NOVA EXPRESS
Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
Australia 1970
#28 Melbourne

Jazz-influenced Melbourne pop band with brass section whose members included Linda George, later successful as a solo singer.

The band's name is presumably after the 1964 William S. Burroughs novel.

Feature suggested by Mike Robbins. Thanks to Pete Lloyd.
LINDA CABLE & LEVI SMITH'S CLEFS
Take A Little Piece Of My Heart
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
Australia 1970

Who's Who of Australian Rock lists over 60 members of Levi Smith's Clefs. None of those is 'Levi Smith': the moving force in this progressive r&b band was Scottish-born singer-guitarist Barrie 'The Bear' McAskill. Over the years its personnel included a number of musicians well-known to Australian audiences. See Milesago for the fairly long and complex story.
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 Update November 2006: Barrie 'The Bear' McAskill is still working: these days he and his wife Jan entertain as a duo, touring all over Australia. Their website covers Barry's career history, including pages on The Clefs and Levi Smith's Clefs, and there is an online CD store full of tracks you won't find anywhere else.
BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY (WITH JANIS JOPLIN)
Piece Of My Heart
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
USA 1968
Influential version
#12 USA #32 Brisbane

This is the version everyone knows, from Cheap Thrills, the album that introduced Janis Joplin to the world, not to mention the art of Robert Crumb.
ERMA FRANKLIN
Piece Of My Heart
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
USA 1967
Original version

Produced and co-written by Bert Berns, single on Berns's own r&b label, Shout.

Erma Franklin is Aretha Franklin's sister.

Further reading: The Originals website has more background and other versions in its song history.

Later versions:

JENNY MORRIS
Piece Of My Heart
(Bert Berns - Jerry Ragovoy)
Australia 1990
Later version
#31 Sydney #16 Melbourne #10 Brisbane #16 Adelaide #15 Perth

Single on WEA label by New Zealand pop/rock singer, formerly with The Crocodiles, in Australia since the early 80s.

Further reading: vh1.com's Jenny Morris page.

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