Clive Davis: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Rock Hall Bio: http://www.rockhall.org/inductees/clive-davis/bio/

Davis is an important record executive that helped sign many of rock’s biggest acts.

A partial list of acts Davis’ brought to the public:

Janis Joplin

Santana

Bruce Springsteen

Billy Joel

Chicago

Pink Floyd

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Alicia Keys

Kelly Clarkson

He also won several Grammys as a producer.

 

 

Janis Joplin: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1995

Rock Hall Bio: 

http://rockhall.com/inductees/janis-joplin/bio/

After graduating high school and developing into something of a rebel, Joplin gravitated toward singing blues and folk music. She was already a heavy drug user when she hit the big time.

In 1966, Joplin joined Big Brother and the Holding Company. They released an album in 1967 and performed at Monterey.

Down on Me (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RMg0anuc04

Monterey Music Festival (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui4c0PKvVMU

Cheap Thrills made her a superstar.

Piece of My Heart (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7JVxE2SYxo

Ball and Chain (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Pk1KjL_pg

She left the band at the end of 1968 to go solo. She formed the Kozmic Blues Band and recorded a new album

To Love Somebody (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkGUt4QYc08

Kozmic Blues (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLN72sR9w0M

Like many major artists, she performed at Woodstock.

Woodstock (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJnoMP1Uyc

On Dick Cavett:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yybz0TcIgDk&feature=related

She continued to perform and record. Joplin even tried to kick the drug habit, but failed. Janis Joplin died October 4, 1970 from a heroin overdose.

The album, Pearl, was posthumously released.

Me and Bobby McGee (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXV_QjenbDw

Mercedes Benz (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tGuJ34062s

RS Magazine's Top 500 Songs #351-370

351. Runaround Sue: Dion- Dion combines doo-wop with rock and blues to sing about a girl named Sue…although Sue’s real name was apparently Roberta.

352. Jim Dandy: Lavern Baker- Speaking of cutting loose. Wow.

353. Piece of My Heart: Big Brother and Holding Company- Janis Joplin really cuts loose.

354. La Bamba: Ritchie Valens- Valens turned an old Mexican folk song into a major hit.

355. California Love: Dr. Dre and Tupac- A hip hop song with music? Oops. I think they sampled again.

356. Candle in the Wind: Elton John- Another song that never dies.

357. That Lady: The Isley Brothers- Reminds me of Ron Burgundy‘s pool party.

358. Spanish Harlem: Ben E. King- I am not sure how King is not in the rock hall.

359. The Loco-Motion: Little Eva- I hate this song.

360. The Great Pretender: The Platters- The Platters were the first R&B group to hit #1. It was back when R&B was R&B.

361. All Shook Up: Elvis Presley- Like this wasn’t going to be in the Top 500.

362. Tears in Heaven: Eric Clapton- This is one of the saddest songs ever written.

363. Watching the Detectives: Elvis Costello- Inspired by the Clash.

364. Bad Moon Rising: Creedence Clearwater Revival- One of the most misheard lyrics…there’s a bathroom on the right.

365. Sweet Dreams: The Eurythmics- A defining song for the 80s. Make your dreams come true, make money, etc etc.

366. Little Wing: The Jimi Hendrix Experience- A second Hendrix ballad…what gives?

367. Nowhere to Run: Martha and the Vandellas- Martha found this out first hand during the last election.

368. Got My Mojo Working: Muddy Waters- Nothing is better than a fully functional mojo.

369. Killing Me Softly With His Song: Roberta Flack- The Fugees brought this back in the 90s.

370. All You Need is Love: The Beatles- Probably the hokiest song ever written. It could only come from the flower power years. Guess what? Flower power didn't work.