Who's doin' who? Etta James & Janis Joplin
01/02/2015
Check out these two performances and see if you hear any similarity: -
|
|
A quick check on timing found Etta's number is from 1967, while of the two LPs I have featuring Janis Joplin, the eponymous "Big Brother and The Holding Company" was recorded on December 12, 13, and 14 of 1966, (WIKIPEDIA), while "Cheap Thrills" was recorded over March, April, and May 1968. (WIKIPEDIA) Thus timing is not clear-cut there.
A check on influences finds that although Janis was known to be influenced by black Blues artists, Etta's career was full of recordings aimed at the "crossover" market, i.e. the white audience. Wikipedia: - "Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess envisioned James as a classic ballad stylist who had potential to cross over to the pop charts and soon surrounded the singer with violins and other string instruments." and "After signing with Chess Records in 1960, James broke through as a traditional pop-styled singer, covering jazz and pop music standards on her debut album, At Last!"
Janis' entry at Wikipedia cites early influences as " ....Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Lead Belly, whom Joplin later credited with influencing her decision to become a singer. She began singing in the local choir and expanded her listening to blues singers such as Odetta, Billie Holiday and Big Mama Thornton."
These make it hard to say who has influenced who. Janis is said to be influenced by Memphis Minnie, but her voice is cleaner, not like the rougher sound of Etta or Janis. Also mentioned with Janis is Bessie Smith, but neither are mentioned at Wikipedia's entry for Etta James.
However, Wikipedia does say of Etta under "Style and influence" that "James has influenced a wide variety of musicians, including Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Janis Joplin, ...".
An interesting find made looking at their respective biographies is that ...
"In 1950, ... James' biological mother took her to the Fillmore District, San Francisco", while later, Janis ...
"left Texas for San Francisco ... in January 1963, living in North Beach and later Haight-Ashbury."
A check on influences finds that although Janis was known to be influenced by black Blues artists, Etta's career was full of recordings aimed at the "crossover" market, i.e. the white audience. Wikipedia: - "Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess envisioned James as a classic ballad stylist who had potential to cross over to the pop charts and soon surrounded the singer with violins and other string instruments." and "After signing with Chess Records in 1960, James broke through as a traditional pop-styled singer, covering jazz and pop music standards on her debut album, At Last!"
Janis' entry at Wikipedia cites early influences as " ....Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Lead Belly, whom Joplin later credited with influencing her decision to become a singer. She began singing in the local choir and expanded her listening to blues singers such as Odetta, Billie Holiday and Big Mama Thornton."
These make it hard to say who has influenced who. Janis is said to be influenced by Memphis Minnie, but her voice is cleaner, not like the rougher sound of Etta or Janis. Also mentioned with Janis is Bessie Smith, but neither are mentioned at Wikipedia's entry for Etta James.
However, Wikipedia does say of Etta under "Style and influence" that "James has influenced a wide variety of musicians, including Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Janis Joplin, ...".
An interesting find made looking at their respective biographies is that ...
"In 1950, ... James' biological mother took her to the Fillmore District, San Francisco", while later, Janis ...
"left Texas for San Francisco ... in January 1963, living in North Beach and later Haight-Ashbury."
After re-listening to Etta's "I Just Want to Make Love to You" of 1960,
I would have to give precedence to Etta.
Janis would have only been 17 then, and I have never found anything of hers earlier than 1963,
e.g. "San Francisco 1963" and "The Blues According To Janis Joplin Early Performances 1963-1965",
although Wikipedia says her earliest is 1962.
I would have to give precedence to Etta.
Janis would have only been 17 then, and I have never found anything of hers earlier than 1963,
e.g. "San Francisco 1963" and "The Blues According To Janis Joplin Early Performances 1963-1965",
although Wikipedia says her earliest is 1962.
I think Etta James is sadly under-rated, as other people keep saying.
|
Her co-written 1967 recording of "I'd Rather Go Blind" was covered by an English band called Chicken Shack, reaching #14 in the U.K. charts in May 1969 and remaining in the charts for 13 weeks.
The group featured on vocals and keyboards Christine Perfect, who later achieved greater fame as Christine McVie in Fleetwood Mac. |
|
Etta's version of "At Last" has become the best-known version of the song, and has been covered by numerous artists. As you can hear, it is not strictly Blues or really even Soul, and is thus favoured by artists of all kinds.
|