Tag Archives: San Francisco

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

Rolling Stone Magazine First Number

RS

On November 9, 1967, the first issue of “Rolling Stone” magazine was published in San Francisco. The name of the magazine have been created from three sources: the Muddy Waters song, the first rock ‘n’ roll record by Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. The magazine was founded by Jann Wenner, who is still the magazine’s editor-in-chief, and music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine became popular for its musical coverage and  for political reporting by Hunter S. Thompson. The first issue cover featured a photo of John Lennon, dressed in army fatigues from his recent movie “How I Won the War”.