Concluding my trilogy of tripping back in time and going to San Francisco (flowers in your hair optional) and the final 'J' artist to be connected.

Big Brother & the Holding Company formed in 1965, appearing live from late that year they went on to become the house band at the Avalon Ballroom. 

Feeling the need for a strong vocalist, manager Chet Helms suggested an old friend from his Austin, Texas days: Janis Joplin. She was considering joining The 13th Floor Elevators at that time, however she traveled to San Francisco and debuted with Big Brother at the Avalon on June 10, 1966.

"It took a while for some of the band's followers to accept the new singer. Her music was completely different from their very experimental and unconventional sound, but with Joplin, they became more disciplined musicians, their songs adopted a more traditional structure and the band started to increase its popularity in the San Francisco psychedelic scene". 

Janis Joplin left the band in 1968, following the recording of the album 'Cheap Thrills', to pursue a successful solo career. 

In September and October 1970, she recorded tracks including 'Cry Baby' for the album 'Pearl', posthumously released in 1971, three months after her death on October 4, 1970.

 

Released as a single and in the charts June 1971, the B-side was the final song she recorded: 'Mercedes Benz' (as in 'Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?') - a rejection of consumerism !