Big Brother and the Holding Company were a significant part of the emerging San Francisco psychedelic scene of the mid to late sixties. They were faster, louder and looser than most others and they had made a name for themselves in that city before deciding to take on a young female singer that would alter the trajectory of their career. Enter one Janis Joplin, who proceeded to cut her teeth singing over the top of this loudest and noisiest of bands.
On the two cd 'The Lost Tapes', Janis doesn't always take center stage vocal-wise, because that was how it was, she was part of a band with three singers, Peter Albin, Sam Andrew and herself. Studio cut 'Bye Bye Baby' kicks off the album's first cd and this is Janis taking lead vocal and is a controlled performance. There follows a number of live cuts where the band cut loose and Janis sings with the band rather than them backing her, although she does get to feature on a significant number of songs, like 'Women Is Losers'. The band tackle 'Amazing Grace' with three part harmonies in a good 'ole church style before blasting the hell out of the song in fast and frenzied manner. On the classic 'Hi Heel Sneakers', Janis gets the lead again and sings a tough vocal over the supercharged 12 bar that the band pump out. 'All Is Loneliness' is an exercise in control and restraint that conjures up a haunting almost tribal groove that demonstrates that sublety was well within the band's capabilities when they chose to back off a bit. The song stretches out to around nine minutes but rises and falls and retains one's attention throughout. The second cd continues with more live cuts and the band working out in front of an audience. 'Moanin' At Midnight' again demonstrates that Big Brother could work a groove quite effectively which was no mean feat as not all bands of the era could get their heads around the concept. 'Oh My Soul' sees the band rocking hard on this lesser known Little Richard number with some nimble, speedy runs from Mr Gurley to add to the frantic atmosphere conjured up by the band. One of the songs most associated with Janis Joplin, 'Ball And Chain' follows and this version is equal parts guitar workout and supercharged Janis vocal frenzy and once again has a cool groove going on during the six minutes plus duration. The second cd finishes with a take on 'The Hall Of The Mountain King' which starts with the familiar riff and then jumps off into a psychedelic guitar tear up which shows perhaps more than most cuts on this collection what the band might have been like before the arrival of their fledgling superstar vocalist.
It has to be remembered that the band's following up to the time of Ms Joplin's arrival was because of the rip roaring guitar work of James Gurley supported by Sam Andrew and so if you expect to experience a whole slew of pure Janis singing her heart out, then you may be disappointed. This album is about the band that took her in and during her tenure she grew in stature until she left to go solo. Even so, there is more than enough to satisfy a fan hungry to hear more Janis, but this is also a document of a band who's light was shining before her arrival and has continued to do so in the years following her departure from both the band and ultimately (and sadly) this mortal coil. So there's something for everyone on here, stinging Janis Joplin vocals and stinging acid rock from one of San Francisco's premier bands of the 1960's psychedelic scene.
Reviewed by Kevin Wallbank
05/25/09
