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Columbia/Legacy Recordings has released “Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions,” a two-disc set featuring Joplin’s classic “Pearl” album and premiering newly discovered studio recordings. The original “Pearl” album was released on January 11, 1971, three months after Joplin’s untimely death. It peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and introduced some of Joplin’s best known performances, including “Me and Bobby McGee” and the a cappella rendition of “Mercedes Benz”.

“The Pearl Sessions” provides new insight into Joplin’s creative process as she recorded her final studio album, which was the only album she recorded with the Full Tilt Boogie Band. When putting together material for this edition, researchers found many uncatalogued gems from the album sessions, which were produced by Paul Rothchild. Newly available bonus material on “The Pearl Sessions” includes the original master mono mixes of the album’s singles (“Cry Baby,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Half Moon,” “Get It While You Can,” “Move Over,” “A Woman Left Lonely”); a full-length second disc showcasing Joplin live in the studio performing never-before-heard takes of “Pearl” classics; and live versions of “Tell Me Mama” and “Half Moon” recorded in Toronto and on “The Dick Cavett Show”, respectively.

Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions (promo)

Here’s “The Pearl Sessions” tracklist:

CD One

The Pearl Album

• Move Over
• Cry Baby
• A Woman Left Lonely
• Half Moon
• Buried Alive In The Blues
• My Baby
• Me and Bobby McGee
• Mercedes Benz
• Trust Me
• Get It While You Can.

Bonus Tracks – The Mono Single Masters

• Me and Bobby McGee
• Half Moon
• Cry Baby
• Get It While You Can
• Move Over
• A Woman Left Lonely.

CD Two

Pearl Sessions & more…

• Get It While You Can (take 3) – previously unissued
• Get It While You Can (take 5) – previously unissued
• Move Over (take 6) – previously unissued
• Move Over (take 13) – previously unissued
• Move Over (take 17) – previously unissued
• Me and Bobby McGee (demo version)
• Me and Bobby McGee (take 5 – alternate) – previously unissued
• Cry Baby (alternate version)
• A Woman Left Lonely (alternate vocal)
• My Baby (alternate take) – previously unissued
• Get It While You Can (take 3) – previously unissued
• My Baby (alternate take)
• Pearl (instrumental) – Full Tilt Boogie Band.

Bonus Tracks

• Tell Mama (Live) – June 28, 1970 – Toronto
• Half Moon (Live) – August 3, 1970 – from “The Dick Cavett Show”.

This title follows the release last month of “Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin – Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968” on CD and vinyl. All three releases are available from:

Title
Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Live At The Carousel Ballroom 1968 (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Live At The Carousel Ballroom 1968 (2 LP)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

Related item:
Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin – Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968