There's something transformative about live Janis Joplin. There were two when she took the stage at Woodstock. Having separated from Big Brother & the Holding Company, Joplin had formed the Kozmic Blues Band and was on the cusp of releasing "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!"

Her sound had shifted from Big Brother's folk-influenced sound to one informed much more by the soul sounds emanating from Stax Records, in Memphis, heavy on the horns and rave-ups.

"The Woodstock Experience" is a two-disc set. The first is a remastered version of "Kozmic Blues Again," but the real ripper is the full Woodstock performance on disc two.

While she was a firebrand in any setting, Joplin truly let loose when performing live, and the freewheeling Kozmic Blues Band keeps the pace all the way, from a gut-wrenching "Summertime" to a double-time "Piece of My Heart."

It's perfect summer listening.

Hear samples from "The Woodstock Experience" at Amazon.com.

Sussex Countian