Just A Little Bit Harder: Rare And Unreleased Tracks

I guess I'd better write a review on this, so nobody has to be a guinea pig like me - although the content information IS HERE, just look on the back of the CD jacket and use the magnifier once or twice-- it even has where and when the songs were recorded. I'll focus more of my overall impression of listening to it. First off, I concur with the previous rater of 5 stars because...well because it's Joplin, not because it's a first class product. Sort of has the feel of a bootleg, with ragged and abrupt transitions. Not a big deal, but you'll notice. By far the biggest issue is volume leveling, or rather non-leveling. Specifically, you'll probably crank it up a bit to hear the Tom Jones Show version of "Little Girl Blue" (might even have a more soulful haunting quality than the studio (IGDKBAM album) version, and utterly gorgeous) and then WHAM! out blares "Raise Your Hand" with her and TJ doing a duet. I mean it's all good, but level sound would make jumping to your amp unnecessary. In general, the TV show versions, while not new to Joplin fans (seen on DVDs and perhaps remembered from back in the day) are nice to have on perhaps the more conveniently accessible CD format (you'll listen to them more, and that makes having it worthwhile.) But, for me anyway, what makes this CD worthwhile is the Newport Folk Festival recordings, none of which I'd heard before. Hearing a previously unheard rendition of a BBHC song is the ultimate thrill for a Joplin fan! They did it a little different each time out I think, so it's almost like going to a concert. She lays into the consonants (N-n-n-n-...) like I've never heard before on Summertime and having another Ball and Chain (is there 10 or so altogether?) is worth the price of admission by itself! Bonuses are the chatter with the NFF audience plus the Cavett interview. All in all, I'm one happy guinea pig!Addendum, June 2020 - I'm no expert, but the more I think about it, the more I think this IS a bootleg. I was reading the cover whilst enjoying the album and I realized BIG BROTHER IS NOT MENTIONED! That's not cool. I can see MAYBE a more generic backup band being omitted in the credits. but they're introduced at the Newport Folk Festival as BBHC, not 'Janis Joplin'. I feel kind of bad about that now, though I still love the music. I hereby resolve that if this collection is ever put out legitimately, I WILL PURCHASE IT, pay the piper so to speak. So Albin, Andrews, Getz and Gurley and/or their heirs get their fair share, although for all I know, nobody but the bootlegger got a cut. That's the downside of music tech: your money may not be going to the artists you love.