Tag Archives: Big Brother and the Holding Company

Big Brother and the Holding Company: Be a Brother

In October 1970, “Columbia” label released “Be a Brother”, the third Big Brother and the Holding Company album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Nick Gravenites.

Personnel:

  • Nick Gravenites – lead and backing vocals
  • Sam Andrew – guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • David Schallock – guitar, backing vocals
  • Peter Albin – guitar
  • James Gurley – bass, guitar
  • David Getz – drums, piano
  • Kathi McDonald – vocals
  • Richard Greene – violin
  • Mike Finnigan – keyboard
  • Tower of Power – horn section
  • Ira Kamin
  • Mark Naftalin
  • David Brown, Jerry Hochman, Sy Mitchell – engineer
  • John Van Hamersveld – design concept
  • Bob Seidemann – design, photography

Track listing:

  1. Keep On – Sam Andrew , Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Schallock
  2. Joseph’s Coat – Nick Gravenites, John Cipollina
  3. Home on the Strange – Peter Albin, Sam Andrew
  4. Someday – Sam Andrew
  5. Heartache People – Nick Gravenites
  6. Sunshine Baby – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Shallock
  7. Mr. Natural – Sam Andrew
  8. Funkie Jim – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Shallock, Nick Gravenites
  9. I’ll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle – Nick Gravenites
  10. Be a Brother – Nick Gravenites

Big Brother and the Holding Company: Be a Brother

In October 1970, “Columbia” label released “Be a Brother”, the third Big Brother and the Holding Company studio album, the first one after Janis Joplin’s departure. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Nick Gravenites.

Personnel:

  • Nick Gravenites- lead and backing vocals
  • Sam Andrew – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • David Schallock – guitar, backing vocals
  • Peter Albin – guitar
  • James Gurley- bass, guitar
  • David Getz – drums, piano

Track listing:

  1. Keep On – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Schallock
  2. Joseph’s Coat – Nick Gravenites, John Cipollina
  3. Home on the Strange – Peter Albin, Sam Andrew
  4. Someday – Sam Andrew
  5. Heartache People – Nick Gravenites
  6. Sunshine Baby – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Shallock
  7. Natural – Sam Andrew
  8. Funkie Jim – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Shallock, Nick Gravenites
  9. I’ll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle – Nick Gravenites
  10. Be a Brother – Nick Gravenites

Big Brother & The Holding Company: Same

In August 1967, “Mainstream” label released the self-titled, debut Big Brother and the Holding Company album. It was recorded in December 1966, and was produced by Bob Shad.

Personnel:

  • Janis Joplin – vocals
  • James Gurley – vocals, guitar
  • Sam Andrew – vocals, guitar
  • Peter Albin – bass guitar
  • David Getz – drums

Track listing:

  1. Bye, Bye Baby – Powell St. John
  2. Easy Rider – James Gurley
  3. Intruder – Janis Joplin
  4. Light is Faster Than Sound – Peter Albin
  5. Call On Me – Sam Andrew
  6. Women is Losers – Janis Joplin
  7. Blindman – Peter Albin, Sam Andrew, David Getz, James Gurley, Janis Joplin
  8. Down on Me – traditional, arr, by Janis Joplin
  9. Caterpillar – Peter Albin
  10. All is Loneliness – Moondog

Big Brother And The Holding Company: Cheap Thrills

Cheapthrills

On August 12, 1968, “Columbia” label released “Cheap Thrills”, the second Big Brother and the Holding Company studio album (first one with Janis Joplin as lead singer). It was recorded March-May 1968 and was produced by John Simon, who incorporated recordings of crowd noise to give the impression of a live album, but only the last song, band’s cover of “Ball and Chain”, had been recorded live at “The Fillmore” in San Francisco.  “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Cheap Thrills” at number 338 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Janis Joplin– vocals
  • Sam Andrew– vocals, lead guitar, bass
  • James Gurley– guitar
  • Peter Albin – bass, guitar
  • Dave Getz – drums

Track listing:

  1. Combination of the Two – Sam Andrew
  2. I need a Man to Love – Sam Andrew, Janis Joplin
  3. Summertime – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  4. Piece of My Heart – Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovy
  5. Turtle Blues – Janis Joplin
  6. Oh, Sweet Mary – Peter Albin, Sam Andrew, David Getz, James Gurley, Janis Joplin
  7. Ball and Chain – Big Mama Thorton