Just released in celebration of the 50th anniversary of it topping the Billboard Hot 100, is the first official video for Janis Joplin's “Me And Bobby McGee.” The clip, which was created in partnership with the Janis Joplin Estate and Columbia/Legacy Recordings, features the classic tune written by Kris Kristofferson, which in Joplin’s death became her signature song. The new clip features elements included in the upcoming book, Janis Joplin: Days & Summers – Scrapbook 1966-68, set for publication on June 10th.
Originally released on January 12th, 1971, Janis Joplin's “Me And Bobby McGee” from the posthumous Pearl album, became the second posthumous single in pop music history to reach Number One; the first was Otis Redding's “(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay,” in 1968.
Guitarist Sam Andrew performed alongside Janis Joplin in both Big Brother & The Holding Company and her solo band Kozmic Blues Band. Not long before his own 2015 death, Andrew recalled that Joplin was a lot deeper than people might have gotten from her public image: “She was, like, real fast and real funny, and she had these colorful Texan expressions, and then behind there, there was an IQ maybe of 165 or something. She was just as bright as could be and interested in everything. And then, on top of that, she was punctual, which doesn't sound like an important thing when you're talking about a diva, but in day-to-day life it becomes really important. So I just loved Janis a lot.”
