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Big Brother & the Holding Company — Summertime
Album: Cheap Thrills
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2962









Released: 1968
Length: 3:56
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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Summertime, time, time
Child, the living's easy
Fish are jumping out
And the cotton, Lord
Cotton's high, Lord, so high

Your daddy's rich
And your ma is so good-looking, baby
She's looking good now
Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
No, no, no, no, don't you cry
Don't you cry!

One of these mornings
You're gonna rise, rise up singing
You're gonna spread your wings
Child, and take, take to the sky
Lord, the sky

But until that morning
Honey, n-n-nothing's going to harm you now
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Don't you cry
Cry
Comments (390)add comment
 snitramc wrote:

My dad was a professional jazz musician playing the 1940s borscht belt circuit, who served our country in WWII. His bands backed up Ella Fitzgerald on the east coast multiple times. He appreciated all music. And one day when I was 10, he came home with the newly released Cheap Thrills and insisted on playing this song for my Monkees loving older sister and me. Little did I know how great this interpretation was. This will always stand the test of time.



What a great story. Thanks.
Posted 2 days ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
 missionaire wrote:

I was today years old when I learned that Axl Rose is actually an anagram of Janis Joplin. 

Seriously, Axl's whole vocal style  is about as bang-on an impression as Heath Ledger's homage to Tom Waits in that Batman movie. 

Axl Rose is an anagram of Oral Sex,  not Janis Joplin , though maybe her "pearl " nickname sticks?


Posted 1 week ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
I was today years old when I learned that Axl Rose is actually an anagram of Janis Joplin. 

Seriously, Axl's whole vocal style  is about as bang-on an impression as Heath Ledger's homage to Tom Waits in that Batman movie. 
Posted 2 weeks ago by missionaire    [ Reply ]
The pallette cleansing sorbet of a virtuoso discordant performance. Wonderful! 
Posted 2 months ago by SECA_Alan    [ Reply ]
i don't care.
i love this.
since the first time i ever heard it.
and no amount of others dislike of it will make one iota of difference.
i loved it then, i love it still, and
i always will.
Just my tu'pence-worth, as always.
Posted 3 months ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
 skiboy53 wrote:

I have never heard any artist come close to imitating Janis's voice and soul. I'm guessing it would be nearly impossible.  



Tom Waits?  With the other comments here about "jazziness" and the mention of Ella Fitzgerald, what if Janis and Tom had a duet of "La Vie en rose" like Ella and Louis had?  I know a fair share of people may not care for Janis' style, same as with Tom's; but could have been a hell of a cover.... that a lot of people probably would have snarky remarks about.  But still, I could imagine it.
Posted 3 months ago by warphish    [ Reply ]
Janis and the entire band sound as if they're absolutely mangled.
Posted 3 months ago by lovelyhelicopter    [ Reply ]
 rnielsen66 wrote:

Such a classic rendition of Gershwin. So heartfelt. Janice lives forever in so many people’s hearts. 


*Janis
Posted 5 months ago by TurtleMan    [ Reply ]
My colleague (a classical music fan) once challenged me to find a modern music piece with a fugue in it. Technically you might be able to discredit the guitar playing as a poor mans fugue, but hey! He was listening with interest and satisfaction until she started to sing. He visibly cringed and I laughed my head off.
Posted 9 months ago by Kaw    [ Reply ]
 Segue wrote:

R-E-S-P-E-C-T  < got it

FU < ?


Posted 9 months ago by heymull    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:



R-E-S-P-E-C-T
FU
Posted 9 months ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this in awhile and just bumped it from a 9 to 10. It cuts through the modern day crap like a hot knife through butter.
Posted 1 year ago by TallCreative1    [ Reply ]
emotional performer 
Posted 1 year ago by ray_killeen    [ Reply ]


Was juckt es die Eiche, wenn sich das Schwein dran scheuert? Ein göttliches Lied!

Godlike!

Posted 1 year ago by KalleB    [ Reply ]
Hmm, that's odd, there is a similarity between this and John Batiste's version of Fur Elise.  Is that why William played it first? Damn! William has a good ear, if so, I would never have noticed. Then maybe I'm imaging it.
Posted 1 year ago by sajitjacob    [ Reply ]
Never have understood the appeal of this performance and cannot see changing my opinion. Honestly, if this was by anyone else it’s hard to imagine anything like the apparent attraction it engenders 
Posted 1 year ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
I don't care. I love it, and always have, since i first heard it. I don't feel any need to justify that or even to wonder 'why'. I just do.
my tu'pence worth. Thank you.
Posted 1 year ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:


Exactly.  I am open to many styles, etc, but this is kinda what I thought.
Posted 2 years ago by timesliphu    [ Reply ]
 revolver wrote:

My friend asked if this was Marge Simpson singing, and now I can't unhear it....




 now i can't unhear it, too. 
Posted 2 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Back when album covers were something to look at.
Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
My friend asked if this was Marge Simpson singing, and now I can't unhear it....
Posted 3 years ago by revolver    [ Reply ]
 rnielsen66 wrote:

Such a classic rendition of Gershwin. So heartfelt. Janice lives forever in so many people’s hearts. 




I Agree completely!!   
Posted 3 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
  and so does Janis lol
Posted 3 years ago by rnielsen66    [ Reply ]
Such a classic rendition of Gershwin. So heartfelt. Janice lives forever in so many people’s hearts. 
Posted 3 years ago by rnielsen66    [ Reply ]
The Robert Crumb vinyl cover alone is a TEN.
Then the memories appear when listening, and a tear of emotion slides down my face. A TEN for sure.
Posted 3 years ago by 1100R    [ Reply ]
Soul and Wailing!
This Song...
Big Brother and Janis at their best.
Posted 3 years ago by shhhh777    [ Reply ]
Nice! How about Summertime by Gare du Nord?
Posted 3 years ago by Philipirata    [ Reply ]
 Roguewarer wrote:

“Before returning to music here at RP, let’s listen to the song that came in second place for the Emergency Broadcast System Warning Alert.”

Of all the overrated vocalists, Joplin is the most overratedest. 



You're really showing your age there my friend. She has been gone for 52 years. I seriously doubt any of  'da yoof' have ever even heard of her, let alone overrated her.
It's only us aging hippies that remember & maybe that's not a bad thing...
Posted 3 years ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
This is Bill's favourite recording. He just said that! I wouldn't go that far but its on my top ten!
Posted 3 years ago by BlackBetty    [ Reply ]
nope.
Posted 4 years ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
I never realized until just now how bad the guitar solo work in the middle of the song is. Ugh.
Posted 4 years ago by TurtleMan    [ Reply ]
Doin Time then this...OMG, pure genius!
Posted 4 years ago by LuvsMusic    [ Reply ]
Please don’t leave. This is superb!
Posted 4 years ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
Sorry, I have to leave RP now and go listen to the whole damn Cheap Thrills album.
Posted 4 years ago by gillespp    [ Reply ]
sounds like she had a very sad life
Posted 4 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
 jbjnr wrote:

During?




That is funny. However, I just raised this to a 10 - Goddess-like.
Posted 4 years ago by whaleboneman    [ Reply ]
“Before returning to music here at RP, let’s listen to the song that came in second place for the Emergency Broadcast System Warning Alert.”

Of all the overrated vocalists, Joplin is the most overratedest. 
Posted 4 years ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
I heard her sing ....live. Some of the best moments of my life!
Posted 4 years ago by hdavid7    [ Reply ]
I have never heard any artist come close to imitating Janis's voice and soul. I'm guessing it would be nearly impossible.  
Posted 4 years ago by skiboy53    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

Just give me a minute while I google vasovagal..


Well?
Posted 4 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
Lana Del Rey "Doin Time" followed by "Summertime". Amazing, it was already in my head. <3 RP
Posted 5 years ago by webmaster2    [ Reply ]
I still tear up every time I hear this, along with a pristine recording  of it from Amsterdam with The Full Tilt Boogie Band . The raw emotion as well as the power of it. Then there's that voice, she wields it like a weapon sometimes, other times a caress. 
Played on a high end device and indescribable really. (Pretty easy to see with my lame description. . .)
Posted 5 years ago by WWWillie    [ Reply ]
 StfuDonny wrote:
Agreeing with Bill G's understated observation that "there appears to be a diversity of opinions" on her work. Looks to me like she invokes a vasovagal response in some. I, however, appreciate her uniqueness and definitely love having her in the RP Soup
 
Just give me a minute while I google vasovagal..
Posted 5 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
I literally cringe every time this garbage is played, since I listen using Winamp there is no PSD so I just have to turn the volume down.

a minus 10 for me.
Posted 5 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
The immense talent of Janis Joplin is evident in this LP. The band is mediocre at best but her voice carries the LP. That and a great cover by R.Crumb!
Posted 5 years ago by todbothom    [ Reply ]
A sound similar to that of a pig being slaughtered. Thanks Janis.
Posted 5 years ago by DunstanBurke    [ Reply ]
I'd like to hear Marge Simpson do a cover of this 
Posted 5 years ago by Ben_D_Wire    [ Reply ]
 Odtphy wrote:
A timeless piece of art. And one of the songs that will be played at my funeral.


 
Hopefully, your mourners won't mind the inconsideration.
Posted 5 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
 philbertr wrote:

Summers always go so fast
 

Especially when the last two weeks are blanketed in smoke...
Posted 5 years ago by derhey9416    [ Reply ]
 Grammarcop wrote:
Last day of summer.

 
Summers always go so fast
Posted 5 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
Classic - gets a 10 because there's no 15.
Posted 5 years ago by joko63808    [ Reply ]
Last day of summer.

Posted 5 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
chills still, the irony of it all, hearing it now knowing Janis is lost.
Posted 5 years ago by mmartinwhite1938    [ Reply ]
Agreeing with Bill G's understated observation that "there appears to be a diversity of opinions" on her work. Looks to me like she invokes a vasovagal response in some. I, however, appreciate her uniqueness and definitely love having her in the RP Soup. 
Posted 5 years ago by StfuDonny    [ Reply ]
Horrible.
Posted 5 years ago by nickodgers    [ Reply ]
NOPE
Posted 5 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
It would be interesting to know the ages of those commenting Pro & Con on this piece to see if there is a co-relation.
As an old fan from the days when she was still with us, I think we sadly miss her and most of her music. You don't often hear that kind of soulful music anymore.
Posted 5 years ago by Canadese    [ Reply ]
A nine straight from the mine - just for the cover. Well, not really. Pretty good song. Why did she ever ditch that band?
Posted 6 years ago by Shipp    [ Reply ]
 jbjnr wrote:

During?


 

Posted 6 years ago by finoufk    [ Reply ]
One of, if not the, best Janis tracks ever.

Well worth listening to through high end stereo too.
Posted 6 years ago by SgtBeefheart    [ Reply ]
A timeless piece of art. And one of the songs that will be played at my funeral.

Gruesse aus Deutschland an den Rest der RP-Welt
Posted 6 years ago by Odtphy    [ Reply ]
hearing Brian Johnson in the vocals a bit... ;-)
Posted 6 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
9 - I prefer the version on Live on Winterland '68 ( that's a true 10).
Posted 6 years ago by norbertZ    [ Reply ]
The cause of this recording was heroin overdose.
Posted 6 years ago by sjccroquet    [ Reply ]
 aaronm wrote:
The parts of this song that aren't Janis Joplin singing are really great! 
 
And the parts of this song that ARE Janis Joplin singing are FANTASTIC!!  This is a 9 for me; Long Live RP!!
Posted 6 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
The parts of this song that aren't Janis Joplin singing are really great! 
Posted 6 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
Wow a Janice Joplin song I have never heard of
Posted 6 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Zap Comics cover to boot
Posted 6 years ago by marysclark    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 6 years ago by WannabeBanned    [ Reply ]
I'm a big fan of  Crumb's artwork, but aspects of this album cover are not "evergreen"....
Posted 7 years ago by Ipse_Dixit    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:

 
Accurate. I don't mind Janis in some other circumstances, but hooooly this is not doing anything for me today.
Posted 7 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
 wpost wrote:
I can't stand Janis Joplin, but for some reason I don't understand, I found myself hovering over PSD but unable to push it, mesmerized. Now that it's ended and the spell is broken I have to admit, wow, that was good.
 
Yeah, I can't say I was thrilled with this performance, but also unable to skip it. Maybe it'll grow on me...
Posted 7 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
There's shit. And then there's this shit.
Posted 7 years ago by dwlangham    [ Reply ]
Mr. Bill gives rare commentary on a song by reading THE most withering comment about this truly life-withering cover, and then... goes ahead and plays the, er, song. So RP. 
Posted 7 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
Posted 7 years ago by sfuller    [ Reply ]
good thing my wife just came home to hold me in her arms!!!
Posted 7 years ago by mkrueck    [ Reply ]
Say what you will about Big Brother, Sister Janis was one helluva shrieking Blues Singer
Posted 7 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Amazing - Billie Holiday would love it.
Posted 7 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
 mrselfdestruct wrote:
Jesus.
 
Yes.  God like.
Posted 7 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:

 

Real cool cats.
Posted 7 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 maxjboxer wrote:
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.

 
Haha. I know you're being ironic. Funny comment, but surely ironic.

Surely.
Posted 7 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
Great version. Great band. Lady Day is wrong.  I'm pretty sure she didn't make it to heaven anyway.
Posted 7 years ago by droos    [ Reply ]
 baylees wrote:
Janis only you could take a song typically sung by a male black base (porgy) and own it.
Tragic loss Janis, Jim, Jimmy, Kurt and now perhaps Prince... 
 
In the opera "Porgy & Bess" this song is sung only by females.  "Owns it"?  I've always found this to be one of the worst versions of this song I've ever heard, and I generally like most of Janis' work.  The vocal is screechy and painful, and the guitars are sorely out of tune.  It was probably kind of fun if one were there though.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
On some tunes, we should be allowed to go to minus 10.
Posted 7 years ago by SeriousLee    [ Reply ]
My dad was a professional jazz musician playing the 1940s borscht belt circuit, who served our country in WWII. His bands backed up Ella Fitzgerald on the east coast multiple times. He appreciated all music. And one day when I was 10, he came home with the newly released Cheap Thrills and insisted on playing this song for my Monkees loving older sister and me. Little did I know how great this interpretation was. This will always stand the test of time.
Posted 7 years ago by snitramc    [ Reply ]
 stevenstarr wrote:
First concert I ever went to was Big Brother and Holding Compamy, frightened young child went in a new born hippy emerged . THC was still legal as a pill because it wasn't marijuana. There was a booth there where you could buy some. No shit. by the end of the show half the crowd was pasted to the floor. And so it began
post script thc was was very quickly made illegal fixing that little loophole  

 
I remember THC.  The first time I tried to try it, it wasn't.  Turned out it was White Owsley instead and I had my first trip at the age of 15.  This album was part of that and so was Boogie with Canned Heat.  LSD was still legal then too, and closed off in that same loophole fix, by the end of that summer, IIRC.

This album was actually released nationally on 12 Aug 1968.  I'm sure that we were hearing it a little before that in California at the time.
Posted 7 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
Worst singer in the history of music.
Posted 7 years ago by Hoosfoos    [ Reply ]
 Wisecrowe wrote:
The line was crossed as soon as she opened her mouth. This is terrible. I don't get her at all. Totally over-rated IMO. If she were still living would anyone be asking for another Janis Joplin album at this point? Bleh.

 
Judging by the number of 8, 9, and 10 song ratings, I'd say about 63% of RP listeners would be.
Posted 8 years ago by lathyris    [ Reply ]
The line was crossed as soon as she opened her mouth. This is terrible. I don't get her at all. Totally over-rated IMO. If she were still living would anyone be asking for another Janis Joplin album at this point? Bleh.
Posted 8 years ago by Wisecrowe    [ Reply ]
 lathyris wrote:
Sooooooo completely awesome. Janis walks a fine line here, and I understand why some think she's fallen off the ledge. But for me, she walks it perfectly.

 
Completely agree. I've always loved this version. 
Posted 8 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
Much better live....
Posted 8 years ago by NelsonBlack    [ Reply ]
Pretty awful cover
Posted 8 years ago by Unripe    [ Reply ]
First concert I ever went to was Big Brother and Holding Compamy, frightened young child went in a new born hippy emerged . THC was still legal as a pill because it wasn't marijuana. There was a booth there where you could buy some. No shit. by the end of the show half the crowd was pasted to the floor. And so it began
post script thc was was very quickly made illegal fixing that little loophole  
Posted 8 years ago by stevenstarr    [ Reply ]
It would seem this is a very marmite track!
Posted 8 years ago by ipestell    [ Reply ]

Posted 8 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
 jessesteinen wrote:
Sounds like Marge Simpson!

 
Dear me, it so does.
Posted 8 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
 maxjboxer wrote:
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.

 
Well, at least you made the DJ smile!  
Posted 8 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Sooooooo completely awesome. Janis walks a fine line here, and I understand why some think she's fallen off the ledge. But for me, she walks it perfectly.
Posted 8 years ago by lathyris    [ Reply ]
A formative album for me. Going over to my best friend's house age 8 or 9, his older brother playing a white strat in a garage band (literally), with this album plus Cream Wheels of Fire and Electric Ladyland sprawled on a coffee table.  I remember my friend making jokes about Barnie's Beanery.
Posted 9 years ago by GTT    [ Reply ]
 maxjboxer wrote:
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.

 
and yet Bill keep's playing it{#Jump}
Posted 9 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
great cover
Posted 9 years ago by xman222    [ Reply ]
I love it - and I don't care !!!
 
Posted 9 years ago by D_Clone    [ Reply ]
Sweet memories
Posted 9 years ago by Frysian    [ Reply ]
LOL - Thanks for the shout out Bill!
Posted 9 years ago by maxjboxer    [ Reply ]
 HEAVY trigger finger  mrselfdestruct wrote:
I broke my mouse trying to give this a rating less than 1.

 


Posted 9 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
I broke my mouse trying to give this a rating less than 1.
Posted 9 years ago by mrselfdestruct    [ Reply ]
Janis surely was backed up by some fine musicians..I never could embrace her vocal style, but the music was fine indeed
Posted 9 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
 baddog8it wrote:

Always found her voice irritating, now I'll always think of Marge when I hear it.

 
{#Roflol}
Posted 9 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.
Posted 9 years ago by maxjboxer    [ Reply ]
 jessesteinen wrote:
Sounds like Marge Simpson!

 
DOH! {#Frustrated}  best Homer Simpson I found.
Posted 9 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:
A disappointing amount of hate pointed at this outstanding cover. It blew me away over four decades ago and still has the same effect today. 
 
R, Crumb does that to some folks. On purpose. I'm with you.
Posted 9 years ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
That was just bloody awful.
Posted 9 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
 RobN wrote:
{#Stop} Have I been transported to Guantanamo Bay? This tortures a great song and is torture to listen to.

 
agree
Posted 9 years ago by rommesw    [ Reply ]
I give the band about a six but I never could appreciate Janis Joplin's histrionics. Her voice makes me shudder.
Posted 9 years ago by Andybob    [ Reply ]
This is like white noise had to turn it off. Dreadful song 
Posted 10 years ago by boyblair    [ Reply ]
A disappointing amount of hate pointed at this outstanding cover. It blew me away over four decades ago and still has the same effect today. 
Posted 10 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
I was always kinda hit and miss on Janis too, but the recent American Masters doc on her, Little Girl Blue, was an eye-opener for me. I definitely get her much more now. Certainly gone too soon.
Posted 10 years ago by randyblew    [ Reply ]
Janis only you could take a song typically sung by a male black base (porgy) and own it.
Tragic loss Janis, Jim, Jimmy, Kurt and now perhaps Prince... 
Posted 10 years ago by baylees    [ Reply ]
Did someone step on a cat 
Posted 10 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]
 jessesteinen wrote:
Sounds like Marge Simpson!

 
Always found her voice irritating, now I'll always think of Marge when I hear it.
Posted 10 years ago by baddog8it    [ Reply ]