Fact: There’s a JANIS JOPLIN concert poster in my office… one from a show in 1968 that took place at the Fillmore East in New York City. But, it’s not actually mine… it’s my wife’s, as she’s the big Janis fan. Now I need to tell her about this – A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN: The Original Broadway Cast Recording, a new collection of 19 songs that showcase Mary Bridget Davies’ eerily-accurate performance as Janis, and also includes songs by Joplin’s musical influences including Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. The album was released digitally today (aff: iTunes | Amazon), with CDs available on February 11. Check out the full details below…
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A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN tracklisting:
1. Tell Mama
2. Maybe (Chantels)
3. Summertime
4. Turtle Blues
5. Down On Me
6. Piece Of My Heart
7. Today I Sing The Blues
8. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
9. Spirit In The Dark
10. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
11. Maybe
12. Little Girl Blue
13. Cry Baby
14. Kozmic Blues/I Shall Be Released Medley
15. Me And Bobby McGee
16. Ball And Chain
17. Stay With Me
18. I’m Gonna Rock My Way To Heaven (previously unrecorded)
19. Mercedes Benz
More about the release (via PR):
In the spirit of the original musical, the cast recording defies Broadway conventions. Recorded in New York City on October 21, 2013, the album was produced by Russ Titelman, Todd Gershwin, Daniel Chilewich, Michael Cohl and Carl Casella. Titelman has, over the course of his 50 year career, recorded with Dusty Springfield, Captain Beefheart and Brian Wilson and produced albums by The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon and many more.
The cast recording also marks the World Premiere of “I’m Gonna Rock My Way to Heaven,” a song legendary writer and producer Jerry Ragovoy wrote for Joplin just prior to her death in 1970. Ragovoy, who had never allowed the song to be released prior to A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, was in the audience for its stage premiere with his wife, Bev Ragovoy, opening night in Portland, Oregon in 2011, just one month before his own death. Ms. Ragovoy, who carries on his musical legacy, was ecstatic that the recording of this song was finally realized.
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