Big Brother & the Holding Company — Summertime
Album: Cheap ThrillsAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 2540
Length: 3:56
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Summertime, time, time
Child, the living's easy
Fish are jumping out
And the cotton, Lord
Cotton's high, Lord, so high
Your daddy's rich
And your ma is so good-looking, baby
She's looking good now
Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
No, no, no, no, don't you cry
Don't you cry!
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise, rise up singing
You're gonna spread your wings
Child, and take, take to the sky
Lord, the sky
But until that morning
Honey, n-n-nothing's going to harm you now
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Don't you cry
Cry
Child, the living's easy
Fish are jumping out
And the cotton, Lord
Cotton's high, Lord, so high
Your daddy's rich
And your ma is so good-looking, baby
She's looking good now
Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
No, no, no, no, don't you cry
Don't you cry!
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise, rise up singing
You're gonna spread your wings
Child, and take, take to the sky
Lord, the sky
But until that morning
Honey, n-n-nothing's going to harm you now
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Don't you cry
Cry
Comments (373)add comment
revolver wrote:
now i can't unhear it, too.
My friend asked if this was Marge Simpson singing, and now I can't unhear it....
now i can't unhear it, too. Back when album covers were something to look at.
My friend asked if this was Marge Simpson singing, and now I can't unhear it....
rnielsen66 wrote:
I Agree completely!!
Such a classic rendition of Gershwin. So heartfelt. Janice lives forever in so many people’s hearts.
I Agree completely!!
and so does Janis lol
Such a classic rendition of Gershwin. So heartfelt. Janice lives forever in so many people’s hearts.
The Robert Crumb vinyl cover alone is a TEN.
Then the memories appear when listening, and a tear of emotion slides down my face. A TEN for sure.
Then the memories appear when listening, and a tear of emotion slides down my face. A TEN for sure.
Soul and Wailing!
This Song...
Big Brother and Janis at their best.
This Song...
Big Brother and Janis at their best.
Nice! How about Summertime by Gare du Nord?
Roguewarer wrote:
You're really showing your age there my friend. She has been gone for 52 years. I seriously doubt any of 'da yoof' have ever even heard of her, let alone overrated her.
It's only us aging hippies that remember & maybe that's not a bad thing...
“Before returning to music here at RP, let’s listen to the song that came in second place for the Emergency Broadcast System Warning Alert.”
Of all the overrated vocalists, Joplin is the most overratedest.
You're really showing your age there my friend. She has been gone for 52 years. I seriously doubt any of 'da yoof' have ever even heard of her, let alone overrated her.
It's only us aging hippies that remember & maybe that's not a bad thing...
This is Bill's favourite recording. He just said that! I wouldn't go that far but its on my top ten!
nope.
I never realized until just now how bad the guitar solo work in the middle of the song is. Ugh.
Doin Time then this...OMG, pure genius!
Please don’t leave.
This is superb!
Sorry, I have to leave RP now and go listen to the whole damn Cheap Thrills album.
sounds like she had a very sad life
jbjnr wrote:
During?
That is funny. However, I just raised this to a 10 - Goddess-like.
During?
That is funny. However, I just raised this to a 10 - Goddess-like.
“Before returning to music here at RP, let’s listen to the song that came in second place for the Emergency Broadcast System Warning Alert.”
Of all the overrated vocalists, Joplin is the most overratedest.
Of all the overrated vocalists, Joplin is the most overratedest.
I heard her sing ....live. Some of the best moments of my life!
I have never heard any artist come close to imitating Janis's voice and soul. I'm guessing it would be nearly impossible.
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Just give me a minute while I google vasovagal..
Well?
Just give me a minute while I google vasovagal..
Well?
Lana Del Rey "Doin Time" followed by "Summertime". Amazing, it was already in my head. <3 RP
I still tear up every time I hear this, along with a pristine recording of it from Amsterdam with The Full Tilt Boogie Band . The raw emotion as well as the power of it. Then there's that voice, she wields it like a weapon sometimes, other times a caress.
Played on a high end device and indescribable really. (Pretty easy to see with my lame description. . .)
Played on a high end device and indescribable really. (Pretty easy to see with my lame description. . .)
StfuDonny wrote:
Just give me a minute while I google vasovagal..
Agreeing with Bill G's understated observation that "there appears to be a diversity of opinions" on her work. Looks to me like she invokes a vasovagal response in some. I, however, appreciate her uniqueness and definitely love having her in the RP Soup
Just give me a minute while I google vasovagal..
I literally cringe every time this garbage is played, since I listen using Winamp there is no PSD so I just have to turn the volume down.
a minus 10 for me.
a minus 10 for me.
The immense talent of Janis Joplin is evident in this LP. The band is mediocre at best but her voice carries the LP. That and a great cover by R.Crumb!
A sound similar to that of a pig being slaughtered. Thanks Janis.
I'd like to hear Marge Simpson do a cover of this 
Odtphy wrote:
Hopefully, your mourners won't mind the inconsideration.
A timeless piece of art. And one of the songs that will be played at my funeral.
Hopefully, your mourners won't mind the inconsideration.
philbertr wrote:
Summers always go so fast
Especially when the last two weeks are blanketed in smoke...
Summers always go so fast
Especially when the last two weeks are blanketed in smoke...
Grammarcop wrote:
Summers always go so fast
Last day of summer.
Summers always go so fast
Classic - gets a 10 because there's no 15.
Last day of summer.
chills still, the irony of it all, hearing it now knowing Janis is lost.
Agreeing with Bill G's understated observation that "there appears to be a diversity of opinions" on her work. Looks to me like she invokes a vasovagal response in some. I, however, appreciate her uniqueness and definitely love having her in the RP Soup.
Horrible.
NOPE
It would be interesting to know the ages of those commenting Pro & Con on this piece to see if there is a co-relation.
As an old fan from the days when she was still with us, I think we sadly miss her and most of her music. You don't often hear that kind of soulful music anymore.
As an old fan from the days when she was still with us, I think we sadly miss her and most of her music. You don't often hear that kind of soulful music anymore.
A nine straight from the mine - just for the cover. Well, not really. Pretty good song. Why did she ever ditch that band?
jbjnr wrote:During?
One of, if not the, best Janis tracks ever.
Well worth listening to through high end stereo too.
Well worth listening to through high end stereo too.
A timeless piece of art. And one of the songs that will be played at my funeral.
Gruesse aus Deutschland an den Rest der RP-Welt
Gruesse aus Deutschland an den Rest der RP-Welt
hearing Brian Johnson in the vocals a bit... ;-)
9 - I prefer the version on Live on Winterland '68 ( that's a true 10).
The cause of this recording was heroin overdose.
aaronm wrote:
And the parts of this song that ARE Janis Joplin singing are FANTASTIC!! This is a 9 for me; Long Live RP!!
The parts of this song that aren't Janis Joplin singing are really great!
And the parts of this song that ARE Janis Joplin singing are FANTASTIC!! This is a 9 for me; Long Live RP!!
The parts of this song that aren't Janis Joplin singing are really great!
Wow a Janice Joplin song I have never heard of
Zap Comics cover to boot
Nice!
I'm a big fan of Crumb's artwork, but aspects of this album cover are not "evergreen"....
deepwoodskev wrote:
Accurate. I don't mind Janis in some other circumstances, but hooooly this is not doing anything for me today.
Accurate. I don't mind Janis in some other circumstances, but hooooly this is not doing anything for me today.
wpost wrote:
Yeah, I can't say I was thrilled with this performance, but also unable to skip it. Maybe it'll grow on me...
I can't stand Janis Joplin, but for some reason I don't understand, I found myself hovering over PSD but unable to push it, mesmerized. Now that it's ended and the spell is broken I have to admit, wow, that was good.
Yeah, I can't say I was thrilled with this performance, but also unable to skip it. Maybe it'll grow on me...
There's shit. And then there's this shit.
Mr. Bill gives rare commentary on a song by reading THE most withering comment about this truly life-withering cover, and then... goes ahead and plays the, er, song. So RP.
good thing my wife just came home to hold me in her arms!!!
Say what you will about Big Brother, Sister Janis was one helluva shrieking Blues Singer
Amazing - Billie Holiday would love it.
mrselfdestruct wrote:
Yes. God like.
Jesus.
Yes. God like.
deepwoodskev wrote:
Real cool cats.
Real cool cats.
maxjboxer wrote:
Haha. I know you're being ironic. Funny comment, but surely ironic.
Surely.
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.
Haha. I know you're being ironic. Funny comment, but surely ironic.
Surely.
Great version. Great band. Lady Day is wrong. I'm pretty sure she didn't make it to heaven anyway.
baylees wrote:
In the opera "Porgy & Bess" this song is sung only by females. "Owns it"? I've always found this to be one of the worst versions of this song I've ever heard, and I generally like most of Janis' work. The vocal is screechy and painful, and the guitars are sorely out of tune. It was probably kind of fun if one were there though.
Janis only you could take a song typically sung by a male black base (porgy) and own it.
Tragic loss Janis, Jim, Jimmy, Kurt and now perhaps Prince...
Tragic loss Janis, Jim, Jimmy, Kurt and now perhaps Prince...
In the opera "Porgy & Bess" this song is sung only by females. "Owns it"? I've always found this to be one of the worst versions of this song I've ever heard, and I generally like most of Janis' work. The vocal is screechy and painful, and the guitars are sorely out of tune. It was probably kind of fun if one were there though.
On some tunes, we should be allowed to go to minus 10.
My dad was a professional jazz musician playing the 1940s borscht belt circuit, who served our country in WWII. His bands backed up Ella Fitzgerald on the east coast multiple times. He appreciated all music. And one day when I was 10, he came home with the newly released Cheap Thrills and insisted on playing this song for my Monkees loving older sister and me. Little did I know how great this interpretation was. This will always stand the test of time.
stevenstarr wrote:
I remember THC. The first time I tried to try it, it wasn't. Turned out it was White Owsley instead and I had my first trip at the age of 15. This album was part of that and so was Boogie with Canned Heat. LSD was still legal then too, and closed off in that same loophole fix, by the end of that summer, IIRC.
This album was actually released nationally on 12 Aug 1968. I'm sure that we were hearing it a little before that in California at the time.
First concert I ever went to was Big Brother and Holding Compamy, frightened young child went in a new born hippy emerged . THC was still legal as a pill because it wasn't marijuana. There was a booth there where you could buy some. No shit. by the end of the show half the crowd was pasted to the floor. And so it began
post script thc was was very quickly made illegal fixing that little loophole
post script thc was was very quickly made illegal fixing that little loophole
I remember THC. The first time I tried to try it, it wasn't. Turned out it was White Owsley instead and I had my first trip at the age of 15. This album was part of that and so was Boogie with Canned Heat. LSD was still legal then too, and closed off in that same loophole fix, by the end of that summer, IIRC.
This album was actually released nationally on 12 Aug 1968. I'm sure that we were hearing it a little before that in California at the time.
Worst singer in the history of music.
Wisecrowe wrote:
Judging by the number of 8, 9, and 10 song ratings, I'd say about 63% of RP listeners would be.
The line was crossed as soon as she opened her mouth. This is terrible. I don't get her at all. Totally over-rated IMO. If she were still living would anyone be asking for another Janis Joplin album at this point? Bleh.
Judging by the number of 8, 9, and 10 song ratings, I'd say about 63% of RP listeners would be.
The line was crossed as soon as she opened her mouth. This is terrible. I don't get her at all. Totally over-rated IMO. If she were still living would anyone be asking for another Janis Joplin album at this point? Bleh.
lathyris wrote:
Completely agree. I've always loved this version.
Sooooooo completely awesome. Janis walks a fine line here, and I understand why some think she's fallen off the ledge. But for me, she walks it perfectly.
Completely agree. I've always loved this version.
Much better live....
Pretty awful cover
First concert I ever went to was Big Brother and Holding Compamy, frightened young child went in a new born hippy emerged . THC was still legal as a pill because it wasn't marijuana. There was a booth there where you could buy some. No shit. by the end of the show half the crowd was pasted to the floor. And so it began
post script thc was was very quickly made illegal fixing that little loophole
post script thc was was very quickly made illegal fixing that little loophole
It would seem this is a very marmite track!
jessesteinen wrote:
Dear me, it so does.
Sounds like Marge Simpson!
Dear me, it so does.
maxjboxer wrote:
Well, at least you made the DJ smile!
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.
Well, at least you made the DJ smile!
Sooooooo completely awesome. Janis walks a fine line here, and I understand why some think she's fallen off the ledge. But for me, she walks it perfectly.
A formative album for me. Going over to my best friend's house age 8 or 9, his older brother playing a white strat in a garage band (literally), with this album plus Cream Wheels of Fire and Electric Ladyland sprawled on a coffee table. I remember my friend making jokes about Barnie's Beanery.
maxjboxer wrote:
and yet Bill keep's playing it
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.
and yet Bill keep's playing it
great cover
I love it - and I don't care !!!
Sweet memories
LOL - Thanks for the shout out Bill!
HEAVY trigger finger mrselfdestruct wrote:
I broke my mouse trying to give this a rating less than 1.
I broke my mouse trying to give this a rating less than 1.
Janis surely was backed up by some fine musicians..I never could embrace her vocal style, but the music was fine indeed
baddog8it wrote:
Always found her voice irritating, now I'll always think of Marge when I hear it.
Always found her voice irritating, now I'll always think of Marge when I hear it.
Word has it that Billy Holiday would not let Janis into heaven because of this tragically horrible cover of a very beautiful song.
jessesteinen wrote:
DOH!
best Homer Simpson I found.
Sounds like Marge Simpson!
DOH!
best Homer Simpson I found. ScottishWillie wrote:
R, Crumb does that to some folks. On purpose. I'm with you.
A disappointing amount of hate pointed at this outstanding cover. It blew me away over four decades ago and still has the same effect today.
R, Crumb does that to some folks. On purpose. I'm with you.
That was just bloody awful.
RobN wrote:
Have I been transported to Guantanamo Bay? This tortures a great song and is torture to listen to.
agree
Have I been transported to Guantanamo Bay? This tortures a great song and is torture to listen to.agree
I give the band about a six but I never could appreciate Janis Joplin's histrionics. Her voice makes me shudder.
This is like white noise had to turn it off. Dreadful song
A disappointing amount of hate pointed at this outstanding cover. It blew me away over four decades ago and still has the same effect today.
I was always kinda hit and miss on Janis too, but the recent American Masters doc on her, Little Girl Blue, was an eye-opener for me. I definitely get her much more now. Certainly gone too soon.
Janis only you could take a song typically sung by a male black base (porgy) and own it.
Tragic loss Janis, Jim, Jimmy, Kurt and now perhaps Prince...
Tragic loss Janis, Jim, Jimmy, Kurt and now perhaps Prince...
Did someone step on a cat
jessesteinen wrote:
Always found her voice irritating, now I'll always think of Marge when I hear it.
Sounds like Marge Simpson!
Always found her voice irritating, now I'll always think of Marge when I hear it.
This sounds like the squirrels right before I put them to their death.
The blues give me the blues.
Sounds like Marge Simpson!
8->9 Very interesting piece of music. Janis going crazy with very nice guitar music on the background.
Sometimes her vocals work, other times she overdoes it by a factor of three million, seven hundred thousand and fifty two.
Have I been transported to Guantanamo Bay? This tortures a great song and is torture to listen to. DaidyBoy wrote:
Apparently not. Very popular stuff it seems, although I don't get it either. I wasn't there at the time, though, so what do I know.
I was there, for however brief a time. And I've loved Janis from the summer of '68 in San Francisco to now. Like Amy Winehouse (a more talented singer, and more jazz than pop), the question of What If? is a ghost that never answers.
Apparently not. Very popular stuff it seems, although I don't get it either. I wasn't there at the time, though, so what do I know.
I was there, for however brief a time. And I've loved Janis from the summer of '68 in San Francisco to now. Like Amy Winehouse (a more talented singer, and more jazz than pop), the question of What If? is a ghost that never answers.
She's great. But for the most part, just not my cuppa. The band was always at least as good as her.
She's oddly famous tho for being one of those pop rock J names who all died at age 27.
She's oddly famous tho for being one of those pop rock J names who all died at age 27.
I never really had an appreciation for Janis until I saw the movie 'Festival Express'. Changed things entirely for me. Good solid 9!
Holy fuzztone Batman!
Janis never did anything for me. And I'm not talking about her looks, I mean her dreadful voice.
I was there and I never cared for her. Sorry everyone.
Fiji5555 wrote:
Wow way too many knob heads that don't know great music when they hear it
The band seem OK.
Wow way too many knob heads that don't know great music when they hear it
The band seem OK.
This is the result if you try screaming when you have laryngitis.
bless you RP!
MrsTom wrote:
Apparently not. Very popular stuff it seems, although I don't get it either. I wasn't there at the time, though, so what do I know.
This is a joke right?
Apparently not. Very popular stuff it seems, although I don't get it either. I wasn't there at the time, though, so what do I know.
legendary...
Exactly. I am open to many styles, etc, but this is kinda what I thought.