THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE ♥♥♥♥
Released 2000 (MCA)
CD1: Purple Haze (Alternate) / Killing Floor (Live-Paris 1966) (Burnett)/ Hey Joe (Live Paris 1966) (Roberts)/ Foxy Lady (Alternate) / Highway Chile (Stereo) / Hey Joe(Alternate) / Title #3 / Third Stone From the Sun (Alternate) / Taking Care of No Business / Here He Comes (Lover Man) / Burning Of The Midnight Lamp (Alternate) / Rock Me Baby (Live Monterey 1967-remix) / Like A Rolling Stone (Live Monterey 1967-remix) (Dylan)
CD 2: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Live Stockholm 1967) (Lennon/McCartney) / Burning Of The Midnight Lamp (Live Stockholm 1967 ) / Little Wing (Alternate) / Little Miss Lover (Alternate) / The Wind Cries Mary (Live Paris 1967) / Catfish Blues (Live Paris 1967-incomplete) / Bold As Love (Alternate) / Sweet Angel (Alternate) / Fire(Live Clark University 1968) / Somewhere / (Have You Ever Been To) Electric Ladyland / Gypsy Eyes (Alternate) / Room Full Of Mirrors / Gloria (Morrison)/ It’s Too Bad / Star Spangled Banner (Studio version) (Traditional)
CD 3: Stone Free (1969 re-recording) / Spanish Castle Magic (rehearsal 69)/ Hear My Train A Comin’(rehearsal 69) / Room Full of Mirrors (Alternate) / I Don’t Live Today (Live LA 1969) / Little Wing (Live Albert Hall 1969) )/ Red House (Live San Diego 1969 ) / Purple Haze (Live San Diego 1969) / Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live Albert Hall 1969 ) / Izabella (Alternate)
CD 4: Message To Love (Alternate) / Earth Blues(Alternate) / Astro Man(Alternate) / Country Blues / Freedom (Alternate) / Johnny B. Goode (Live Berkeley 1970) (Berry)/ Lover Man / Blue Suede Shoes(Live Berkeley 1970 ) (Perkins) / Cherokee Mist / Come Down Hard On Me / Hey Baby-In From The Storm (Live Maui 1970) / Ezy Ryder(Alternate) / Night Bird Flying (Alternate) / All Along The Watchtower(Live Isle Of Wight 1970) (Dylan)/ In From The Storm(Live Isle Of Wight 1970 ) / Slow Blues
The album “South Saturn Delta” was evidently just the taster for this luxury package released in the year 2000. There has never been a properly compiled Hendrix box set and the casual buyer could be led into thinking that this is it. Nope, it looks like a definitive collection but like with the successful Beatles “Anthology” series, the idea here is to project a history of Jimi’s music using alternate versions of his songs (demos, outtakes, alternate mixes, rehearsals, and live versions). So it’s a misleadingly glossy package, of inferior versions of his work (apart from some great live tracks). It could have been called, for example “The Alternate Experience”. In fact looking at the cover, one would think this is an Experience-only compilation, but Noel is absent on CD4 as this a retrospective of all the 66-70 period.
Despite the ambiguities, this has been prepared with loving care and the set is definitely interesting for Hendrix nuts. Beware, as not all the tracks are “previously unreleased” and some are merely alternate remixes (Gloria, Message To Love and some live tracks) – but there is a feast of new goodies and old rarities here which merit close attention.
Previously unreleased studio tracks:
“Taking Care Of No Business”
A May ’67 recording, this track was the real surprise in the box. Initially penciled in for inclusion on “War Heroes”, it’s a sort of humorous bar-room blues, which is similar to “My Friend” (from “Cry Of Love” and “First Rays”) in feel. I’d say that it’s inspiration was Ray Charles’s “Them That Got”. Jimi had recorded a vaguely similar early version of this song – titled “No Business” – when he was with Curtis Knight and The Squires (released on the “Get that Feeling” album).
In the 90s, Chas Chandler came back to this recording, adding some brass (intended at the outset ?) which fitted the song very nicely giving it more of Kinks feel (see the unofficial “Axis Outtakes”).
“Sweet Angel”
This is the same source as the version on “South Saturn Delta” with Jimi alone, but is complete here.
(A home demo of “Angel” had appeared on “Lifelines” and “Jimi By Himself”)
“It’s Too Bad”
February ’69 for this lyrically interesting spontaneous blues jam with Buddy Miles already and Duane Hutchings on keyboards. Jimi refers to a quarrel he had with his half brother Leon and soon after he incorporated the lyric into “Room Full Of Mirrors” (as some unofficial recordings have revealed).
“Country Blues”
Another interesting instrumental jam from the Band Of Gypsys this time in January 1970.
> The bootleg Spicy Essence (a.k.a. Jimi’s Private Reels Vol.1) features two apartment jams (with another guitarist) on the theme of Country Blues.
“Cherokee Mist”
A promising June ’70 exploration with Cox and Mitchell. It incorporates passages that were later worked into “In From The Storm”.
“Lover Man”
At last a good studio rendering (complete with overdubs) of this often live performed favourite, recorded in July ’70. This song had started life with the lyrics from B.B. King’s “Rock Me Baby” (see “Jimi Plays Monterey”). It would have been better placed on “South Saturn Delta” really, instead of the looser live-in-studio version from The Experience on that album, but it was discovered too late believe it or not).
“Somewhere” – “Stone Free”
Two tracks that had previously appeared, although with Alan Douglas’s commissioned overdubs, on his “Crash Landing” project of 1975. This time we hear the tracks more or less the way Jimi had left them. “Somewhere” is a sort of early “Earth Blues” (lyrically) with a superb vocal. “Stone Free” is The Experience’s re-recording (in ’69) of the famous “Hey Joe” B-side, for possible inclusion on the American “Smash Hits” (he had also considered issuing it as a U.S. single). It is a cleaner sounding, more funky arrangement, but doesn’t match the magic of the original
“Title #3”
No real title for this April ’67 instrumental blast of the Experience jamming at full tilt. Similar to “Lover Man”, “Can You see Me” or “You Got Me Floating” in atmosphere.
“Slow Blues”
The tape runs out after just 90 seconds of this tantalising August 1970 instrumental jam.
The rest of the studio tracks are demos, work-in-progress, alternate versions/mixes, rehearsals etc. of songs that we already know, and are at times fascinating. A special mention for the versions of “Hear My Train”, “Little Wing”, “Gypsy Eyes”, “Little Miss lover” and “Bold As love”.
Previously unreleased live tracks:
“Killing Floor”/”Hey Joe”
Unbelievable ! The Experience on their first ever tour, supporting French star Johnny Hallyday* at the famous Olympia Theatre Paris in October 1966 (just a few weeks after the band’s creation) ! These tapes must have slept in the vaults of French radio station Europe 1 for more than thirty years before being discovered. Just a shame that the complete 15 minute show wasn’t here. They also played “Wild Thing” that night which we presume isn’t on the surviving Europe 1 tape.
“Catfish Blues”(incomplete) /”Wind Cries Mary”
The Experience at the Paris Olympia again, this time in 1967. “Catfish Blues” fades out because there was sound trouble on the night. More tracks from this gig were released in 2003 by Dagger Records (see Posthumous Live Albums) and in 2021 these two tracks were included on the vinyl release of the Paris ’67 recordings.
“Hey Baby/In From The Storm”
Recorded at the gig for The Rainbow Bridge Meditation Centre, Maui, Hawaii ’70. Due to sound problems (again) on the day, Mitch Mitchell had to later overdubbed the drum parts in the studio for the film soundtrack, and it shows.
* Hallyday (who is still an enormous star in France) had seen the unknown Jimi in a London club, before The Experience were formed, jamming with Brian Auger. He was so knocked out by him that he asked him to come on his autumn tour of France (and Luxembourg).
Previously released tracks:
Note that just about all of the great seventies live album “Hendrix In The West” turns up here (the tracks from Berkeley and San Diego really merit cheaper access). The other more familiar material offers new mixes.
“Rock Me Baby”, “Like A Rolling Stone” – previously on “Historical Performances – Monterey”, “Jimi Plays Monterey”, “Jimi Hendrix” (Film Soundtrack).
“Fire” – “Live At Clark University”
“(Have You ever been To) Electric Ladyland” – “Loose Ends”
“Gloria” – “The Essential Jimi Hendrix”, “The Singles Album”, “Live “.
“Star Spangled Banner” – the complex studio version previously issued on the “Rainbow Bridge” soundtrack album and “Cornerstones”.
“I Don’t Live Today” (LA Forum 1969) “Lifelines IV”
“Purple Haze” (San Diego 1969) – “Stages 69”
“Little Wing”, “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” (Royal Albert Hall 1969) -“Hendrix In The West” and all the Albert Hall records,
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp” (Radiothuset, Stockholm 1967) – “Stages 67”.
“Message To Love” – “Crash Landing”
“Johnny B. Goode” (Berkeley 1970) – “Hendrix In The West”, “Jimi Hendrix” Film Soundtrack, “Johnny B. Goode” (Video Soundtrack), “The Singles Album” …
“Blue Suede Shoes” (Berkeley 1970) – Hendrix In The West
“Red House” (San Diego 1969) – “Hendrix In The West”, “Stages 69”
“All Along The Watchtower” – Isle Of Wight albums
“In From The Storm” – Isle Of Wight albums, “Jimi Hendrix”(Film Soundtrack).
Deleted in this exact form but > August 2013 re-release on Sony with four extra tracks.
THE COVER
The purple velvet-look box is superb (even though it looks like Noel has his hand in Jimi’s trousers!) and the 80 page (long box CD) booklet is very well documented (not surprising seeing that Eddie Kramer and John McDermott are behind it). The sumptuous vinyl box set is also pictured. The whole thing is like a reworking of the US “Are You Experienced” – same colours, purple and gold, with a round group photo. When I saw it, I just had to have it so it gets a: – 10/10
> In the UK, Universal put out a special edition with a DVD included. It was a 30 minute film titled “Hendrix And The Blues”. This was originally screened in the USA as a 15 minute programme and part of the Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series. Also included were three bonus videos: “Johnny B. Goode” – Live at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, Ca., May 30, 1970 – “Red House” – Live at Isle Of Wight, England, August 30, 1970 – “In From The Storm” – Live at Isle Of Wight, England, August 30, 1970.
Collector’s corner:
This US 8 track promotional sampler CD was distributed
to the press and radio stations.
Purple Haze, Little Wing, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club, Stone Free, Gloria, It’s Too Bad, Lover Man, All Along The Watchtower
lso distributed was this DVD video sampler featuring
“Spanish Castle Magic” and “All Along The Watchtower” from Isle of Wight,
plus an Interview with Eddie Kramer.
The “Best Of” compilation titled “Experience Hendrix” was re-released in 2000 with a second CD of extracts from the box set:
CD 2 – Highway Chile (stereo mix), Gloria (remix), It’s Too Bad, Spanish Castle Music (live rehearsal), Hear My Train a Comin'(live rehearsal), Lover Man (1970 studio version), I Don’t Live Today (Live LA Forum 69), Purple Haze (Live San Diego 69)
MORNING SYMPHONY IDEAS ♥♥½
Released 2000 (Dagger Records) – Mail order only
Keep On Grooving/Jungle/Room Full Of Mirrors/Strato Strut/Scorpio Woman/Acoustic Demo
The Hendrix estate took the bold decision to distribute a series of CDs (available only on the official site: www.jimi-hendrix.com) which enable them issue material of interest to committed Hendrix fans. The live or studio recordings are generally re-mastered under the supervision of Eddie Kramer for release.
This particular CD is not an unfinished symphony of Jimi’s, as the title misleadingly suggests, but jams with Buddy Miles in late 1969, as the two explore ideas at The Record Plant studio in New York, essentially looking for new riffs.
This stuff was only ever intended for his own ears and I’m sure Jimi would be bloody furious if he knew this sort of thing was being put out. Still, for absolute Hendrix nuts, it’s always a treat to hear him doodling around for ideas. It’s like the privilege of going through a great artist’s sketchbook.
“Keep On Groovin” clocks in at 28 minutes and goes through various rhythmic structures with some nice soloing here and there. It encompasses snippets of “Power Of Soul”, “Burning Desire” and “Tryin’ To Be” (“Steppin’ Stone”) which has a brief vocal, but this jam doesn’t seem to relate to the “Keep On Groovin” that Jimi sometimes worked into “Voodoo Child” or “Midnight Lightning”.
“Jungle” begins a little like “Hey Baby” then merges into the recognisable riffs of “Villanova Junction”, “Ezy Ryder”and “South Saturn Delta”.
The embryonic “Room Full Of Mirrors” from September ’69 has a vocal from Jimi, before it goes into improvisation, finishing off with a little of “Message To Love”.
Billy Cox is a welcome addition when he joins Jimi and Buddy for the funky “Strato Strut”, the most “finished” track here, after which Jimi calls out “Save that”.
“Scorpio Woman” is Jimi alone at Maui, though not from the actual gigs there. It begins with a nice improvised vocal then ambles along for 20 minutes, going through “Midnight Lightning” and “Race with The Devil” (a hit in 1968 for the group Gun) the riff of which Jimi often incorporated into his live shows in 1970.
The last short track is Jimi at home in early 1970 and lasts only a minute as a coda.
THE COVER
A handsome two-tone blend of Jimi in a relaxed mood and signed with his own handwriting . – 7/10
THE BAGGYS REHEARSAL SESSIONS ♥♥
Released 2003 (DAGGER RECORDS) – Mail order only
Burning Desire/Hoochie Coochie Man (Dixon)/Message To Love/Ezy Ryder/Power Of Soul/Earth Blues/Changes (Miles)/Lover Man/We Gotta Live Together (Miles)/Baggy’s Jam/Earth Blues/Burning Desire
This is a candid peek at the ill fated Band Of Gypsys in rehearsals (at Baggys Studios) for their New Years gigs at the Fillmore East 69/70. We had a rather disappointing glimpse of these sessions on “Loose Ends”, and those two sluggish tracks open the proceedings here. With their awkward sound, the band appear rather weak as they drearily feel around their repertoire. Miles and Cox play forcefully but Jimi is very relaxed and a little half-hearted in his approach (these were only rehearsals). A few tracks aren’t too bad, “Message To Love”, “Ezy Ryder” and “Lover Man” for example, and it’s fun to hear the band in good spirits and acting the fool. However, I think it is a good job that this only came out for hard-core fans on Dagger. It is “interesting” with a few neat little solos here and there, but tedious on the whole. On stage at The Fillmore their playing continued in similar fashion but with a little more punch and did produce some very inspired moments.
Jimi had a vision of something original and magnificent but the undoubtedly talented Buddy Miles was perhaps not the right ingredient for what he had in mind.
The light hearted “Little Drummer Boy”, “Silent Night” and “Auld Lang Syne” (released on the E.P./CD single “Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year”) were also recorded during these sessions. The band played Auld Lang Syne at the Fillmore East as 1970 began. Also, two extra Baggy’s tracks can be heard on the official website in the “Multimedia” section.
> More takes (including several of “Who Knows”) are to be found on various bootlegs.
THE COVER
Nice to see A Band Of Gypsys clearly presented on a cover. Very tasteful presentation – 8/10
NOEL REDDING – The Experience Sessions ♥½
Released 2003 (Experience Hendrix)
There Ain’t Nothing Wrong, Little Miss Strange, Walking Through The Garden, She’s So Fine (alternate), Little, Little Girl, How Can I Live?, Noel’s Tune [Take 1], Noel’s Tune [Take 2], Little Miss Strange (alternate), She’s So Fine, Dream, Red House (live – Olympia 68).
Here we have the two tracks that Noel managed to get onto the band’s second and third albums plus some alternate composite takes (without Jimi) and other curiosities .
Most interesting of all here is the instrumental track from The Experience called “Noel’s Tune”. It’s a basic rythmic run-through but fascinating all the same. That “Red House” is from Olympia 68 (previously on “Stages 68”), on which Jimi sings of course and where Noel plays his bass parts on a normal six string guitar (as he had done on the original studio version). Noel was first and foremost a guitarist and a lot of rhythm guitar on this compilation is from him (the intro to “Little Miss Strange” being a good example).
“There Ain’t Nothing Wrong” is a composite featuring bass and vocals that were added in 1988 by Noel. The original backing track was the often bootlegged track “Little One” (which had been previously on “Live & Unreleased: The Radio Show” in the 80s and appeared more recently on the “West Coast Seattle Boy” box set). “Little One” was an instrumental jam featuring Dave Mason of Traffic on sitar (not Brian Jones as rumoured).
A fitting tribute to Noel Redding.
THE COVER
A good shot of Noel in action with some classy typography – 8/10
MARTIN SCORCESE PRESENTS THE BLUES: JIMI HENDRIX ♥♥♥♥
Released 2003 (MCA)
This interesting compilation features two previously unreleased studio jams. |See “Compilations” section for details.
HEAR MY MUSIC ♥♥♥♥
Released November 2004 (Dagger Records) – Mail order only
Slow Version, Drone Blues (complete), Ezy Ryder/Star Spangled Banner, Jimi/Jimmy Jam (complete), Jam 292 (complete), Trash Man, Message To Love (alternate), Gypsy Blood, Valleys Of Neptune [Guitar], Blues Jam At Olympic, Valleys Of Neptune (piano)
A welcome release from Dagger, with this fine collection of studio jams and outtakes recorded in early 1969 in London and New York. It’s in the same vein as “Morning Symphony Ideas” in that it features only instrumentals, but this release is a far more satisfying affair, crammed full of intense guitar workouts from Jimi with many different musicians.
There are a few familiar numbers in there of course, the fantastic “Jam 292” (previously on “Loose Ends), plus “Drone Blues” and “Jimi/Jimmy Jam” (previously on “Nine To The Universe”) but this time in all their unedited glory. That last one for example lasts 17 minutes and is perhaps the best jam ever captured of Jimi and other musicians in sheer interaction. At the beginning Jimi puts in a few phrases of “Villanova Junction” before the track goes on into uncharted territory. It features Mitch with Jim McCarty (of Buddy Miles Express and later Cactus) and Dave Holland (or perhaps the Express bassist, Roland Robinson). “Jam 292” features the intro this time (like the “Jelly 292” that appeared on “:Blues”) rather than the tedious fade-in of “Loose Ends”. Some stunning guitar on that track.
“Drone Blues” has Cox on bass with some superb drumming by Rocky Isaac (and not Mitch as “Nine To The Universe” stated). It is of course a terrific jam with Jimi throwing in riffs he also used in “Drivin’ South” and “Midnight Lightning”. The recording underlines the sheer brilliance of Jimi’s improvisational abilities.
Unfortunately, now we know that we will not be seeing an expanded re-release of the “Nine To The Universe” album which is a shame in a way.
The nice surprise is four tracks by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, three of which were recorded on the same day at Olympic Studios on February 14, 1969, so just before the Albert Hall gigs. “Slow Version” sets the tone of the album straight away, a heavy blues with some great soloing, similar in feel to “Hear My Train” at the outset. The “Ezy Ryder/Star Spangled Banner” is great fun (not the same as the other and often bootlegged proto “Ezy Ryder” also known as “Mushy Name”). It is Take 25 of 35 takes ! That is a lot of takes to get this far. No wonder Noel couldn’t take recording sessions anymore. This take blasts in with that killer riff and eventually goes into improvisation before Jimi takes it through a superb “Star Spangled Banner”. The “Blues Jam At Olympic” just kills you off, with Jimi laying into his wah-wah as Mitch and Noel drive on a basic rhythm similar to “Message To Love” or “Spanish Castle Magic”. Finally “Trash Man” (which Alan Dougles had overdubbed on his “Midnight Lightning” album, all those years ago) features The Experience in New York’s Olmstead Studios. It begins as “Midnight” then veers off into improvisation before Jimi puts in that lovely passage which sounds a little like a blend of “1983” and “Third Stone From The Sun”.
The four other tracks provide some calmer moments and were all recorded on February 22 at Olympic. They are more like what we got on “Morning Symphony Ideas”, featuring Jimi alone in the studio, going through an early (and monotonous) sketch of “Message To Love”, “Gypsy Blood” (which is a very brief “Little Wing”-like improvisation) and two relatively uninteresting stabs at “Valleys Of Neptune” rhythms, one on guitar, the other with Jimi on piano! Those tracks are “interesting” but do get in the way somewhat and the disc would have been neater without them.
The piano player on “Jam 292” was Sharon Layne who was friend of Billy’s from the Memphis region.
I rate this album highly as it is such a good representation of Jimi’s extraordinary abilities of improvisation apart from his talents as a composer. The previous releases of studio material on Dagger (“Baggy’s Reheasals” and “Morning Symphony Ideas”) made it seem that not much of real interest remained in the vault, but the new tracks on “Martin Scorcese Presents” and this excellent release really delivered.
“Drone Blues”, Jimi/Jimmy Jam” – previously edited down on “Nine To Universe” (1980)
“Jam 292” – previously edited down on “Loose Ends” (1975) – alternate version on “:Blues”
.THE COVER
Same principal as “Morning Symphony Ideas” with a nice use of Jimi’s handwriting over an appropriate tinted studio photo. Perfect for what it is. – 10/10
AXIS : BOLD AS LOVE (MONO VERSION)
This limited vinyl edition of “Axis” was been made available on the official Authentic Hendrix site. Experience Hendrix worked with specialists Classic Records to put this out.
BURNING DESIRE ♥♥♥½
Release date: December 12, 2006 (Dagger Records) – Mail order only
Izabella, Ezy Ryder/MLK [aka Captain Coconut], Cherokee Mist/Astro Man, Record Plant 2X, Villanova Junction Blues, Burning Desire, Stepping Stone/Villanova Junction Blues, Slow Time Blues
The fourth release of studio outtakes from Dagger Records and this one features the Band Of Gypsys laying down ideas in November 1969 and January 1970. I find this collection much more interesting than the previous ones covering a similar period, namely “Morning Symphony Ideas” and “Baggys Rehearsals”. Again however, the recordings do reveal the limitations of Buddy Miles’ technique. Some passages really take off but generally his dull metronome drumming is most annoying as it tends to deaden the atmosphere somewhat. Luckily, this sore point is more than compensated by some stunning guitar from Jimi even if the jams are just loose explorations of riffs basically. Here’s a look at the tracks.
“Izabella” (4:23)
An unspectacular rhythmic run-through with some organ accompaniment (by Miles?). In the middle, Jimi goes into the riff from “Come Down Hard On Me Baby” and a nice gritty guitar overdub comes in before a snatch of a “Freedom” riff, then back to the main theme. As it ends, Jimi seems to be going into “Machine Gun”.
“Ezy Ryder”/”MLK” (20:01)
This is brilliant. There isn’t much recognisable as “Ezy Ryder” in there, as the band blast away with Jimi freely throwing in everything he’s got. After about 13 minutes, Jimi slows things down as he drifts into the superb and beautiful “MLK”. It is not confirmed that this was a hommage to Martin Luther King, the three letters were simply on the tape box*. Towards the end, Jimi plays some “Cherokee Mist” which points us to the following track.
*Part of “MLK” was used in an experimental collage by Electric Lady engineer John Jansen in the early seventies that eventually turned up on Alan Douglas’ montage album “Crash Landing”, as “Captain Coconut”.
“Cherokee Mist/Astro Man” (4:53)
Only a minute and a half of the “Cherokee Mist” melody before Jimi gets his teeth into that great descending “Astro Man” riff. This is far from the finished structure of the song but a nice jam.
“Record Plant 2X” (11:03)
An interesting rock jam from the band. Just after playing a rather messy “Villanova Junction Blues” (which is stupidly placed as the following track on this CD), the band are back at full tilt like on the “Ezy Ryder/MLK” recorded the same day. This just tears along as Jimi plays some searing rock guitar riffs. Then he goes into a flurry of strumming which resembles the “Woodstock Improvisation”. Unfortunately the jam then fades out and the rest of it crops up on the last track as “Slow Time Blues”. It is a shame really that the jam wasn’t delivered here in its complete form as it had been on the unofficial releases that were “Villanova Junction” (Burning Airlines) and “Am I Blue” (Purple Haze Records).
“Villanova Junction Blues” (4:56)
As I said, this is the beginning of the previous track. It does stand alone quite well, as at the end the band practically stop while Jimi tunes up. As it slows at the end, Jimi instructs the band to “do some jungle sounds”.
“Burning Desire” (9:48)
This complex song was never one of my favourites and this instrumental jab at it doesn’t arrange things. It takes me back to the dreary experience of sitting through “Loose Ends” in the seventies which featured the Baggys rehearsals version. Ugh.
“Stepping Stone/Villanova Junction Blues” (6:38)
At the beginning of this, the band play the riff from “Calling All Devils Children”. Then things chug along, going into riffs of “Stepping Stone” then “Ezy Ryder” (or at least the old “Dance” riff) as Miles hammers away without imagination, which only served to stifle the proceedings. It finally slows to “Villanova Junction Blues”.
Slow Time Blues” (3:49)
The conclusion of track four! Again, it’s a pity it wasn’t left in its right place. That aside, it is a great funky blues jam which Jimi takes momentarily through the “Jam 292” riff among others. It unfortunately fades out at the end.
So, despite the unnecessary splitting up of the “Villanova Junction Blues” jam, this is pretty good collection of jams with some amazing guitar work from the man here and there. Not quite up to level of “Hear My Music” but worthwhile for any keen Hendrix fan with an already established collection.
THE COVER
A nice shot of Jimi in reflexion as he listens to a playback one imagines (or as he chooses a chocolate). Fancy typo for the sake of it and some funky wallpaper. – 7/10
ELECTRIC LADYLAND – 40th Anniversary re-issue
Released December 2008 (Universal)
Experience Hendrix celebrate the 40th anniversary of the greatest album of all time with this special CD/DVD release. The DVD, which is also available separately, is a re-release of the “Classic Albums” film but with an extra 40 minutes of interviews etc. (see the DVD section). Note that this excellent DVD is not the one in the 2010 Sony Legacy edition (that one is a paltry 12 minute affair!).
The CD in this package is the same as the version that is already on the market but this whole thing is very nicely packaged. The slip case has same framing as the original vinyl and the cover of the Digipack itself uses a New York Central Park photo just as Jimi had suggested way back in 1968! The inside spread and the new 36 page booklet are decked out with some great colour photos this time and the same Derek Taylor comments and photos of Jimi’s handwritten notes.
> NOVEMBER 2018 – Electric Ladyland 50th Anniversary box set – see Posthumous Studio Albums 2010s section