Route 66 - Valentine's Day - February 14, 2019

For tonight's look back to the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, and being Valentine's Day, I figure what could be more appropriate than playing the singer of "Piece of My Heart." Of course I'm speaking of one of the most legendary icons in rock history: Janis Joplin.

She was a blues-rock-soul singer who began her career with the band Big Brother and the Holding Company. They first caught everyone's attention performing at the Monterey Pop Festival in the Summer of 1967. She soon embarked on a solo career, performing on the final night of Woodstock, Sunday August 17, 1969.

Sadly, like so many of the musicians I play on this show, she died young, just one year after Woodstock on October 4th, 1970 at age 27.

Janis Joplin is still one of the most influential female rock singers of all-time. Many of the artists I'll be playing later in the show were influenced by her, and even modern day singers such as Lady Gaga or Adele were influenced by her trailblazing mix of rock and rhythm & blues. Here now is a song she performed at Woodstock: "Piece of My Heart" by the immortal Janis Joplin.

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For tonight's segment on albums released 25 years ago, and elaborating on the influence of Janis Joplin, we will be featuring the album "Under the Pink" by Tori Amos.

Released on January 31, 1994, this was her third album, but her first major success. Tori Amos developed a huge, loyal following that has stayed devoted for over two decades. She was one of the first and most successful female rockers in the 90s alternative-rock movement, and what made her unique was the blending of very different sounds. Similar to Janis Joplin, Tori Amos had a gospel influence that came through on many of her songs. She also brought back the piano as a rock instrument which was not very common at that time

Shortly after this album was released, I saw her live in concert at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And she played two pianos simultaneously, then shifted to guitar and then danced on stage in an energized, almost possessed performance. She was an amazing live performer. 

Much like Janis Joplin, Tori Amos has influenced many subsequent musicians such as Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette,  Florence and the Machine and so many female performers today including Cherry Glazerr or St. Vincent.

Here now are two of the most famous tracks from her album "Under the Pink" - "Cornflake Girl" and "Past the Mission," which features guest vocals by Trent Reznor.

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