Complete List of Janis Joplin Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Grossman Glotzer Management Corporation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Janis Joplin embodied passion, grit, and soul with every powerful note she sang, leaving an unforgettable mark on rock music. Her story began in Port Arthur, Texas, a conservative oil town whose rigid social expectations clashed deeply with her free-spirited and rebellious nature. Struggling to fit into her hometown’s conventional norms, she found solace in blues and folk music, igniting a drive that led her toward California’s developing music scene in the early 1960s.

After initially trying her luck in San Francisco, Joplin briefly returned to Texas in 1965, discouraged and dealing with substance abuse. Her determination soon led her back to California in 1966 to join Big Brother and the Holding Company. The partnership transformed her career through electrifying live performances that showcased her raw vocal power and magnetic stage presence. The band’s appearance at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967, including Joplin’s performance of “Ball and Chain,” brought her national attention.

With Big Brother and the Holding Company, Joplin released the band’s self-titled debut in 1967 and Cheap Thrills in 1968. The latter became a major commercial success and featured “Piece of My Heart,” one of the recordings most closely identified with Joplin’s intense delivery. Despite the group’s success, she departed in late 1968 to pursue a broader musical direction.

Joplin’s next chapter involved the Kozmic Blues Band, which recorded I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! in 1969. The album expanded her sound through a fuller blend of blues, rock, soul, and horn-driven arrangements, producing songs including “Kozmic Blues,” “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder),” “Maybe,” and “Work Me, Lord.” Her performance at Woodstock during this period added another historic appearance to an already rapidly developing career.

Seeking another evolution in her sound, Joplin formed the Full Tilt Boogie Band in 1970 and began recording Pearl. She died on October 4, 1970, before the album was completed and released. Issued posthumously in January 1971, Pearl became her most successful album and included “Cry Baby,” “Move Over,” “Mercedes Benz,” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” her recording of the song written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster.

Joplin’s officially released catalog continued to expand through live albums, archival collections, alternate takes, and early recordings. Among those releases was The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House, an intimate rehearsal recording with guitarist Jorma Kaukonen that documented her blues and folk work before the rise of Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Although her life was painfully brief, Joplin’s influence has been repeatedly honored. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. Her recordings continue to demonstrate how a singer could bring the vocabulary of blues, soul, folk, and rock together without softening the emotional extremes that made each performance distinctive.

Joplin also challenged conventional ideas about femininity and success in a predominantly male industry. Her uninhibited style, emotional honesty, and refusal to conform to traditional expectations helped open space for later generations of women in rock. Her public image became inseparable from the counterculture’s emphasis on personal freedom, self-expression, and resistance to social conformity.

Janis Joplin’s enduring power comes from her unapologetic representation of human emotion. Her performances remain remarkable for their passion, depth, and refusal to hide pain behind technical polish. The recordings gathered here span studio albums, live releases, archival tapes, alternate versions, compilations, and posthumous collections.

Complete List Of Janis Joplin Songs From A to Z

A–E

“A Woman Left Lonely” – Pearl – 1971
“A Woman Left Lonely” – Janis – 1993
“All Is Loneliness” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“All Is Loneliness” – Janis – 1993
“All Is Loneliness (Live at Fillmore West)” – In Concert – 1972
“All Is Loneliness (Live at The Matrix)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Amazing Grace” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Amazing Grace/Hi-Heel Sneakers (Medley, Live)” – Farewell Song – 1982
“As Good as You’ve Been to This World” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“As Good as You’ve Been to This World” – Janis – 1993
“As Good as You’ve Been to This World (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Ball and Chain” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Ball and Chain” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Ball and Chain” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Ball and Chain (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Ball and Chain (Live at Festival Express, Calgary)” – In Concert – 1972
“Ball and Chain (Live at Monterey Pop Festival)” – Janis – 1993
“Ball and Chain (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Ball and Chain (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Ball and Chain (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Blindman” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Blow My Mind” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Blow My Mind (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Buried Alive in the Blues” – Pearl – 1971
“Bye, Bye Baby” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Bye, Bye Baby” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Bye, Bye Baby” – Janis – 1993
“Bye, Bye Baby (Alternate Take)” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Bye, Bye Baby (Live at The Matrix)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Bye Bye Baby (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Bye, Bye Baby (Live at Winterland Ballroom)” – In Concert – 1972
“Call on Me” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Call On Me (Alternate Take)” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Call on Me (Live)” – Janis – 1993
“Can’t Turn You Loose” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Catch Me Daddy” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Catch Me Daddy” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Catch Me Daddy” – Janis – 1993
“Catch Me Daddy (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Caterpillar” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Caterpillar (Live at The Matrix)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Combination of the Two” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Combination of the Two” – Janis – 1993
“Combination of the Two (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Come On Baby Let the Good Times Roll” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“(Come On Baby) Let the Good Times Roll (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Coo Coo” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Coo-Coo” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Coo Coo” – Janis – 1993
“Coo-Coo (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Cry Baby” – Pearl – 1971
“Cry Baby” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Cry Baby” – Janis – 1993
“Cry Baby (Alternate Version)” – Pearl – 1971
“Cry Baby (Festival Express Tour)” – Pearl – 1971
“Cry Baby (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy” – The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House – 2022
“Dear Landlord” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Dear Landlord” – Janis – 1993
“Down on Me” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Down on Me” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Down On Me” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Down on Me” – Janis – 1993
“Down on Me (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Down on Me (Live at Grande Ballroom)” – In Concert – 1972
“Down on Me (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Down on Me (Second Version, Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Easy Rider” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Easy Rider” – Janis – 1993
“Easy Rider (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Ego Rock” – In Concert – 1972

F–J

“Farewell Song” – Janis – 1993
“Farewell Song” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Farewell Song (Live)” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Faster Pussycat Kill Kill” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Flower in the Sun” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Flower in the Sun” – Janis – 1993
“Flower in the Sun (Live at Carousel Ballroom)” – In Concert – 1972
“Flower in the Sun (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Get It While You Can” – Pearl – 1971
“Get It While You Can” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Get It While You Can” – Janis – 1993
“Get It While You Can (Live at Festival Express, Calgary)” – In Concert – 1972
“Get It While You Can (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Great White Guru” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Gutra’s Garden” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Gutra’s Garden (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Half Moon” – Pearl – 1971
“Half Moon” – Janis – 1993
“Half Moon (Live at Festival Express, Toronto)” – In Concert – 1972
“Half Moon (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Hall of the Mountain King” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Happy Birthday, John (Happy Trails)” – Pearl – 1971
“Happy Birthday, John (Happy Trails)” – Janis – 1993
“Harry” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Harry” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Harry (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Hesitation Blues” – Janis – 1993
“Hesitation Blues” – The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House – 2022
“Hey Baby” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Hey Baby (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Hi Heel Sneakers” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“I Know You Rider” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“I Know You Rider (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“I Need a Man to Love” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“I Need a Man to Love” – Janis – 1993
“I Need a Man to Love (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Intruder” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Intruder” – Janis – 1993
“It’s a Deal” – The Lost Tapes – 2002

K–O

“Kansas City Blues” – The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House – 2022
“Kozmic Blues” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Kozmic Blues” – Janis – 1993
“Kozmic Blues (Live at Festival Express, Toronto)” – In Concert – 1972
“Kozmic Blues (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Kozmic Blues (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Light Is Faster Than Sound” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“Light Is Faster than Sound” – Janis – 1993
“Light Is Faster Than Sound (Live at The Matrix)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Light Is Faster Than Sound (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Little Girl Blue” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Little Girl Blue” – Janis – 1993
“Little Girl Blue (Festival Express Tour)” – Pearl – 1971
“Little Girl Blue (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Long Black Train” – The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House – 2022
“Magic of Love” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Magic of Love (Live)” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Magic of Love (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Maybe” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Maybe” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Maybe (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Maybe (Live from The Ed Sullivan Show)” – Janis – 1993
“Me and Bobby McGee” – Pearl – 1971
“Me and Bobby McGee” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Me and Bobby McGee” – Janis – 1993
“Me and Bobby McGee (Alternate Version)” – Janis – 1993
“Me and Bobby McGee (Demo Version)” – Pearl – 1971
“Mercedes Benz” – Pearl – 1971
“Mercedes Benz” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Mercedes Benz” – Janis – 1993
“Misery’N” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Misery’n” – Janis – 1993
“Moanin’ at Midnight” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Moanin’ at Midnight (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Move Over” – Pearl – 1971
“Move Over” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Move Over” – Janis – 1993
“Move Over (Alternate Version)” – Pearl – 1971
“Move Over (Live at Festival Express, Toronto)” – In Concert – 1972
“Move Over (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“My Baby” – Pearl – 1971
“My Baby” – Janis – 1993
“My Baby (Alternate Version)” – Pearl – 1971
“Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out” – The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House – 2022
“Oh My Soul” – Cheaper Thrills – 1984
“Oh My Soul (Live at California Hall)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Oh My Soul (Live at The Matrix)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002
“Oh, Sweet Mary” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Oh, Sweet Mary” – Janis – 1993
“One Good Man” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“One Good Man” – Janis – 1993
“One Night Stand” – Farewell Song – 1982
“One Night Stand (Alternate Take)” – Janis – 1993

P–T

“Pearl (Instrumental)” – Pearl – 1971
“Piece of My Heart” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Piece of My Heart” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Piece of My Heart” – Janis – 1993
“Piece of My Heart (Live at Grande Ballroom)” – In Concert – 1972
“Piece of My Heart (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Piece of My Heart (Live at Woodstock)” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Piece of My Heart (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Piece of My Heart (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Raise Your Hand” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Raise Your Hand (Live)” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Raise Your Hand (Live from The Ed Sullivan Show)” – Janis – 1993
“Road Block (Live at Carousel Ballroom)” – In Concert – 1972
“Road Block (Live at Monterey Pop Festival)” – Janis – 1993
“Roadblock” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Summertime” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Summertime” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Summertime (Alternate Take)” – Janis – 1993
“Summertime (Live at Carousel Ballroom)” – In Concert – 1972
“Summertime (Live at Winterland)” – Live at Winterland ’68 – 1998
“Summertime (Live at Woodstock)” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Summertime (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Summertime (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Tell Mama” – Janis – 1993
“Tell Mama (Festival Express Tour)” – Pearl – 1971
“Tell Mama (Live)” – Farewell Song – 1982
“Tell Mama (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Pearl – 1971
“The Last Time” – Big Brother & the Holding Company – 1967
“The Last Time” – Janis – 1993
“To Love Somebody” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“To Love Somebody” – Janis – 1993
“To Love Somebody (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Trouble in Mind” – Janis – 1993
“Trouble in Mind” – The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House – 2022
“Trust Me” – Pearl – 1971
“Trust Me” – Janis – 1993
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! – 1969
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits – 1973
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” – Janis – 1993
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Festival Express Tour)” – Pearl – 1971
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Live)” – Janis – 1993
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Live at Festival Express, Calgary)” – In Concert – 1972
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Live at Woodstock)” – The Woodstock Experience – 2009
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Live from Festival Express)” – Pearl – 1971
“Turtle Blues” – Cheap Thrills – 1968
“Turtle Blues” – Janis – 1993
“Turtle Blues (Live at The Matrix)” – The Lost Tapes – 2002