Arachnophonia: Janis Joplin

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features two CDs featuring music by Janis Joplin (1943-1970). Thanks, Amy!

Janis JoplinPearl and Greatest Hits

Janis Joplin - Pearl (1971) album cover

As a girl whose father crafted her music taste, you would think my favorites would be The Beatles or The Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, or even Led Zeppelin. Instead, my father decided to raise a young girl who only listened to melodramatic psychedelic rock music like Janis Joplin.

Sitting in the back of my dad’s car, he slipped his Pearl CD into the player and told me, “This is what good music is, so, listen closely.”

The raspy and powerful voice of Janis shook my world, and I couldn’t get enough. We listened to the entire album and I knew Janis was the perfect artist for me. I even started dressing like her. I had just gotten glasses and was admittedly embarrassed, but once I saw the funky big frames Janis had, I got myself a pair and didn’t feel as worried about how I looked.

The last song my dad showed me was “Mercedez Benz.” The song was a stark difference from everything else on the album-it seemed more casual, and it was a cappella; every other song had a backing band.

After the song was over, my dad told me the horrid news: Janis died of a heroin overdose three days after this first and only recording of “Mercedez Benz.” Three months after her death, her album Pearl was released, her second solo album.

Despite the unfinished nature of the album, it does not even begin to sound that way. Her confidence and remarkable songwriting skills take her far in the album.

The opening of the album “Move Over” is a funky welcome to the album but fits the band (the Full Tilt Boogie Band) and Janis well. The song may be about a breakup but it’s also a song of female empowerment, she’s taking back the reins of her own romantic life.

One of my other favorites on this album is “Cry Baby.” It’s dramatic and passionate and just shows off her voice so well. The song is loud and head-banging at times, but it’s also sorrowful. That’s the power of Janis, she may be the queen of rock, but she’s also the queen of the blues.

Pearl and Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits are both available as CDs in Parsons Music Library. I highly recommend picking up both as her Greatest Hits also includes music from her first two albums with Big Brother & The Holding Company.

Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits - Album cover

Parsons Playlists: Street Chronicles

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features some hip hop selections.

Street Chronicles

N.W.A. – “Straight Outta Compton”

Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg – “Still D.R.E.”

Jay-Z – “99 Problems”

Schoolboy Q – “Man of the Year”

Migos – “Stir Fry”

Drake – “Started From the Bottom”

Kendrick Lamar – “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”

A$AP Rocky – “Goldie”

Big Sean ft. E-40 – “I Don’t Fk With You”

Post Malone ft. Quavo – “Congratulations”

Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It”

J. Cole – “No Role Modelz”

Kanye West – “Power”

Wiz Khalifa & 2 Chainz – “We Own It”

50 Cent & The Game – “Hate It or Love It”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyhERppY4Jo5kabS8KqpBAU&si=jYDfyVZSYdLA9Hzj

WDCE Charts 1-24-24

WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from January 24 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE 1-24-24

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC 1-24-24

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE 1-24-24

Arachnophonia: Of Bluey and “The Planets”

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Kiran (class of 2024) and features Gustav Holst’s The Planets and its use in an episode of the animated series Bluey. Thanks, Kiran!

Of Bluey and The Planets

Bluey  - "Sleepytime" title card

My parents both work in pediatric healthcare, and now that I’ve grown up, they have gotten out of touch with what kids like to watch. My mom will sometimes put on Disney shows while she’s doing other work so that she can know the characters that her patients love. Recently, my whole family has started watching Bluey every chance we get. Since I go to school in another state, I haven’t had a chance to watch it recently. It’s a show that’s made for kids while still bringing in something for adults to enjoy, which is why we love it so much. The storyline follows 6-year-old Bluey, a blue Heeler dog, and her family.

My favorite episode is called “Sleepytime”, where Bluey’s sister Bingo reads a bedtime story and dreams about flying to different planets. The ending scene always makes me cry, and part of it comes from the beautiful instrumental music that plays during it. It’s a slightly remastered version of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, specifically Op. 32: 4. Jupiter. The story and string part fit beautifully together and make for the perfect episode to watch with family. You can listen to or play this piece by checking out our selection at the music library!

WDCE Charts 1-17-24

WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from January 17, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE Chart 1-17-24

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC chart 1-17-24

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE Charts 1-10-24

WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from January 10, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE 1-10-24

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC 1-10-24

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE 1-10-24