After splitting from Big Brother and the Holding Company, Joplin formed a new band , the Kozmic Blues Band, composed of session musicians like keyboardist Stephen Ryder as well as Big Brother and the Holding Company guitarist Sam Andrew and thefuture Full Tilt Boogie Band bassist Brad Campbell. The band was influenced by the Rhythm and Blues Style of The Stax Volt (R&B) bands of the 1960s, as exemplified by Otis Reading and the Barkays. The Stax-Volt R&B sound was typified by the use of horns and had a more bluesy, funky, soul, pop-oriented sound than most of the hard-rock psychedelic bands of the period. By early 1969, Joplin was allegedly shooting at least $200 worth of heroin per day, although efforts were made to keep her clean during the recording of I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!. Gabriel Mekler, who produced the Kozmic Blues, told publicist-turned-biographer Myra Friedman after Joplin’s death that the singer had lived in his house during the June 1969 recording sessions at his insistence so he could keep her away from drugs and her drug-using friends.
Janis Joplin’s appearances with the Kozmic Blues Band in Europe were released in cinemas in the documentary Janis, Joplin performed with Tom Jones on his own television show in late 1969.
I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!
The Kozmic Blues album, released on 11th September 1969, was certified gold later that year, but did not match the success of Cheap Thrills. Reviews of the new group were mixed. However, the recording quality and engineering of the record as well as the musicianship were considered superior to her previous releases, and some music critics argued that the band was working in a much more constructive way to support Joplin’s sensational vocal talents.
Columbia Records released “Kozmic Blues“ as a single, and a live rendition of “Raise Your Hand” was released in Germany and became a top ten hit there. Containing other hits like “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)”, “To Love Somebody“, and “Little Girl Blue“, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!
personnel:
- Janis Joplin – lead vocals, guitar
- Sam Andrew – guitar, vocals
- Michael Monarch – guitar (uncredited)
- Mike Bloomfield – guitar (One Good Man, Work Me Lord, Maybe)
- Brad Campbell – bass guitar, brass instrumentation
- Richard Kermode – electronic organ, keyboards
- Gabriel Mekler – electronic organ, keyboards
- Goldy McJohn – electronic organ, keyboards (uncredited)
- Maury Baker – drums
- Lonnie Castille – drums
- Jerry Edmonton – drums (uncredited)
- Terry Clements – tenor saxophone
- Cornelius Flowers – baritone saxophone
- Luis Gasca – trumpet
The Fat Angel Sings 