Janis Joplin & Tom Jones sing "Raise Your Hand"

It certainly is an odd pairing.

The pint-sized, self-described ugly duckling, considered one of if not the best rock vocalists, who bled her soul out every time she stepped onstage opposite the tall and handsome hambone, long considered an archetype of cheese, best known for having women’s underwear thrown at him onstage.

And yet somehow it works.

Written by Memphis soul musicians Al Bell, Eddie Floyd, and Steve Cropper (of Booker T & the MGs), “Raise Your Hand” was part of Janis Joplin’s concert repertoire at the time. Recorded fifty years ago today on Tom Jones’ variety show, the one-off performance embedded below is full of period details—Janis’s satin bellbottoms and flowing tie-dye tunic, Tom Jones’ black silk Nehru shirt with billowing sleeves, surrounding them huge collars, a buckskin jacket with fringe, the Technicolor fashions of the time.

Better yet, the music hums, from Janis’ thunderous vocals to Tom Jones’ husky baritone to the uptown horn section to the smoking sax solo, everyone and their neighbor infected by the groove. 1970 was just four weeks out, making this cultural artifact a fitting capstone to the Swinging Sixties. 

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                                      Other "Truth and Beauty" vocalist profiles:

                                        Angelic voices, #4:  Aretha Franklin performs 
                                             before Barack Obama and Carole King 

                        There must be something in the water:  the magic of "Muscle Shoals" 

             A look back at "Strange Fruit" on the 100th anniversary of Billie Holiday's birth

                                     Angelic voices, #1:  Ella sings "Summertime"

                       Angelic voices, #2:  Marvin Gaye sings "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Angelic voices, #3:  Janis Joplin sings "Cry Baby"  

Angelic voices, #5:  Prince's "Darling Nikki"  

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