*Recalling this conversation later, Paul explained his goal: “I was pointing out to her that that voice was her salvation and it was towards that voice that she had to evolve her next voice. You know, a good singer—a singer’s voice goes through evolution, and develops. They all do. And she should start working towards a pure sound. Because she can’t—she couldn’t do the ‘Ball and Chain’ Janis Joplin at age forty. It would be ludicrous, right? And these are things we discussed, and she loved this because it was talk about real direction, what she should do with her vocal career and her future, and what to aim for. . . . To me it was as if my entire career was pointed at working at that record—working on that record and working with Janis. And when Janis and I would sit down and talk about the future, I would be saying things to her like, ‘Now, you see, Janis, you don’t quite get it. When you’re fifty-five I want you to be making your best records. With me. And here’s how we’ll do it.’ You know, ‘Here’s the thirty-year plan.’” (Author interview with Paul Rothchild, March 19, 1974.)