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Originally Posted by abyss_al
she's incredible... "Me And Bobby McGee" is one of my favorite tracks  |
Did you know that "Me and Bobby McGee" was written by actor (and sometime singer) Kris Kristofferson? He and Janis had a thing going on before she OD'ed.
Her band was actually pretty sloppy, but sometimes that works when you're playing the blues. Big Brother and the Holding Company, as well as the Kozmic Blues Band, that backed Janis were great at live music and creating a bluesy vibe.
Don't get me wrong, I love the music of Janis. She did one of the best versions of "Summertime" ever, and if you can't feel her pain in "Ball and Chain", then you ain't never had dem ol' kozmic blues...
So here is one for you - I was living in Japan in the 70's and I attended this all night rock festival, and in between acts they played tracks over the PA from a new album that I learned later was called "Hotel California" by the Eagles.
When I heard the title track, I felt certain that it was written about Janis.
A few years later I learned that Don Henley was one of the pretty boys that Janis called friends (like Kris Kristofferson).
I've never heard this theory elsewhere, but I've always felt the "Hotel California" is about Janis:
On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell
Then she lit up a candle
And she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely place (background)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year
Any time of year (background)
You can find it here
You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany twisted
She's got the Mercedes Benz
She's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
That she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard
Sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember
Some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain
Please bring me my wine
He said
We haven't had that spirit here since 1969
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely Place
Such a lovely Place (background)
Such a lovely face
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise
What a nice surprise (background)
Bring your alibies
Mirrors on the ceiling
Pink champagne on ice
And she said
We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
Relax said the nightman
We are programed to recieve
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave
- Eagles
Janis was well known for her Mercedes Benz song and she passed away in 1969, and lord knows she had lots of pretty boys that she called friends.
Time for me to put on a Janis album...
Cheers...RIP Janis,
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