Pearl

There isn't much to say about Janis Joplin's Pearl, It is, quite simply, one of the best albums ever made. Pearl finally features Joplin backed by a tight, high quality band, and has her coming in over top like a jet engine for much of the album. This album was still being recorded at the time of Joplin's death and the unfinished Buried Alive In The Blues, which has been left as an instrumental, is testament to the quality of the band. It stands alone without Joplin's voice to power it along. Unlike some earlier offerings, Pearl's arrangements and instrument sounds haven't dated too badly and the quality of the recording is excellent.

Me And Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz are probably the best known tracks, yet their mellowness doesn't represent the album well. The next most popular song, the classic screamer Cry Baby, is closer to the mark.

My favourite track is Half Moon. This song features an exquisite jazzy groove, wonderful musicianship and a brilliant vocal track. The guitar and piano interact beautifully, as does the organ when it makes its appearance. The guitar solo has a bit of that 1960s tone to it, but there's a Robbie Robertson style thing going on, so it stays interesting... and then there's that vocal track!

This is an untouchable blues-rock classic from one of the great singers of the genre. 20 years after the first time I heard it, it still sends shivers down my spine. I named Pearl as my `desert island' album many years ago... and I'm in no danger of changing my mind...