Janis Joplin

Pearl

First released1971

Pearl, Janis Joplin's final studio album, was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California in 1970, produced by Paul A. Rothchild who had previously worked with The Doors. The album was recorded in relatively short sessions between March and August 1970, with Joplin working alongside her backing band Full Tilt Boogie Band, featuring guitarist Sam Andrew and keyboardist Richard Kermode. The production featured a more polished and soul-influenced sound compared to her previous work, reflecting Joplin's musical evolution and her desire to explore diverse genres including blues, soul, and country. Tragically, Joplin died of a heroin overdose in October 1970, before the album's completion, and producer Paul Rothchild finished overdubs and mixing without her. The album was released posthumously in January 1971 and became her only number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart, with the single "Me and Bobby McGee" reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.