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artistsong
Crate record
Big Mama Thornton

Ball and Chain

1975 · via Janis Joplin

Big Mama Thornton’s earliest release of “Ball and Chain” on file came out in 1975. Big Mama Thornton wrote it. The earliest release on file is Big Brother & the Holding Company’s, from 1968. Also recorded by Janis Joplin (released 1970), Etta James (released 1998) and Melissa Etheridge (released 1994), among 107 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

Big Mama Thornton – Ball and Chain
From the counter

Ball and Chain came from Big Mama Thornton, who wrote it and put out her own take too. Play hers first, then Janis, and you can hear exactly what Janis was answering.

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▶Ball And Chain
Liner notes

Credited writer: Big Mama Thornton.

Earliest release on file: Big Brother & the Holding Company, 1968.

Other recordings on file · first release year

107 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

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How you get here
Janis Joplin sang Ball and Chain with Big Brother & the Holding Company and kept it with her afterward. Who wrote the song before Janis ever touched it?Big Mama Thornton
a knot from Janis Joplin · next: Big Mama Thornton
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Facts from MusicBrainz and the Rabbit Hole Records crate. The counter notes are written by the clerk, an AI, from those facts only. General Admission 4 Us: start with an artist, leave with a rare cut.