The stuff of legend, this is one Record Store Day release that's well worth seeking out, even if it's a CD and download as the vinyl might be scarce on this one. The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House offers up a rehearsal tape from a young Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane). This Omnivore Recordings offering is revelatory. There's no other way to put it.
With Jorma's wife's typewriter clattering in the background, like some weird avant form of percussion, things on this informal rehearsal get underway with a heartfelt "Trouble in Mind", Joplin giving it her all. "Long Black Train" and "Kansas City Blues" are similarly emotional in a precise way, both Joplin and Kaukonen intensely focused on the material. Despite the setting, and the casual nature of the performance, this is heavy stuff, really, though delivered with a naturalness that's familiar to anyone who's ever heard Janis Joplin.
This set isn't fancy, but it's the sort of fly-on-the-wall thing that remains wildly fascinating. The music here is simple, direct, and unironically presented. Given that, the tunes are both fine examples of the skill sets of these West Coast Sixties legends, and affecting reminders of blues traditions. This is a brief release, but it's essential nonetheless.
The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House is out today on Omnivore Recordings.