RARE: Janis Joplin’s “It’s A Deal” Is The Best Song You’ve Never Heard

Featured On Rare Pearls Over 30 Years After Her Death

Written in 1967, Big Brother and the Holding Company’s ‘It’s A Deal’ is one of the band’s best kept secrets. So secret, in fact, that it never even saw the light of day until 1999’s release of Rare Pearls – a collection of Janis Joplin’s rare and previously unreleased songs. If you weren’t lucky enough to catch Janis with Big Brother during their heyday, never fear – this exclusive, unreleased live recording of ‘It’s A Deal’ will more than make up for it!

Fun Fact: Janis Joplin had several albums’ worth of unreleased material – most of which wouldn’t see the light of day for over 30 years after her death.

Recorded live from San Francisco’s The Matrix in 1967, Big Brother and the Holding Company’s rendition of ‘It’s A Deal’ sums up everything we’ve ever come to love about both the band and the San Francisco counterculture they came to define; it’s equal parts psychedelia and surf rock, and while Janis’ vocal role isn’t as prevalent, it’s easy to imagine her shimmying between bandmates Sam and James with her tambourine.

One of the rarest ‘pearls’ of them all, ‘It’s A Deal’ remains a cult classic for fans of both Janis and Big Brother and the Holding Company, and for good reason – if you saw it live, you had the time of your life!

+ It’s A Deal lyrics +

Ooh, she’s my baby, I’ll tell you
Just exactly what I used to do
I will leave, just to leave you alone
Baby, baby, when I go home

Love you baby, I don’t think I will
Say the words but the doubts come still
It’s true, baby, that I want you to stay
But the fact remains you got to pay your will
Pay your will, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well, I made you cry, hang your head
Life here was just smart and vain
With you guys, baby, and you’ve gotta see
When you’re alone you want to make a deal

Well now, love you baby, I don’t think I will
Say the words but the doubts come still
It’s true, baby, that I want you to stay
But the fact remains you got to pay your will
Pay your will, yeah, yeah

I wouldn’t hurt but you can feel
I’m leaving withdrawn, say it’s a deal
You may see inside my head
I love you, baby, but you’re far away

Love you baby, I don’t think I will
Say the words but the doubts come still
It’s true, baby, that I want you to stay
But if, fact remains you got to pay your will
Pay your will, yeah, yeah, yeah

Pay your will, now yeah, yeah
Pay your will, yeah
Oh, yeah, oh