Am I experienced?

You could do far worse than to become experienced by starting with Hendrix' first, Are You Experienced? It still sounds very fresh and modern 35 years later.

This Castle Communications live collection was reccomended Mojo in their "what to buy if your house burns down with all your records in it" feature way back. It cost me five pounds new.

Decent warm, round edged sound and some absolutely molten performances that completey pulverise those on the 2CD At the Fillmore (or something like that) remaster.

One other curio to pick up (dirt) cheap is a tribute album I can't remember the name of. It has purple cover art with Jimi's face amongst some clouds, and features covers with big string arrangements. Except for a fun cover of Purple Haze by Bootsy Collins it's mostly shit, but it also features an essntial cover of The Wind Cries Mary by Sting, Vinnie Colaiuta and a fire breathing John McLaughlin.

Make the plunge and get all three of the albums released while he was alive: "Are You Experienced", "Electric Ladyland" and "Axis Bold as Love". If I had to choose only one, I would go for "Electric Ladyland".

As for which pressings, the MCA/Experience Hendrix pressings are quite good, far better than the older vinyl pressings that I have had from long ago.

It's Hendrix, maaaaan, you can't go wrong

Cheers

Keith.

The three 'proper' albums, 'Are You Experienced', 'Axis: Bold as Love' and 'Electric Ladyland'.

Then you need some other stuff. 'The Cry of Love' is most of what was going to be the next studio album and works well. 'Blues' is a blues compilation.... 'In the West' is the best live compilation, but may not be available. I think the Monterey Festival show is available in its entirety, this was the breakthrough in the US show with the (in)famous guitar burning episode. I have this backed with Otis Redding's set, both sides history in the making.

Paul

Nice one!

I didn't realise he only had three 'Proper' albums, I thought there were loads.

I think I saw Are you experienced on second hand CD. I didn't have the 15 quid asking for it, but alas I later find from my step dad that the one with the Boobs out is quite valuble, so best hope its still there.

Silly Gary:

Were you hibernating six months back?

"Axis" is best.

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=38019385&m=3621929883

Or this, you bad lad. Not much more than a month ago...

Hendrix stuff

One thing to watch out for if you opt for his stuff on CD is the awful "high quality" remasters of the original three albums that were reissued in the late 90s. They are so harsh and digital they've managed to suck all the life out of the songs.

The original CD transfers seem to be ok (IMHO) and of course the vinyl versions if you can get them in good nick.

We're having a bit of a Hendrix revival in our house. It must be subliminally off the back of the Audi TT ad, or maybe that we keep on watching Wayne's World on video

Regards,
Ed.

South Saturn Delta is good to add to your collection.
It's a compilation, but with a few previously unreleased versions.

Get the "Hendrix Family Editions" for quality. These can be found on Ebay.

I would say that Band of Gypsies is a proper live album too. But then again what do I know.

dozy

Beware of Jimi Hendrix Concerts - IMHO it's swathed in artificial reverb and you'd be better off waiting for Experience Hendrix to release some more live recordings of the concerts excerpted therein. The core four (Are You Experienced, Axis; Bold as Love, Electric Ladyland and Band of Gypsies) are an excellent start. Extra material appears on the 4 CD set The Jimi Hendrix Experience (purple paisley cover - woo hoo!) and is very well recorded. Red House live at San Diego in particular.
First Rays of the New Rising Sun is very good, but a lot of South Saturn Delta is not quite up to the standard of the others. Live at the Fillmore East is possibly Experience Hendrix' attempt to make their own version (ie not Capitol) of the Band of Gypsys album and is not as good as the Band of Gypsys, but well worth purchasing.
In all cases, go fot the Experience Hendrix versions if there is a choice. They almost always sound better.

Of course the original UK vinyl copies are the best - mono where available. But extremely difficult to find. I have a spare Axis (Track mono with lyric insert), but it's a LOT of money!!

Garyi,

I discovered Jimi Hendrix in 65 at 15 ...Now at 50 I still listen to those wonderful records..

The three first albums are the best in my mind; beginning with Are you experienced, followed by Axis bold as love and Electric Ladyland.

Red House blues (live album) and the solo extracted from Woodstock Album(after Purple Haze) are unique..

Another piece that you should absolutely listen is Stevie Ray Vaughn - Little Wing (instrumental only)

Have fun (I still have...)

Nick, you said about Gary;

quote:

---

Or this, you bad lad. Not much more than a month ago....

---

If you're wondering why Gary forgets about previous threads, remember he's the same guy that puts six doobies in his socks!

Ross, I just listened to Little Wing by Stevie Ray last night. Great tribute. His version of Voodoo Chile isn't bad either.

Ron The Mon,
Needle-Freak

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ron The Mon:

If you're wondering why Gary forgets about previous threads, remember he's the same guy that puts six doobies in his socks!

---

IIRC it was 12 - and those would have been British versions - 5 skin at least, not the 1 skin efforts favoured across the big wet one.

5 skins! I am a two skin man. And no I am not a regular taker just once in a while!

I remember the day well it was my first foray into the excellent morocan red label. Nice stuff but alas I havn't seen it since.

remembered I had red house live on a compilation CD so played it. The CD is called RCD Classic Rock Collection Vol1 and looks like its off a magazine, (no case) with other good stuff on there.

So heres one for you. Does anyone own this CD or has anyone heard this live version and know what album its off?

Its a very good recording.

Does it credit the performance and date?

Paul

If you have a listen to Little Wing on the 4 CD Jimi Hendrix Experience, I suspect that SRV had been listening to boots. That and Bold as Love are highlights of the 4CD set.

The live 'Little Wing' from 'In the West', recorded at the San Diego Sports Arena with the Experience, is outstanding. Perhaps this is the same recording?

This album really works at 'realistic' listening levels....

Paul

I think it was live at the Royal Albert Hall, but don't quote me

The live Little Wing from Hendrix in the West was actually recorded at Royal Albert Hall (Michael Jeffrey, to avoid legal issues, simply pretended it was recorded at San Diego - a ploy that didn't work incidentally. Voodoo Child (slight return) was also recorded there and mislabelled). It is also on the 4 CD box set as well as the other version.

Blimey, I never knew that.

Consulting a book,

1974: A $10 million lawsuit is filed against Warner Brothers, Polydor and the estates of Jimi and Mike Jeffrey by a company called Last Experience which claims it owns the production rights to two songs performed by Jimi at the Royal Albert Hall on 24 February 1969. Ths songs 'Little Wing' and 'Voodoo Child (slight return)' appeared on the Hendrix in the West album. The whole concert was filmed by Steve Gold and Jerry Goldstein (manager-producets of War) and the rights passed over to Last Experience.

1979: After five years of wrangling, an out-of-court settlement is reached between Warners and Last Experience over the inclusion of the two songs on the Hendrix in the West album.

1982: Once more with feeling. The Hendrix estate sue Last Experience and Gold and Goldstein to prevent them releasing the film of the Albert Hall concert. The company are also sued for planning to release a soundtrack of the concert. Last Experience respond with a $50 million suit against Warners over the double live album, The Jimi Hendrix Concerts because 'Stone Free' and 'Bleeding Heart' also come from that Albert Hall concert.

Sounds like it would be a soundtrack worth hearing.

Paul

[This message was edited by Paul Ranson on FRIDAY 12 July 2002 at 14:07.]

Its amazing what dead people are worth.

You said;

quote:

---

Sounds like it would be a soundtrack worth hearing.

---

It is! I think I mentioned a while back on this forum that the entire Royal Albert Hall concert is now out on vinyl and CD. The record is on double orange-colored vinyl and comes with a really cool book. Apparently the video is out too. For those that have the "Concerts" album, "In The West", and various bootlegs, this record now puts them in proper context of one great show.
I haven't seen the video, but if it's anything like the "Band of Gypsies" video which accompanied the "Filmore East" record, the quality is terrible.
But then again, it is Hendrix!

Ron The Mon,
Needle-Freak

For my money,and IMHO the track on Ladyland that does it for me is "Come On",what a classic piece of hard blues rock from a classic threesome,also while im drivelling on check out "Who Knows" on Band Of Gypsies,a great example of blues funk from the master.

Gary,if you can find Band of gypsies with the puppet cover,its worth alot more than the reissues

Cheers

Mick