For someone who is so tired of hearing "...Bobby McGee" this is a treasure. This gives us an inkling of how talented Janis was way back when.

There was only ONE Janis Joplin. You sang from life, from love and from your heart. You are missed, totally missed.

I never understood the folks who trashed her as looking ugly. I always found her immensely attractive both in looks and personality. I think due in great part to her very real heartfelt vulnerability and honesty in all she did including her music. A truly deep and wonderful person was Janis Joplin.

i can't believe someone recorded those early years of Janis Joplin in California .God bless you, and thank you for posting this .

Truly, this belongs in the Congressional Library's collection of Americana recordings it's that good. She truly was such a treasure, wish she'd made it further but man what a light.

This is priceless. She was phenomenal. No other like her. This music is raw and gritty with amazing talent. All of which is Janis.

Sad that she would be gone in seven years, incredible natural talent. "All I know is something like a bird within her sang All I know she sang a little while & then flew on"

God almighty, she's 20 years old in this recording, do you even realize how privileged we are to listen to it?

She really has a 1920s-style blues voice more than a rock voice. It's great.

Flames that burn twice as bright burn out twice as quick. You were a bright flame Janis, and we still feel your heat.

Janis was something different... Sure wish she was still with us.

Wow, it is amazing to hear Janis in this era before the hippie and drug culture. Her singing was already wild and aggressive. This is where heavy rock was in 1963.

Exactly what I love about KZfaq.

When I watched a documentary about Janis I was like “damn, I wish I could have seen one of her performances before she was famous”. Thank you to whoever recorded this!

I swear to god she sounds like the old Black blues singers recorded in the 30's.

She sang these songs at Kenneth Threadgills has station and Tavern on North Lamar in Austin we were in jr. High school and my friends family owned a home across the street sit on a brick wall after they closed and lock the door and jam sessions some till daylight...ol man way down in TX..

Postor child for all those who felt like they were on the outside looking in growing up. The world really misses you Janice.

This is an obscure gem, I am amazed how some people have access to incredible media-so valuable!

Her depth as a performer is astonishing.

What a great recording for 1963.

Gosh, she isthe very fucking best . In the sixties and today. There is nothing like Janis.

Janis Joplin, one of the greatest. Gone too soon.

This is the earliest recording of hers I’ve ever heard. Truly a treasure ❤️❤️❤️

This girl was a power! The sound of the tape is clean, you hear clear for being 58 years old.

Best rendition of that Ma Rainey song I've ever heard. So great to hear the genesis of Janis' style. Great find. Thanks heaps

Talk about luck and young love. I met Janice Joplin in 1968 while I was in 9th grade - age 15. We met at the Memphis Mid South Coliseum about an hour before the doors officially opened for ticket holders to enter the arena. She was the opening music act (obviously mis-billed) for an all black southern radio station's annually sponsored event called The WDIA Goodwill Review (AM Radio). I was a hired usher for the event & she walked right up to me friendly as can be. We spoke about 10 or 15 minutes then she gave me an autograph which, because of young love, I immediately passed it on to my girlfriend at the time. :/ Neither Janice nor her band, Big Brother & The Holding Company received anything close to a welcome reception as most audience members were expecting tunes by famous or upcoming black artists/bands who would be playing their hits heard on the radio. Although Memphis is a Blues mecca ..an unknown Texas/California Blues band is NOT the same animal. After her set I heard that she swore she'd never play in Memphis again! Though I gave a piece of history away - because it was for love - which is always the right reason at least thankfully no one will ever erase the memory of it! PS, I also ushered shows for Jimi Hendrix (2 different shows), Sly & The Family Stone, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Tommy James & the Shondells, Sergio Mendez/Brazil 66 & many others. After a sound check one of the guitarists for The Classics Four (Spooky, Stormy, etc.) actually taught me the chords for Spooky ..which happened to be chords I'd wind up using in later years in several songs by Pink Floyd! ;)

Checked her monitor speaker for her, New Years Day. The next day I was in the Marine Corps having my long hair shaved. But I did have 1 word with Janis - and I’m still flying. You know that word was “YES!” And She was drinking Southern Comfort out of a 1/2 gal bottle without a glass. My Angel.

A hurricane of talent.

This is a pivotal moment in not only her career but for the whole scene at that time in general. Amazing find, she is like Robert Johnson belting stomping and romping. She got strung out sent back to Texas, was offered a gig with Roky and the 13th Floor Elevators but decided she’d give SF another shot, linked with Big Brother and the Dead and drove a culture to the head of the seventies based in that rhythm and blues and pure soul. Janis Joplin deserves monuments and shrines. Wild Child, love sick in reckless abandon, it’s lonely at the top but the view is about perspective. With Janis she was a lonely heart and just wanted to be loved, “and isn’t that all what any one wants man?”

What a set of lungs!!! Being a singer myself, she's one of my idols. She was taken from us when I was 10 & she was 27 - waaaaay too soon. Miss you, Janice. Thanks so much for posting this gem from the past.

Heard her there back when I was in high school (just down the Peninsula from SF) and going to North Beach coffee houses was the height of adventure and walking a bit on the wild side. And kept following her career through the days in the Haight and beyond. Saw her one time on a fluke - my sister and I couldn't decide whether to go see Big Brother in SF or the Dead in San Rafael. We ended up going to the Dead show, and Janis showed up around 2 am and did an amazing set with PigPen and the guys. Good times!

I almost scrolled past this. So glad I decided to check out Janis Joplin in 1963. What a great gift she had. Powerful.

The talent is already quite evident.

What a joy it is to find this sweet bad ass gal singing with full blues voice proper.

Janis for ever! The best female singer in rock and blues music.RIP Janis.A french fan.

You could HEAR IT then. Couldn't you? WOW............! R.I.P. Pearl

THIS is one of the reasons I LOVE KZfaq!!!!! Something unknown to my ears always seems to roll by.... I actually got to hear Janice at "The Cellar" on Market Square in Houston by a fortunate happenstance as a 18 year old and it was awesome.....but this is phenomenal Incredible recording......I'd love to find this on vinyl Ebay???????? 🤔

Wonderful post. I’ve loved her gutsy voice since I first heard the BB Mainstream. LP. It is a shame that she abused it later on, but that comes with the lifestyle. However, her singing on The posthumously released “Pearl” reveals a voice reborn, pure and gorgeous. Janis was a singular artist, a sensitive and highly intelligent young woman. Rest In Peace.

Really good Blues and Jazz with a hint of Country Blue Grass, Janis was unique.

she was great and she wasn't singing just for herself but for all of us. She was a real benefit for that time especially when at that age we were trying to find ourselves Soulwaker. .

I used to read poetry at the Coffee Gallery. Back in the day...

Her level of comittment to music and the transformative power it has never ceases to amaze me. She died b4 I was born, a high school buddy introduced me to her work. An incredibly talented, versatile, musician and performer. An American icon and priceless treasure, to be sure

So great to hear how she channeled the old blues singers in the early days. Reverence and respect is evident.

Wow what a voice it's seems like Robert Johnson spirit is here...Janis the Genius ✌️🕊

Missed her when I was going to coffee house in North Beach in 63. It was a bad time for rock and roll but a good time for folk music. Did see her in Seattle in 67, but that's a long story.

Thank you for this (more valuable than gold), music from our Janis❣️👏👍✌️I love you Janis and know you are still singing where ever you are and send you all my love, sweet spirit of love❣️You are amazing, RIP❣️🎤🎶🎸

WOW!! A voice, personality and talent that hasn't yet been duplicated. Janice, you're sorely missed.

Wow, I had never heard her at this age and she already had that great ,strong throaty blues voice. She was so strong when she sang but her personality was so sweet, kind, shy and vulnerable. The combination made her irresistible. RIP Janice, we all love and miss you.

Just an anthological and historical masterpiece!

She was born great.

God bless her.

The real sadness here is there was no video of this whole set for us to see the excitement in her face singing.

Wow. Just: "Wow."

Not only could Janis belt out a song like no white woman before her, she also had perfect pitch.

Thank you Janis for making us feel those feelings

Touched by God!...what a voice

Great early recordings of Janis.

Incredible clarity for something that had to have been recorded on old analog equipment. Absolutely amazing if this genuine.

Sounds like a Bob Dylan style concert with a golden early blues voice....amazing finding this recording ....youtube is really cool for discovering ....I just received 'a little piece of her heart again'

Ma Rainey helped Bessie Smith, Janis loved both of these amazing women She bought Bessie a headstone for her grave. I'll always miss u Janis & wonder 👏👏🎶🎶✍💜

What a find!

Far freakin' out, man - the queen of Blues, a spirit without bounds - the Pearl.

So wonderful to hear--the clarity and power in her young voice! Love the audience response also--thanks for posting!

Nice to see her so young. Never really got old but I see more in her face than ever before.

Such a sweet person and so talented!

I love you forever Janis💓

she channels blues here, before she became an act soooooooooooooo pure. Gibson J-50 too, Light'n Hopkins loved these guitars

"Anyone who sings a tune so sweet is passin' by..."

Thank you for posting this unique bit of musical history. You can see why she made an impression. So young in this.. amazing.

Thanks She was born to sing

Exquisite. We're very fortunate that this history was preserved on tape. Someone had great foresight. Currently reading Janis- Her life and music. R.I.P Queen Janis

"It never fails" dept. ...When the audience starts clapping on the wrong beat and you jes' hafta go with it Luv you girl, wherever you might be

How great is this. Brilliant!!!!

No one ever has or I believe ever will match that voice.

Appreciate this a lot. Damn, she's good. Talent. With her own guitar? Never saw her play.

OMG! She was Amazing! What a powerful singer and personality! She was not to be ignored. This is powerful! Thanks to whoever posted this as I didn’t know it even existed.

Great stuff ! Saw her live in 68 with Quicksilver. Man I love this Mississippi delta blues... Never heard these recordings.

A thousand thank you'd for posting this. She was such an old soul. I feel that i have been blessed to come across this. THANK YOU !!!

Wow can’t believe this exists

Extraordinary. She's 20 and sounds like a blues singer from the deep south 40 years before she was born. I prefer this, her early voice, to the banshee style of her later years.

and 8 years later I mounted the same stage, feeling the echoes of the greats before me.....

Wow, a future mega star doing her homework and she sounds wonderful!

Straight into the mike, onto the tape, unadulterated.

Mind blown.

OMG what a find. This is fantastic

Thank you Janis.

If you ask the question in 2019 who is the queen of rock & roll the answer is still the same. No one has come along to steal it away.

I never knew of these recordings. Awesome!

This is treasure, thank you for posting this.

Joplin was the real deal

Janice is a true legend ❤

Chris thank you very much for posting this. Janice's voice is magnificent ! I can just see her on the small stage in the long narrow room of the Coffe Gallery singing for the beats and the SF bohemian crowd lighting it up !

My God that voice..I prefer her earlier vocals over her larynx shredding she did later on... Amazing singer and performer...

,this is amazing, wonderful stuff.... She had so much soul it was frightening, she gave it all and more... With jimi another lovely soul has left us, too soon. Thanks for posting this gem. Dj.uk

my favorite singer when I was growing pearl was my first album (got it for Christmas in 8 track form) love this

Only photo I've seen of her holding a guitar. I didn't know she played one - doesn't surprise me though.

so wonderful we have these early live recordings of Janis. really shows her rare and beautiful gift.

If I had only known she was around then doing coffee houses. I saw Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry in SF at that time on both east and west coast.

Quando ascoltai la divina voce di Janis Joplin pensai fosse nera. La feci ascoltare a mio papà grande amante di Jazz puro, e anche lui pensò fosse nera. Io da allora la chiamo My sister Janis, l'amai subito e l'amour sempre molto. La sua voce, la forza di esprimere quello che sentiva, viveva, ha sempre una forza e verità unica. Magnifica, divina, straordinaria sister Janis ti amo e più. Grazie

There was some deep hidden pain in her voice, I'll cry her leaving until my last day. Now she hangs out with the greatest in the parthenon of heaven. Long live Janis my shooting star!