How Hard It Is

by Big Brother and The Holding Company

Type: Album
Released: August 1971
Label: Columbia
Country: United States
Length: 37:09
Community rating: 3.18/5 from 2 ratings

Artists on this release: Nick Gravenites, Peter Albin, Roy Segal, Mike Finnigan, Kathi McDonald, Sam Andrew, Roscoe, James Gurley, Dave Getz, David Schallock

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Continuing their efforts to forge an identity following Janis Joplin's departure, Big Brother and The Holding Company delivered 'How Hard It Is' as their final studio album of the era[cite: 1]. The record leans into funky, horn-accented blues-rock, featuring shared vocal duties and the band's trademark loose, psychedelic guitar interplay[cite: 1]. Unable to recapture their former commercial glory, the group disbanded shortly after the album's release[cite: 1].

Genres

Tracklist

How Hard It Is (4:20)
You've Been Talkin' 'Bout Me Baby (3:24)
Shine On (3:54)
Black Widow Spider (3:32)
Last Band On Side One (1:54)
Nu Boogaloo Jam (3:23)
Maui (3:24)
House On Fire (5:23)
Buried Alive In the Blues (3:56)
Promise Her Anything but Give Her Arpeggio (3:52)

Credits

Big Brother & The Holding Company - primary artist
Dennis Nolan - artwork [cover and liner]
James Gurley - bass
Dave Getz - drums, piano, marimba, percussion, written-by
Peter Albin - guitar, bass, mandolin, vibraslap, written-by
David Schallock - lead guitar, arranged by, written-by
Kathi McDonald - vocals
Nick Gravenites - vocals, written-by
Sam Andrew - Written-By
Ray Rivera - Written-By
L. Rappaport - Written-By
Roscoe - Written-By
Dan Nudelman - Written-By