The original version(youtube.com) of "Piece of My Heart" was recorded by Aretha Franklin's older sister Erma in 1967.
The song became a bigger hit when recorded by Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968, with lead singer Janis Joplin. The song was taken from the group's album Cheap Thrills, recorded in 1968 and released on Columbia Records. This rendition made it to number twelve on the U.S. pop chart. The song's instrumentation was arranged by Sam Andrew, who also performed three distorted, loud guitar solos giving the song a psychedelic touch.
Franklin said in an interview that when she first heard Joplin's version on the radio, she didn't recognize it because of the vocal arrangement. Noted cultural writer Ellen Willis wrote of the difference: "When Franklin sings it, it is a challenge: no matter what you do to me, I will not let you destroy my ability to be human, to love. Joplin seems rather to be saying, surely if I keep taking this, if I keep setting an example of love and forgiveness, surely he has to understand, change, give me back what I have given". In such a way, Joplin used blues conventions not to transcend pain, but "to scream it out of existence"
Interesting, thanks, I’d never heard the Franklin version before. The Willis observation was spot on I’d say.
The song was also covered by Dusty Springfield(youtube.com) in 1968 and by Sammy Hagar(youtube.com) in 1982. Bert Berns wanted Van Morrison, who he was producing at the time, to record the song, but Morrison declined, wanting to do his own material instead.
Interesting arrangements by each, but I think Janis definitely put the most heart into it. Don’t think even Mr Morrison could’ve topped her. Thanks again, I hadn’t heard those renditions before either!
Thank you for this. I like the original.
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