The Long Story About Janis and Mercedes Benz
 

The Story Behind Janis Joplin

Janis stomped off the beat and began belting out the lyrics, the way she had done at the bar. The band soon tried to fit in as best they could, and then they reprised the last verse. What’s interesting is that the second verse doesn’t include the “Dialing for Dollars” line. She must have added it later before recording in the studio in L.A., since it’s not on the Harvard Stadium bootleg either.

For some of us on this forum, "Lord, won't you buy me a working Mercedes-Benz" might be more accurate :D.

Thanks for the link.

Here is the youtube.

JanisJ

I've still got the record:).

'Dialing for Dollars' was a midday TV locally produced show during the 60's on stations owned by the Belo corp. They owned a TV station in Dallas and one in Beaumont. Janis lived in Beaumont until she moved to Austin for a few years.

I always wondered if this was a nationwide franchise thing or something local. I knew the on-air guy for the Dallas station but for him it was just another gig. He also did a children's show, the weather, where ever he was needed at the time.

Anyone else remember this Dialing for Dollars thing from other parts of the country?

Once again Wikipedia is my friend.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialing_for_Dollars#List_of_stations_that_carried_Dialing_for_Dollars

Today's the 45th anniversary of the day Janis did an a cappella track asking for a Mercedes-Benz. October 1, 1970 and it was the last song she recorded.

I remember Dialing For Dollars, as we got TV stations from the Golden Triangle where I grew up.... always chuckled at that line.

I also watched KPAC every day to see Cowboy John. I even went to a live birthday party there...lol

http://bestofswla.com/2013/10/09/last-ride-cowboy-john-black-bart-infamous-leroy/

Check out this tune about "The Golden Triangle". Knowing the area helps to understand the song.

And that site you linked was interesting. I liked the photo of Joan Crawford who was every bit as evil as you might have heard.

Old time television was truly ad-lib. I knew 'Mr. Peppermint' in Dallas and he never lost his cool no matter how much things were falling apart. He also helped to launch the careers of a lot of local talent who would have never seen the inside of a studio without his seeing they had talent.

Check it out.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlC3t0pKpSY