Janis Joplin – I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama (LP Vinyl)

Recorded in 1969 after her departure from Big Brother and the Holding Company, this was Joplin's first solo statement, built around a full horn section and a harder R&B framework that caught some critics off guard at the time. The rawness here is real, a singer pushing into new sonic territory while carrying the full weight of her voice. Decades later, tracks like "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" and "Maybe" make clear she was finding her footing, not losing it.