The Bus Stop Blues

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EPISODE #63

2/19/26 - A Chapter in the History of the Blues: Janis Joplin

Hosts: Kevin Purcell & Road Bill

Janis Joplin didn’t just sing the blues… she lived them out loud.

This week on The Bus Stop Blues, Road Bill and Kevin “Papa Blues” Purcell dive into the life and legacy of the woman who brought Delta soul to the psychedelic age. From her deep roots in the music of Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton to her explosive rise at Monterey and her unforgettable recordings with Big Brother and the Holding Company and the Full Tilt Boogie Band, this episode traces the blues heartbeat inside Janis’s powerful voice.

Hear the stories, the influences, and the songs that made her a force of nature, raw, vulnerable, and unforgettable.

Episode 63 Song List:

1. Piece of My Heart The song that made her a force of nature. Pain, power, and no safety net.
2. Ball and Chain Pure Big Mama Thornton lineage. Long, slow, and emotionally devastating.
3. Cry Baby Full voice, full band, full heartbreak. Janis at maximum voltage.
4. Summertime Haunting and blues soaked. She turns a lullaby into a confession.
5. Me and Bobby McGee Her only No. 1 hit. Freedom wrapped in loss.
6. Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) Soul driven and urgent. Janis pushing against the walls.
7. Kozmic Blues Fame, loneliness, and exhaustion laid bare.
8. Mercedes Benz A cappella, sarcastic, and painfully human. Recorded days before her death.
9. Down on Me Early folk blues energy with teeth.
10. Maybe Intimate and fragile. One of her most underrated performances.

The Bus Stop Blues

thebusstopblues.com

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NOW 3 NIGHTS A WEEK

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EPISODE #62

2/17/26 - The Music Show

Hosts: Kevin Purcell & Road Bill

Welcome to The Bus Stop Blues, your home for great blues, roots, rock, and the stories behind the music. I’m your host, Road Bill, along with Kevin “Shoeshine” Purcell, bringing you the sounds, the history, and the voices that keep the music alive.

So grab a seat, turn it up, and enjoy the ride. The Bus Stop Blues starts now.

The Bus Stop Blues

thebusstopblues.com

Our Patreon

NOW 3 NIGHTS A WEEK

TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SUNDAY AT 7PM on 98.3FM in Round Lake, IL

EPISODE #61

2/15/26 - International Superstar, Keith Semple

Hosts: Kevin Purcell & Road Bill

This week on The Bus Stop Blues, Road Bill and Kevin welcome special guest Keith Semple, a powerhouse vocalist whose career spans international stages and Chicago’s vibrant music scene. Best known as the longtime front man for 7th Heaven, Keith brings soul, range, and undeniable energy to every performance.

Episode 61 – Song List – February 15, 2026

1. AC/DC – Ride On

2. Keith Semple – Hand on My Heart

3. Thunder – Low Life in High Places

4. Bryan Adams – Heaven

5. Pink Floyd – Coming Back to Life

6. Porcupine Tree – Blackest Eyes

7. The Cyberiam – Alice in Afterland

8. Bon Jovi – These Days

9. Queen – The Show Must Go On

AND JAMMIN AT THE END!