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Piece of My Heart
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Wikipedia article
"'Piece of My Heart'" is a romantic funk/soul love song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967.
The song came to greater mainstream attention when Big Brother and the Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin on lead vocals) covered the song in 1968 and had a much bigger hit with it. The song has since been remade by several singers, including Dusty Springfield also in 1968, Faith Hill in 1994 and duet version by Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone in 2005.
In 2004, the Big Brother and the Holding Company version was ranked No. 353 on 'Rolling Stone'
Erma Franklin's original recording
The original version of "Piece of My Heart" was recorded by Aretha Franklin's older sister Erma in 1967 for producer Bert Berns' Shout label with the same song on both sides of the 7-inch vinyl single. Bert Berns wanted Van Morrison, whom he was producing at the time, to record the song, but Morrison declined, wanting to do his own material instead.
The song reached number 10 on the 'Billboard' Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the United States and also peaked at number sixty-two on the 'Billboard' Pop Singles chart. In Canada, it reached number three on the CKFH Soul Survey. In the United Kingdom and several other European countries, the single was re-released in 1992 due to being featured in a successful Levi's jeans commercial ("Cinderella" AKA "Night and Day" directed by Tarsem Singh). The reissue peaked at number five in Denmark, number nine in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and number 10 in Ireland.
'Cash Box' said that it "starts with less volume than might be expected, which only emphasizes the build that follows."
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Big Brother and the Holding Company version
{{Infobox song
| name = Piece of My Heart
| cover = Janis Joplin cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Cover of the 1968 Dutch single
| type = single
| artist = Big Brother and the Holding Company
| album = Cheap Thrills
| B-side = Turtle Blues
| released =
| recorded = March 2May 20, 1968
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Columbia
| writer =
| producer = John Simon
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
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}}
The song became a bigger pop hit when recorded by Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968 with lead singer Janis Joplin. The song was taken from the group's album 'Cheap Thrills', recorded in 1968 and released on Columbia Records. This four-minute, 15-second rendition made it to number 12 on the U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart. 'Billboard' called it "dynamite," stating that "this raucous dance treatment will rock up the Hot 100." 'Cash Box' said that it is an "explosive performance" with a "power-packed Janis Joplin vocal" and also praised the backing band. The album release was the culmination of a hugely successful year for Joplin with acclaimed performances at the Monterey Pop Festival, Anderson Theater in New York, Wake For Martin Luther King Jr. (with Jimi Hendrix) in New York and on TV's prime-time 'The Dick Cavett Show'.
The song's instrumentation was arranged by Sam Andrew, who also performed three distorted, loud guitar solos giving the song a psychedelic touch. The B-side was "Summertime". Another version had the B-side "Turtle Blues".
Franklin said in an interview that when she first heard Joplin's version on the radio, she did not recognize it because of the vocal arrangement. Noted cultural writer Ellen Willis wrote of the difference: "When Franklin sings it, it is a challenge: no matter what you do to me, I will not let you destroy my ability to be human, to love. Joplin seems rather to be saying, surely if I keep taking this, if I keep setting an example of love and forgiveness, surely he has to understand, change, give me back what I have given". In such a way, Joplin used blues conventions not to transcend pain, but "to scream it out of existence".'The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll', "Janis Joplin". Random House, 1980
Until her death in 1970, "Piece of My Heart" was Joplin's biggest chart success and best-known song. ("Me and Bobby McGee, which Kris Kristofferson wrote, eclipsed "Piece of My Heart" when it appeared after her death in 1970. It went to number one in 1971). "Piece of My Heart" remains most associated with Joplin and continued to get airplay long after her death. Berns never got to hear Joplin's version, dying of a heart attack on December 30, 1967.
Certifications
Faith Hill version
American country artist Faith Hill included the song on her debut album, 'Take Me as I Am' (1993); her version reached No. 1 on the country charts in 1994. Hill's version took on a more passive tone coupled with traditional country instrumentation. Prior to recording the track, Hill had no knowledge of the song, especially Joplin's rendition. As a direct result, Hill's producers refused to allow her to listen to the Joplin version until she had completed her own recording.
Hill re-recorded the track for the soundtrack to the television series 'King of the Hill', released in 1999. This edgier version can also be found on the 1998 international pressing of her third album, 'Faith' (re-titled "Love Will Always Win" outside the U.S.) and 2001 international greatest hits album 'There You'll Be'. Her original version was included in her 2007 compilation album 'The Hits'.
Critical reception
Cyndi Hoelzle and Lisa Smith from the 'Gavin Report' wrote, "How long did it take you to recognize this song? Faith takes Janis Joplin's classic (actually a 1968 hit for her band Big Brother and The Holding Company) and transforms it into a driving Country lament."Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Shaggy version
Jamaican-American reggae artist Shaggy covered the song on his self-produced and fourth album, 'Midnite Lover' (1997). The single featuring Marsha was a top 10 hit in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, peaking at number six and seven, respectively.
Critical reception
British magazine 'Music Week' rated this version three out of five, adding, "Shaggy's fast-paced vocals get somewhat overshadowed by the smooth, silky presence of Marsha on this unadventurous remake of the Erma Franklin hit." Alan Jones noted that "Shaggy returns in fine style", concluding that "the result is a summery and unique treat, with the Shagmeister's verses interspersed by a fine femme vocalistcredited as Erma herself in sample form, though definitely not."Charts
Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone version
A live medley of this song with Janis Joplin and the Full Tilt Boogie Band's 1971 song "Cry Baby" became a hit duet for American rock singer Melissa Etheridge and English soul singer Joss Stone when it was released to iTunes Store after they performed it at the 47th Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005, in tribute to Joplin. She had previously sung it at Woodstock '94 as part of a four-song medley of Joplin tunes.
Etheridge's medley with Joss Stone made number 32 in the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Digital Tracks in April 2005. The performance also signaled Etheridge's first public return from her battle with breast cancer; appearing with her head bald from the effects of chemotherapy. Etheridge also recorded a solo version of "Piece of My Heart" on her 2005 greatest hits album 'Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled'.
Beverley Knight version
On her 2005 'Affirmation Tour', English soul singer Beverley Knight performed the song with Ronnie Wood, which encouraged her to make a studio recording of the song. "Piece of My Heart" was the lead single from her 2006 best-of compilation 'Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight'. It peaked inside the top 10 of the UK radio airplay chart. The physical single was released on March 13, 2006.
Due to a change in the UK chart rules which allowed singles to chart purely on downloads a week before their physical release, "Piece of My Heart" entered the UK chart at number 93, becoming one of the first singles to do so. It peaked at number 16 after its physical commercial release. It was Knight's first single to be released as a DVD. It is her longest-running single to date on the UK Singles Chart, spending 11 weeks inside the top 75. It was her thirteenth top 40 entry and her seventh top-20 hit on the UK Singles Chart.
Personnel
* Beverley Knight lead vocals* Bryan Chambers, Billie Godfrey, Louise Marshall backing vocals
* Martin Slatterty Wurlitzer organ, Hammond organ
* Sam Dixon bass
* Jeremy Stacey drums
* Jimmy Hogarth guitars, percussion
* Jimmy Hogarth producer
* Pom (Pierre-Olivier Magerand) engineer
* Phillip Bodger mixer
Charts
Other recordings
* Etta James, on her 1978 album 'Deep in the Night'. Released as a single, it reached #93 on the 'Billboard' Hot Soul Singles chart.
* Sammy Hagar, on his 1982 album 'Standing Hampton'. Released as a single, it became a minor hit, reaching number 73 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and number 67 on the UK Singles Chart.
* Tiffany Haddish, in the 2021 film 'Here Today'.
References
Category:1967 songs
Category:1967 singles
Category:1968 singles
Category:1982 singles
Category:1994 singles
Category:1997 singles
Category:2005 singles
Category:2006 singles
Category:Beverley Knight songs
Category:Erma Franklin songs
Category:Etta James songs
Category:Faith Hill songs
Category:Jenny Morris (musician) songs
Category:Janis Joplin songs
Category:Joss Stone songs
Category:Melissa Etheridge songs
Category:Sammy Hagar songs
Category:Shaggy (musician) songs
Category:Songs written by Bert Berns
Category:Songs written by Jerry Ragovoy
Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Hendricks
Category:Song recordings produced by John Simon (record producer)
Category:Music videos directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions
Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Parlophone singles
Category:Shout Records singles
Category:Warner Records Nashville singles
Category:Virgin Records singles
Category:Country ballads
Category:Rhythm and blues ballads
Category:Soul ballads
Category:Malefemale vocal duets
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