Pearl Turns 55: Janis Joplin’s Final Album Still Resonates — The Daily Earworm

Sunday, Jan. 11, marks the 55th Anniversary of the release of Janis Joplin’s final solo album, Pearl. The legendary singer passed away tragically toward the end of the recording process, and the album was released three months after her death. Joplin was just 27 years old at the time of her death. In Today’s daily earworm, we take a look at Pearl — the songs, the success of the album, and what makes the album memorable still to this day.

The Songs of Pearl

Columbia Records released three singles from Pearl. The lead single was Joplin‘s lone solo #1 single, “Me and Bobby McGee” (featured above). The Kris Kristofferson cover topped the chart in the United States and Australia and reached the Top 10 in Canada and New Zealand. It sold over a million copies in the United States and was certified platinum. Joplin’s version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

Pearl’s second single was the Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters cover, “Cry Baby.” Reminiscent of her performance of “Piece of My Heart,” the song puts Joplin’s rasp and power on full display. While the song only reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100, it performed better on the charts in New Zealand and Canada. “Cry Baby” quickly became a fan favorite and a staple in Joplin’s live show.

Pearl’s final single was “Get It While You Can.” The song was a cover of the title track from soul singer Howard Tate’s debut album. It peaked at #78 on the Hot 100 and at #51 in Canada.

The final song that Joplin ever recorded was “Mercedes Benz.” The a cappella song was an original that the singer co-wrote with Bob Neuwirth and the poet Michael McClure. The song offered a strong anti-consumerism stance. After Mercedes-Benz used Joplin’s song in an ad, McClure, who authored the poem that the song was adapted from, promised never to buy a car from the automaker.

Those who have listened to Pearl know that “Buried Alive in the Blues” is an instrumental. Joplin died before she could record the vocals with the backing track. Nick Gravenites, who wrote the song, was offered a chance to record the vocals for the track as a tribute to Joplin, but he turned down the opportunity.

Here is the complete track listing for Pearl:

Side 1:
1) “Move Over” (3:39)
2) “Cry Baby” (3:55)
3) “A Woman Left Lonely” (3:27)
4) “Half Moon” (3:51)
5) “Buried Alive in the Blues” (2:24)

Side 2:
1) “My Baby” (3:44)
2) “Me and Bobby McGee” (4:28)
3) “Mercedes Benz” (1:46)
4) “Trust Me” (3:15)
5) “Get It While You Can” (3:23)

Pearl by the Numbers

Pearl was released on Jan. 11, 1971. On Feb. 27, the album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for nine weeks. It stayed on the charts for 54 weeks. The album went on to be certified quadruple-platinum.

Why Pearl Still Holds Up 55 Years Later

Pearl was arguably Joplin’s best album, even dating back to her time with Big Brother and the Holding Company. It had a longer run atop the charts, and it sold twice as many copies. Her backing band on Pearl, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, seemed like a much more polished band than any of her previous bands. However, the reason that Pearl is still a shining tribute to Joplin’s talent and vocal mastery is the raw emotional depth that the album exudes. You could feel Joplin’s pain, feel her lost soul finding a direction, and feel her finding her groove as an artist.

Joplin’s heroin overdose cut short what was an ongoing meteoric rise. Pearl was her best album only because she never got the chance to make the next one. At just 27, Joplin was still improving, still evolving, still adding vocal nuance on each successive album. Pearl’s themes — materialism, freedom, loss — all still hold relevance today, but it is her raw emotion, commanding stage presence, and that raw, raspy, powerful voice that everyone will remember. Joplin may have been taken from us too soon, but her music will live on forever.