18 Essential Songs
18 Essential Songs is a collection of songs recorded throughout Janis Joplin's career released in 1995 by Columbia Records. It included songs from her solo career as well as with Big Brother & the Holding Company. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it as gold on April 12, 1999.Reception
critic William Ruhlmann awarded the album 4.5 out of five stars and noted:Personnel
- Janis Joplin – lead vocal, acoustic guitar, chorus voices
- James Gurley, John Till, Jorma Kaukonen, Michael Bloomfield – guitars
- Sam Andrew – guitars, backing vocals
- Gabriel Mekler, Richard Kermode – keyboards
- Ken Pearson – organ
- Richard Bell – piano
- Cornelius "Snooky" Flowers – baritone sax, backing vocals
- Terry Clements – tenor sax
- Luis Gasca – trumpet
- Brad Campbell, Peter Albin – bass
- Clark Pierson, Dave Getz, Lonnie Castille, Maury Baker, Roy Markowitz – drums, percussion
- Sandra Crouch – tambourine
- Bobbye Hall – conga/bongos
- Songs produced by Jorma Kaukonen, Bob Shad, John Phillips, Lou Adler, Elliot Mazer, Gabriel Mekler, Paul A. Rothchild
- "Tell Mama" remixed by Elliot Mazer
Sales certifications
