The 19-song album was released digitally Jan. 17. The musical ended its Broadway run Feb. 9, but producers plan to reopen the production in March at a New York City venue to-be-announced.
In addition to Joplin's signature material, the album features songs made famous by Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith.
Recorded in October, the album also marks the world premiere of "I'm Gonna Rock My Way to Heaven," a song writer and producer Jerry Ragovoy wrote for Joplin just prior to her death in 1970. The album is produced by Russ Titelman, Todd Gershwin, Daniel Chilewich, Michael Cohl and Carl Casella.
The track listing follows:
Tell Mama
Maybe (Chantels)
Summertime
Turtle Blues
Down On Me
Piece Of My Heart
Today I Sing The Blues
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
Spirit In The Dark
Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
Maybe
Little Girl Blue
Cry Baby
Kozmic Blues/I Shall Be Released Medley
Me And Bobby McGee
Ball And Chain
Stay With Me
I’m Gonna Rock My Way To Heaven
Mercedes Benz Written and directed by Randy Johnson, the new musical features choreography by Astaire Award winner Patricia Wilcox.
Joining Davies are Taprena Michelle Augustine, Tony Award nominee de'Adre Aziza, Nikki Kimbrough and NaTasha Yvette Williams, who play Joplin’s backup singers, “The Joplinaires"; they are also featured as some of the iconic female singers who influenced Joplin’s music. The company also included Allison Blackwell as Joplinaire swing and Alison Cusano as Joplinaire swing and Janis Joplin understudy.
Kacee Clanton was the Janis Joplin alternate.
"Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin (Mary Bridget Davies) exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll," according to press notes. "The unmistakable voice filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences – trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, who inspired one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s greatest legends."
The production arrived in New York following acclaimed engagements at Portland Center Stage, Cleveland Play House, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, Pasadena Playhouse and Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
The musical also featured set and lighting design by Justin Townsend, costume design by Amy Clark, sound design by Carl Casella, projection design by Darrel Maloney, music direction by Ross Seligman and original music direction and arrangements by Len Rhodes.
Janis Joplin was produced on Broadway by Daniel Chilewich, Todd Gershwin, Michael Cohl, Jeffrey Jampol, TCG Entertainment, Stephen Tenenbaum, Richard Winkler, Ginger Productions, Jeremiah H. Harris, Claudio Loureiro, Keith Mardak, Michael J. Moritz Jr./Brunish & Trinchero, Ragovoy Entertainment, Bob and Laurie Wolfe/Neil Kahanovitz, Mike Stoller & Corky Hale Stoller, Susan DuBow, and Jerry Rosenberg, in association with The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol for JAM, Inc.
