, April 12, 1968)
9. “Roadblock” (Take 1) *
10. “Catch Me Daddy” (Take 1)
11. “It’s a Deal” (Take 1) *
12. “Easy Once You Know How” (Take 1) *
13. “How Many Times Blues Jam”
14. “Farewell Song” (Take 7)

Disc Two
1. “Flower in the Sun” (Take 3)
2. “Oh Sweet Mary”
3. “Summertime” (Take 1)
4. “Piece of My Heart” (Take 4)
5. “Catch Me Daddy” (Take 9)
6. “Catch Me Daddy” (Take 10)
7. “I Need a Man to Love” (Take 3)
8. “Harry” (Take 9)
9. “Farewell Song” (Take 4)
10. “Misery’n” (Takes 2 & 3)
11. “Misery’n” (Take 4)
12. “Magic of Love” (Take 1) *
13. “Turtle Blues” (Take 9)
14. “Turtle Blues” (last verse Takes 1-3)
15. “Piece of My Heart” (Take 3)
16. “Farewell Song” (Take 5)

Stumpy Joe · **Joined:** 29 Apr 2014 **Posts:** 1538

Here's an additional note I found:

Quote:

Of the 30 tracks showcased on the 2-CD edition of Sex, Dope & Cheap Thrills, only five have been previously released: “Summertime (Take 2)” (on a 1993 Joplin compilation); “Roadblock (Take 1)” (on the 1999 Cheap Thrills reissue); “It’s A Deal (Take 1)” and “Easy Once You Know How (Take 1)” (both on the 1999 “Rare Pearls” disc in the Box of Pearls set); and “Magic Of Love (Take 1)” (from the Columbia/Legacy Record Store Day release, Move Over!).

https://bestclassicbands.com/joplin-big ... e-9-18-18/

Charlie · **Joined:** 23 Dec 2014 **Posts:** 14195

"Piece Of My Heart (Take 4)":

Stumpy Joe · **Joined:** 29 Apr 2014 **Posts:** 1538

Charlie wrote:

"Piece Of My Heart (Take 4)":

Wow--it always amazes me to hear these "new" recordings of familiar songs. This one is especially interesting. Joplin seems lightyears ahead of her bandmates.

I've never quite bought the thesis that BBATHC was this incredibly talented band, unfairly overshadowed by Janis Joplin, but I do think that none of her subsequent bands suited her as well as BBATHC. Part of me wonders whether this collection will indicate the extent to which she made them better. At first glance, this one take seems to indicate this.

Some of these sessions were apparently actually filmed--I know that the original "Janis" documentary had a scene where Joplin was telling some story to the rest of the band, in the studio, apparently between takes. Not sure if any of this footage can be found elsewhere, or who filmed it and why.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

I have a vague memory of seeing film of BB&THC recordings Summertime. I think both made the other better. I like all of JJ work, but prefer BB. I can't stand BB without her, though.

Charlie · **Joined:** 23 Dec 2014 **Posts:** 14195

Another sample from this release:

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

I'm a little more than 1/2 way through this. IMO, other than In Concert, it's JJ's best post houmous release. Essential for fans.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Geff R. wrote:

I'm a little more than 1/2 way through this. IMO, other than In Concert, it's JJ's best post houmous release. Essential for fans.

Thanks my friend. Glad you post your thoughts and personal review(s).

We need more of this people, Geff can't be the only one doing the heavy lifting.

Robert Meagher · 30 Sep 2006

IMO this deluxe release of Cheap Thrills was what the 50th Anniversary of Electric Ladyland should have been. This was a great album. Over the years it has been overlooked, I know Pearl is more popular but I have always preferred this release. One of the top vault releases of the year.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

This all alternates, outtakes & live. It does not include the original album. I agree that Cheap Thrills is her best. My 2nd fav is In Concert, which if I remember right, is 50% Big Brother. It's a shame she left that band.

Stumpy Joe · **Joined:** 29 Apr 2014 **Posts:** 1538

I agree with Geff and Robert--this release is a gem! Big Brother have never sounded so engaging. I may well like this better than the original album. Why did Sony leave this stuff in the vault for so long back when they were doling out substandard stuff such as Joplin's Woodstock performance, one song at a time, for so many years?

Part of me is now in the mood to go back and try and compile an updated Joplin recording/concert chronology/discography. (Especially as I'm weary of trying to wrangle similar, yet far more massive lists for other artists.)

For what it's worth--the two versions of "Oh, Sweet Mary" on this set are indeed alternate versions; Every tracklisting I've dug up does not indicate take any take numbers, leading me to believe that none were noted in any session logs.

Also of note: The booklet--which is actually printed in a legible font!--contains a couple of great pieces by Dave Getz (and a third by Grace Slick).

Even better--IT COMES IN A JEWEL BOX!

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Stumpy Joe wrote:

I agree with Geff and Robert--this release is a gem! Big Brother have never sounded so engaging. I may well like this better than the original album. Why did Sony leave this stuff in the vault for so long back when they were doling out substandard stuff such as Joplin's Woodstock performance, one song at a time, for so many years?

Part of me is now in the mood to go back and try and compile an updated Joplin recording/concert chronology/discography. (Especially as I'm weary of trying to wrangle similar, yet far more massive lists for other artists.)

For what it's worth--the two versions of "Oh, Sweet Mary" on this set are indeed alternate versions; Every tracklisting I've dug up does not indicate take any take numbers, leading me to believe that none were noted in any session logs.

Also of note: The booklet--which is actually printed in a legible font!--contains a couple of great pieces by Dave Getz (and a third by Grace Slick).

Even better--IT COMES IN A JEWEL BOX!

Man, I need this! :thumbsup:

[2018-11-30] Big Brother And The Holding Company "Sex, Dope And Cheap Thrills" 2CD set (Legacy)

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