How Hard It Is

How Hard It Is is the fourth and final studio album by Big Brother and the Holding Company, released in August 1971. The track "Buried Alive in the Blues" was originally written by guest singer Nick Gravenites for Janis Joplin who died before she could record her vocal. It was included as an instrumental by the Full Tilt Boogie Band on her final album Pearl released the year before.

How Hard It Is
Studio album by Big Brother and the Holding Company
Released	August 1971
Studio	CBS Studios, San Francisco, California
Genre	Rock
Length	37:23
Label	Columbia
Producer	Roscoe Segel, Roy Segal
Big Brother and the Holding Company chronology
Be a Brother (1970) How Hard It Is (1971) Cheaper Thrills (1984)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Christgau's Record Guide	C

Track listing

1. "How Hard It Is" (David Getz, Sam Andrew) – 4:21
2. "You've Been Talkin' 'Bout Me, Baby" (Ray Rivera, Gale Garnett, Walter Hirsch) – 3:27
3. "House on Fire" (Getz, Louis Rappaport) – 3:56
4. "Black Widow Spider" (Andrew) – 3:32
5. "Last Band on Side One" (Roscoe Segel, Andrew) – 1:57
6. "Nu Boogaloo Jam" (Dan Nudelman, Andrew) – 3:24
7. "Maui" (Segel, Andrew) – 3:27
8. "Shine On" (Getz, Peter Albin, Andrew) – 5:25
9. "Buried Alive in the Blues" (Nick Gravenites) – 3:59
10. "Promise Her Anything But Give Her Arpeggio" (David Schallock) – 3:55

Personnel

Big Brother and the Holding Company

• Sam Andrew - guitar, vocals
• David Schallock - lead guitar
• James Gurley - bass
• Peter Albin - guitar, bass, mandolin, vibraslap
• David Getz - drums, percussion, marimba, piano

with:

• Kathi McDonald - vocals on "Black Widow Spider"
• Mike Finnigan - vocals, keyboards on "How Hard It Is", "You've Been Talkin' 'Bout Me, Baby", "House on Fire", "Shine On" and "Buried Alive in the Blues"
• Nick Gravenites - vocals on "Buried Alive in the Blues"

Technical

• David Brown, George Engfer, George Horn, Mike Larner - recording
• Dennis Nolan - artwork