Mimeographed Janis Joplin-inspired typed poem entitled ‘Sing a Song of Raw Meat: Tough Talking Woman's Blues,’ signed and inscribed on the first page in blue ballpoint, “Ginger, beautiful poem, thanks, Janis Joplin." Written by fan Ginger Wilson, the free verse poem, six pages, 8.5 x 11, which was originally published in a winter issue of Rolling Stone magazine, reads, in part: “Janis Joplin…begotten of Tennessee Williams and Southern Comfort, 'brewed on the banks,' balled on the banks of Life, in the tradition of Mae West and Black blues singers, Her accident ward wail, that raw meat voice forced from a raucous resonator, her threat flaunting major and minor musical scales, Sexual excitement, emotional catharsis flowing jaggedly into some electronic silver wand, a microphone…Her body, a mass of bejeweled velvet, shamelessly sways, breasts bouncing bralessly, to the irregular recurring Big Brother & The Holding Company’s beats.” In very good to fine condition, with creasing, rusty staple holes, and light soiling along the intersecting folds; Joplin's writing remains bold and dark.
The poem, published in the February 1, 1969, issue of Rolling Stone magazine, was originally stored at the magazine's offices in a file for unsolicited submissions called the ‘Jim Morrison File.’ After deciding to permanently close the file at the end of 1968, the magazine printed two of the most representative poems from the file. ‘Sing a Song of Raw Meat’ was one of the two published. Accompanied by an original clipping from the magazine that includes the two chosen poems.
This item is Pre-Certified by Real
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$300.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
