"I only recently began listening to Janis Joplin. Naturally like most people I had only heard about her as having died from a drug overdose along with Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison. I can honestly say that listening to Janis Joplin sing "Summertime" was one of the defining moments of my life and when she belted out "Ball and Chain" I knew that I would be a fan forever. Janis has often been singled out as a white woman who sings the blues. That label fails to do her unique timbre and her own tortured version of music justice. Frankly, I think Joplin's bluesy and earthy style have revolutionized music in more ways than one and these CDs are great representatives of Janis's work especially as they offer some of her live songs which are once again of amazing intensity and strength."