Customer Rating: 
Summary: My Soul Sister No1
Comment: The first sight I ever had of Janis Joplin was in 1977 when I was 11 years old, and with my pocket money one day I bought a book, 'The Illustrated Rock Almanac'. The photos were tiny, but I marvelled at a woman who looked to be wailing like a wild animal - hair frizzy and flying, mouth open wide enough to swallow the rest of the 8 X 10 book! Then my first experience of hearing her voice was in 1980 - I heard 'Move Over' on the radio one Sunday lunchtime, and I could not continue eating my food! I hadn't heard a woman sound like that and I was enthralled. Then this film was shown on TV here in the UK and I finally saw Janis in action.
Now, all these years later, I am still awed by her power, soulfulness, humour and raw sensuality as a performer. This film is a joy for fans and a fine collection of essential footage. Janis is unique. Still my Soul Sister No1 - She'll never be eclipsed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Video
Comment: This is a fantastic compilation video of Janis. Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis and her music was 25 years ahead of their time. It should also be noted that Grace Slick, along with members of the Jefferson Airplane, were good friends with Janis and all lived in the San Francisco Haight-Asbury area as they build their music careers. Grace and Janis were THE two women of the 60's that were pivotal in shaping rock music as we know it today.
Customer Rating:
Summary: brilliant
Comment: This is a great documentary, chronicling the rise of the great star that was Janis Joplin. This film focuses more on the wisdom, amazing set of pipes and great stage charisma that the late, great performer has, than her battles with depression, and drug addiction (which finally led to her death, before even reaching the age of thirty, within two weeks of Jimi Hendrix's death).
This is a great montage of interview clips, concert footage and even a photo collage, chronicling the stages and ages of Joplin. Some of her greatest hits are featured here ("Ball and Chain," "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" and "Move Over," among others). There really was never anyone quite like Janis, and there never will be. She had a combination of fiery sexuality, heartwrenching lyrics and the ability to deliver songs filled with feeling and passion, at times, even wailing the lyrics. At the same time, underneath the wild delivery of the songs, was a true musical brilliance and technicality incomparable to any artist. How fortunate we are to have this footage of a true musical legend preserved in film......Highly reccomended.....
Customer Rating:
Summary: POWERFUL
Comment: This is a powerful movie, and only a taste of what Janis was like. If your a Janis fan, you need this movie in your collection.Very well made doco., great concert footage, and insite with the interview clips. Janis will live forever, Try, Ball and Chain, Bobby McGee, Mercedes Benz, all jump off the screen and slap you across the face, raw, true power, and a larger than life legend.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent documentary shows the heart, and spirit of Janis
Comment: This 1974 documentary contains some of Janis Joplin's best performances as well as some great spontaneous interviews. It has her incredible performance of Ball and Chain at Monterey ('67), some Cheap Thrills studio sessions ('68), Woodstock ('69), and Calgary ('70). She blows away the audience on Dick Cavett with Move Over and breaks down during the High School reunion interviews. Where she came from in Port Arthur, TX is such a contrast to who she was. And who she was was the incarnation of the Spirit of the 1960s counter-culture.
We get 2 great performances of Piece of My Heart, one of Tell Mama, Try, and Summertime both live and in studio. If you really get into this you might, just might, see God in Janis. She seeps sexuality in her performances, and reveals substantial depth of insight and intellect when interviewed. Even as we are in the midst of our 21st century Brittany Spears culture, we can go back to this and know there was once an unflinching soaring eagle in free flight.
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