Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968
Big Brother and the Holding Company · 2012
70 min · 14 tracks · hard rock
Raw energy and improvisational flair electrify the air as the band channels the spirit of the late 1960s counterculture.
Top tracks — play these first
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Piece of My Heart — This track exemplifies Janis Joplin's emotional intensity and vocal prowess, featuring a climactic build that captivates the audience throughout.
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Ball & Chain — The haunting delivery and extended instrumental passages create an immersive atmosphere, showcasing the band's ability to blend blues with psychedelia.
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Combination of the Two — This song serves as an energetic opener, blending hard rock rhythms with soulful melodies that set the tone for the entire performance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album captures a vibrant live performance but lacks tight cohesion due to its improvisational nature.
What we noticed
- The album features extended improvisational sections, particularly in tracks like 'Jam - I'm Mad (Mad Man Blues)', which showcases the band's spontaneous energy.
- Janis Joplin's vocal delivery is raw and powerful, often pushing the boundaries of melody in favor of emotional expression.
- Several tracks, such as 'Combination of the Two' and 'Piece of My Heart', blend structured verses with unpredictable shifts in tempo and dynamics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- raw energy of live performance
- extended jams for deep listening
- cathartic release through improvisation
- nostalgic vibes of counterculture
- vibrant crowd interaction moments
Maybe skip if you
- prefer polished studio recordings
- want quick, radio-friendly tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- This live album captures Big Brother and the Holding Company during a pivotal moment in their career, shortly after the release of their acclaimed debut album, 'Cheap Thrills' in 1968. By this time, Janis Joplin had emerged as a defining voice of the era, propelling the band's popularity and solidifying their reputation as a leading psychedelic rock group.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Janis Joplin· The Doors· Cream
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Combination of the Two 4:35
- 2 I Need a Man to Love 6:39
- 3 Flower in the Sun 3:11
- 4 Light Is Faster Than Sound 6:02
- 5 Summertime 4:29
- 6 Catch Me Daddy 5:07
- 7 It's a Deal 2:28
- 8 Call on Me 4:04
- 9 Jam - I'm Mad (Mad Man Blues) 6:51
- 10 Piece of My Heart 4:49
- 11 Coo Coo 6:23
- 12 Ball & Chain 9:22
- 13 Down on Me 2:45
- 14 Call on Me 3:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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