Janis Joplin
ListenBlindman · 1966
Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin — “Blindman.”
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1966 · Mainstream Records
Blindman / All Is Loneliness
Before Monterey made Janis Joplin a national sensation, she was writing home about Big Brother and the Holding Company’s first single. The band had played its one copy of “Blindman” so often that she could no longer judge it—and she was still waiting for the promised records to send her family. [1]
| Accession | OMMA-0053 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Big Brother and the Holding Company (with Janis Joplin) |
| Release | 1966 · United States |
| Label | Mainstream Records · 657 |
| Format | 7-inch vinyl single · 45 rpm |
| Issue | White-label promotional copy · group songwriting credit |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | NM |
Release history and significance
Chet Helms had persuaded Joplin to come from Texas to San Francisco and sing with Big Brother. The band already had a following, but wanted a powerful female voice to complete its sound. Living together and rehearsing daily, the musicians developed a collective identity around their different strengths. [2]
The first Mainstream recordings followed a demanding Chicago engagement. In letters home, Joplin described the exhausting schedule at Mother Blues and the uncertainty of choosing singing over a return to college. By October 1966 she could announce that “Blindman / All Is Loneliness” was out, while promising to send a copy once the band received its allocation. [1]
The single brought together an original song and Moondog’s “All Is Loneliness.” On this promotional label, “Blindman” carries the names of all five band members: James Gurley, Dave Getz, Peter Albin, Janis Joplin and Sam Andrew. Another Mainstream label variant credits Albin alone. [3] [4]
Both songs became part of the debut album issued in August 1967, after the band’s breakthrough at Monterey. The single belongs to the preceding chapter: Joplin was already a compelling singer, but the group was still learning how its live identity would translate to records. [2] [5]
Market context
For comparison within Mainstream 657, Discogs lists sales of the promotional variant crediting Peter Albin alone from US$3 to US$21.99, with a median of US$10, as recorded on 13 September 2026. [4]
Physical Description
Black vinyl with white Mainstream labels marked “PROMOTIONAL COPY” and “NOT FOR SALE.” The photographed “Blindman” side lists the five band members as songwriters and gives a duration of 1:59.
Condition
Recorded as Near Mint; the acquisition description used M−.
Provenance
Acquired on eBay from seller colleenscollect on 20 November 2025.
Sources
- Janis Joplin’s 1966 letters, collected in Laura Joplin’s Love, Janis. September and October letters, excerpted in Blu-ray Downlow’s 16 July 2021 review of Janis: Little Girl Blue.
- Big Brother and the Holding Company, official history. Joplin’s recruitment, communal working life and Monterey breakthrough.
- Discogs, Big Brother and the Holding Company — Blindman, release 24548492. Promotional variant with the five-member songwriting credit.
- Discogs, Blindman, release 4374507. Peter Albin-credit promotional variant and its sales history.
- Janis Joplin, official debut-album page. August 1967 album release and track listing.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.