How Hard It Is


How Hard It Is is the fourth and final studio album by Big Brother and the Holding Company, released in August 1971. The track "Buried Alive in the Blues" was originally written by guest singer Nick Gravenites for Janis Joplin, who died before she could record her vocal. It was included as an instrumental by the Full Tilt Boogie Band on her final album Pearl, released the previous year.

Chart performance

The album peaked at No. 157 on the Billboard Top LPs, during a three-week run on the chart.

Track listing

  1. "How Hard It Is" – 4:21
  2. "You've Been Talkin' 'Bout Me, Baby" – 3:27
  3. "House on Fire" – 3:56
  4. "Black Widow Spider" – 3:32
  5. "Last Band on Side One" – 1:57
  6. "Nu Boogaloo Jam" – 3:24
  7. "Maui" – 3:27
  8. "Shine On" – 5:25
  9. "Buried Alive in the Blues" – 3:59
  10. "Promise Her Anything but Give Her Arpeggio" – 3:55

Personnel

;Big Brother and the Holding Company
with:
  • Kathi McDonald - vocals on "Black Widow Spider"
  • Mike Finnigan - vocals, keyboards on "How Hard It Is", "You've Been Talkin' 'Bout Me, Baby", "House on Fire", "Shine On" and "Buried Alive in the Blues"
  • Nick Gravenites - vocals on "Buried Alive in the Blues"
;Technical