IS NO ONE GONNA SPEAK OF THAT SOLO?? Jesus, that disgusting fuzzy tone shakes me to the core and melts my brain, it’s damned beautiful!

I was 12 when I first heard her. I was hooked on the whole hippie vibe and I'm 67 and I've still got that whole hippie vibe. What a fantastic experience. ❤

Anything that brings tears to your eyes and grabs a hold of you some 50 years later is amazing. She had heart and soul. RIP beautiful sister.

I have been depressed since I was a kid. I have found that if I listened to Janis Joplin singing Ball and Chain on the Cheap Thrills album it will relieve much of my depression. That’s on a good depression day, if there is such a thing. She’s screaming her feelings, the same feelings I can’t express. To me, this song is all about exorcising pain. Thank you Janis. Love you always

In Vietnam, we used to listen to this all the time, but especially after s bad mission. Her screams were exactly how we felt

Janis Joplin at her best. The best nasty blues guitar riff of all tyme. If you don't like this, you don't deserve ears.

People who say that Big Brother & the Holding Company were lousy musicians haven't got a clue.They cranked out some of the most heartfelt psychedelic blues-rock ever played and I think they were a perfect match for Janis.Thank God for this legacy they left for us to enjoy.

Nothin cheap about these thrills. First heard it 50 years ago and it still kills today.

Her dynamics are awesome. From the first verse to the chorus, she went from whispering to screaming. Both are a sign of how she could control her voice. And the band goes with it. Please do not forget, that her vocals (and most of the instruments) are actually a live performance from the Winterland in 68.

James Gurley; great heavy blues guitar player, very underrated. He's so heavy , has so much deepness playing the blues with fantastic distortions... he deserved more recognition.

Wow, recorded 54 years ago this month. I had just entered basic training prep'ing for Vietnam. Her music was a way to keep sane believe it or not.

She sings from the soul ! She knows pain .....

Truly, an AMERICAN ORIGINAL!!! GLAD I WAS AROUND WHEN SHE WAS ON TOP!!!!

Possibly the best live version, because that screaming guitar just adds to the unmatched vocals.

Her control, her subtlety, along with her kick ass strength and emotion in her voice. Flawless. I was 12 when I first heard this and would play it constantly at full blast, singing along. Luckily, I had an understanding mother. lol

The music itself puts me on a psychedelic trip...no drugs needed- love Janis!

In 1969 I became totally immersed in this album. 53 yrs later, still kick ass psychedelic blues on steroids,…a classic ! Janis introduced me to the blues, the rest has been history. 💙

the music literally infects the listener with overwhelming emotion and movement

No doubt this is the BEST version of Ball and Chain. She is in so much pain and ain't no relief.

La mia unica e sola Regina del Blues!!!! Nessuno riesce a strapparmi il cuore come te!!!!!! Ti adoro, Janis!!!!❤️

Pure blues at its best.

Grew up on this as a young teen. Janis, Jimi, Jim and Zep introduced me to the blues.

when I was 14 and listened for the first time.... I was changed! I never knew there was music like this! I get chills 52 years later...

This has got to be her BEST PERFORMANCE. Every hair folic in my entire body went up on its end and carried me around... I had goosebumps even on my nails...

Just learned this f sharp minor blues classic. I love it. I woke my daughter screaming it out baby. I'm hooked

That distortion is pure sexual rage

She was just magnificent. Her voice had so much emotion. You could feel her pain as she sang. She left us too soon.

Ĵanis singing Ball & Chain at the Monterey Pop festival is what put her over the top. Killer performance. I get chills listening to her belt this number out.

This song, Ball and Chain, was written by Big Mama Thornton.

Those vocals are fire. You can't find this kind of quality nowadays

I was fourteen years old when this came out in 1968. I blasted this on my stereo in my bedroom and played drums along to it. To think my parents put with all the noise I made above their heads upstairs amazes me now that I'm old. I wouldn't put up with it for my own kids. They were very tolerant parents.

This is my favorite version, blows away Monterey, James Gurley- wow, hey Robert Fripp, listen to this cat😊 the quiet section is just so magical, Janis never sounded better, Robert Plant may have got something from this too

Listened to this when I was a toddler, and on. The album cover made me ponder odd territories - LOL!. As time has gone on, this album, to me, is the definitive essence/peak with a band she NEVER should have parted with. Oh well... RIP. Janis.

James Gurley's guitar playing is just the essence of blues not to mention he is puttin a hurtin on his guitar.

Still gives me goosebumps 47 years later. Damn!

Had skipped school one Tuesday in '67 (?) and was watching Dick Cavett. He interviewed JJ for a while (as she giggled and fidgeted and wouldn't meet his eyes) and then she just walked over to where Brother was set up and belted out this song (might have been Summertime. It was a long time ago). FAN-FUCKIN'-TASTIC!

Finest female American Blues singer of the 20th century backed by a fantastic band SF style: Haloes all round!

It's unfortunate they didn't make a video of this recording. By FAR the Best rendition of Ball & Chain

Goddess of Rock forever and ever.

I actually saw Janis with Big Brother perform at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1968. BTW the same night at the Oakland Colosseum on stage were Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge. It was quite a time Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, Doors, Moby Grape, Electric Prunes, Country Joe & the Fish, Jethro Tull, and more. Some us old hippies never sold out to Reaganomics, BMW's, and other indicia of greed. Janis was unforgettable.

nine minutes that feel like one. her voice was great, oh gosh, why can' t we have more voices as good as hers around?

lyrics Sittin' down by my window Honey, lookin' out at the rain Lord, Lord, Lord, sittin' down by my window Baby, lookin' out at the rain Somethin' came along, grabbed a hold of me And it felt just like a ball and chain Honey, that's exactly what it felt like Honey, just dragging me down And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now hon', tell me why Why does every single little tiny thing I hold on goes wrong? Yeah it all goes wrong, yeah And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now babe, tell me why Why does every thing, every thing Hey, here you gone today, I wanted to love you Honey, I just wanted to hold you, I said, for so long Yeah! Alright! Hey! Love's got a hold on me, baby Feels just like a ball and chain Now, love's just draggin' me down, baby, yeah Feels like a ball and chain I hope there's someone out there who could tell me Why the man I love wanna leave me in so much pain Yeah, maybe, maybe you could help me, come on, help me! And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now hon', tell me why Now tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me why, yeah And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, when I ask you When I need to know why, c'mon tell me why, hey hey hey Here you've gone today I wanted to love you and hold you Till the day I die I said whoa, whoa, whoa! And I say oh, whoa, whoa, no honey It ain't fair, daddy it ain't fair what you do I see what you're doin' to me and you know it ain't fair And I say oh, whoa whoa now baby It ain't fair, now, now, now, what you do I said hon' it ain't fair what, hon' it ain't fair what you do Oh, here you gone today and all I ever wanted to do Was to love you Honey an' I think there can be nothing wrong with that Only it ain't wrong, no, no, no, no, no Sittin' down by my window Lookin' at the rain Lord, Lord, Lord, sittin' down by my window Lookin' at the rain, see the rain Somethin' came along, grabbed a hold of me And it felt like a ball and chain Oh this can't be in vain And I'm gonna tell you one just more time, yeah, yeah! And I say oh, whoa whoa, now baby This can't be, no this can't be in vain And I say no no no no no no no no, whoa! And I say whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa Now now now now now now now now now no no not in vain Hey, hope there is someone that could tell me Hon', tell me why Hon', tell me why love is like Just like a ball Just like a ball Baaaaaaalllll Oh daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy And a chain Yeah!

one of the sexiest songs ever made

Still is and always will be the Queen!!! I can't listen to this song without mildly tearing up at the loss of such a magnificent talent!!!

When my dad said this was rubbish, I just glared. This is pure heaven

People who say that Big Brother & the Holding Company were lousy musicians weren't there.

Best Version

After many decades I realised just how Soul this is. Just with Rock instrumentation.

Ball & Chain here....was a Studio Recording with sound effects added to make sound "live". No live version exist, I've looked for years just to SEE this PERFECT rendition. The entire album of Cheap Thrills STILL gives chills to this 72 year old man :) Makes me wish I could still find a three finger bag of Mexican :)

This song brings tears to my eyes RIP Janis, you will always be amazing 🌹

I played this track with some young college boys listening and one of them immediately asked me about the guitar intro. "Man that is some sick guitar solo!" i'd rate it one of the three or four greatest guitar breaks of the era. Compliments of James Gurley, RIP, "the best bad guitarist in San Francisco."

I am floating through purple haze and kozmic color explosions. Big brother and the Holding Company as the backdrop to Joplin's voice is absolutely symphonic!True musical creativity and talent like this are a rare and almost non-existent find today. Good stuff here!

RIP JANIS.... No One Yet, Has, or Can Take Your Place... Stay Under That Hardened Shell, My Beautiful Friend... Miss You ✌😎

She was amazing. Had the privilege to see her in person. Unforgettable!

My youngest son, born eleven years after this album was released, asked me to give him my personal "Cheap Thrills" album, as he was moving out of state, an original pressing, with original paper jacket, and a newspaper article that came out years ago about Janis saved inside the album cover...and I gave it to him!!! 😢

Janis Joplin had a gift from God that will never be duplicated. This concert was at the Fillmore West.

Il blues nella sua espressione più emotiva!!! Solo Janis….❤️

Best in Song within the last 100 years!

What a version of that song....Janis...big brother...all in sync....playing on full emotion to pull that off.....today the day she passed away....song still gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.....

Was 14 this LP was offered on free LP promotion in a magazine I jump on it . I have gone through 3 or 4 copies since 😀

She still gives me goosebumps.

Wonderful Janis. This song is chilling. Highest quality blues.

THE BEST FOREVER ❣️❣️❣️

a SF native 26. , work near the Fillmore & .. I listen this album in hs, & realized.. the winterland ballroom was at a intersection I ALWAYS walk by.. literally get goosebumps listening to Janis. she saves lives

I'm listening to this stoned out of my mind and I'm telling you, beautiful songs like this make it feel as if the high intensifies. It's beautiful.

Goddess Joplin ❤

Listening to this stoned is amazing!!!! Specially the solo!!!

The Greatest Version of the Heartbreakingly Emotional Song…

This is the Best Version...RIP

I hope that wherever you are Janis, that you're singing for the Angels above, that voice brings you to tears😭.

At the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. First time I heard this song I was 17 and was never the same. Blues queen! The best, loved her audience too. Can't remember what she broke, a hip or a arm or something before a show and went on and did an hour set anyway.

This was my first LP. I was a kid and thought the cover looked cool. Little did I know I would listen for hours , and own it in many formats over these 53 years. Now it has a place of honor in my phone. I can call on it’s fire whenever I want. Thank you Janis.

This my favorite version! Great vocal performance and intense guitar playing.

Złapałem się zawsze kiedy tego słucham,nie napisałem 🎉żadnej recenzji .Tak wćąga.arcydzieło rokowe!

She was a legend even she was alive. and she will always be remembered with respect.

Anyone watching this masterpiece in (can you believe it ) 2020 !!! PEACE TO THE WORLD!!!!

this song rattles my bones and shakes me down to my core. chilling.

Love the soft crooning in this song as well as the sceetching raw emotion. What range she had. My favorite song of hers hands down. The base in this song is phenomenal.

The “Agony” of the Guitar sends Chills throughout my Body….

Tenias tanto que darnos aún Janis Joplin.. R.I.P. 🥲 🤘🏻👽✌🏻🔥☮️🌻🌼🌸🌺🌷🌹🌾

The most impressive performance by a singer I’ve ever seen. Thanks from Brasil!

Tengo 43 años y quede mudo excelente cantante.

James Gurley on lead guitar. Quite possibly the greatest shreader that ever lived.

Absolute perfection. The song and its entire interpretation epitomizes the grandeur of Texan women, and their original and genuine emotionality. Janis Joplin forever. This is a masterpiece that will stand the test of time.

Very good Janis. You're a legend. Love you. Rip ❤

I wasn’t around during the late-60s to mid-70s, but this makes me feel nostalgic for a time I never experienced.

All Hail Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Wish you were still here wailing from the depths of your souls. We need you now as then. Your passion, delivery and message would make such a difference today. Rest in Peace and thank you for giving us Everything You Had.

Es un extraordinario tema y el solo de guitarra es el sonido de la electricidad. Gracias a Janis y Big Brother por lograr esta pieza maestra.

Utterly wonderful. Never ceases to blow my socks off!

ThE queen of rock and blues.

That is some kick ass 60's distortion guitar a la Steppenwolf, etc.. Great era for music

This song on vinyl i have and damned i almoust cry

Nothing like drinking outback at night and listening some great tunes.

An incomparable blues vocal performance juxtaposed against an acid rock guitar music rendition. 55 years after I first heard this, it still sounds as unique now as then.

Man, this is pure energy. If you don't listen it and want to make something with the universe, then maybe you are dead. 😉 December 2020 still alive & loving Janis. 🤘😷🇲🇽

i physically don't know how to act when i listen to this. from the "go baby go" @ 0:08 to the fucking intro i feel like i'm awake during surgery thank you miss joplin!

Still gives me goosebumps all these years later, too!

love the raw emotions. At 39 most folks don't think I know The classics. Her voice is amazing!

Wow those vocals! I'm forever changed, we sure don't have music like this now.

Thanks Janis. There is that beautiful, mind bending, seven second pause on James Gurleys guitar before the drop that just kills! Absolutely makes this ball and chain hit! Fantastic San Francisco guitar work at it's best on full display. NFA