Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. In 1961, he began his career by touring with a variety of blues shows. In 1966, he
moved to England and started "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", a trio that was extremely popular as soon as their first album was released.In his brief
four-year reign as a superstar, Jimi Hendrix expanded the vocabulary of the electric rock guitar more than anyone before or since. His music expanded
styles, encompassing everything from the blues, to rock, to heavy metal, to pop. Regardless of labels, he was the inspiration for many to pick up a guitar.
From the pyrotechnics of Yngwie Malmsteen and Uli Roth, to the blues of Stevie Ray Vaugn, Frank Marino and Robin Trower, Hendrix was certainly
a respected musician and performer. Jimi Hendrix is one of the innovators of the electric guitar. Heavy metal, hard rock, modern blues, and even pop owes
a lot to the man with the upside-down Strat. Jimi Hendrix met an untimely death on September 18, 1970 at the age of 27 from inhalation of vomit
following barbiturate intoxication.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced (MCA) 1967

1. "Hey Joe" (3:23) 2. "Stone Free" (3:33) 3. "Purple Haze" (2:46) 4. "51st Anniversary" (3:17) 5. "Wind Cries Mary" (3:21) 6. "Highway Chile" (3:30) 7. "Foxy Lady" (3:15) 8. "Manic Depression" (3:30) 9. "Red House" (3:48) 10. "Can You See Me" (2:31) 11. "Love or Confusion" (3:15) 12. "I Don't Live Today" (3:55) 13. "May This Be Love" (2:55) 14. "Fire" (2:34) 15. "Third Stone from the Sun" (6:40) 16. "Remember" (2:47) 17. "Are You Experienced?" (3:55)

Mitch Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix & Noel Redding

This is one of the greatest guitar albums to come out of the 60's. Jimi Hendrix is one of the most influential guitarists ever. The contributions of drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding can't be underestimated either as they gave the music a rhythmic pulse that brought together parts of rock, heavy metal and jazz. Weird thing about Hendrix is that his music bridges music gaps, people into heavy metal like him; people into blues dig him; jazz, pop, whatever. They could have just re-released this album as Jimi's "Greatest Hits." Who would have know the difference as these songs are among Hendrix's very finest. This re-release features a ton of bonus tracks making a great album even greater!

Too many people have covered all these songs to even list but I'll always remember hearing Joe Perry singing "Red House" at the Aerosmith "Back in the Saddle" reunion tour. Also, King's X does a smoking version of " Manic Depression." Coroner, Winger, Frank Marino and Ted Nugent have covered Purple Haze.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love (MCA) 1967

1. "EXP" [instrumental] (1:55)
2. "Up from the Skies" (2:55)
3. "Spanish Castle Magic" (3:00)
4. "Wait Until Tomorrow" (3:00)
5. "Ain't No Telling" (1:46)
6. "Little Wing" (2:24)
7. "If 6 Was 9" (5:32)
8. "You Got Me Floatin'" (2:45)
9. "Castles Made of Sand" (2:46)
10. "She's So Fine" (2:37)
11. "One Rainy Wish" (3:40)
12. "Little Miss Lover" (2:20)
13. "Bold as Love" ( 4:09)

The Experience's sophmore release is a classic 60's pop rock album and a precursor to the 70's heavy metal explosion. "Spanish Castle Magic," "Up From the Skies," "You Got Me Floatin'," and "Castles Made of Sand" are all massive jams mixing 60's rock 'n roll, blues and Jimi's own charismatic guitar antics. One of the most recognizable songs on the disc is "Little Wing", a beautiful melodic ballad and one of my favorite Hendrix tracks. Overall, I can't say that this disc is on the same level as "Are You Experienced" or even "Electric Ladyland" but "Axis: Bold As Love" is still heads and tail above everyone else.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (MCA) 1968

1. " And the Gods Made Love" (1:21)
2. "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" (2:12)
3. "Crosstown Traffic" (2:25)
4. "Voodoo Chile" (15:05)
5. "Little Miss Strange" (2:50)
6. "Long Hot Summer Night" (3:30)
7. "Come on (Let the Good Times Roll) " (4:10)
8. "Gypsy Eyes" (3:46)
9. "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" (3:44)
10. "Rainy Day, Dream Away" (3:43)
11. "1983...(A Mermaid I Should Turn to Be)" (13:46)
12. "Moon, Turns the Tides...Gently Gently Away" (1:01)
13. "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" (4:24)
14. "House Burning Down" (4:35)
15. "All Along the Watchtower" (4:01)
16. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return) " (5:14)

Hendrix experiments ever further with psychedelic songs and 60ís pop, trying to top the Beatles' "Sgt. Peppers" and perhaps The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds." Tons of studio experimentation with 1960's studio technology. I can't even imagine what Hendrix would have done with today's technology. "Rainy Day, Dream Away" is one of my favorite songs. It's one of those songs that frequents my mind whenever a drop of rain hits the desert lands that I now live in. Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," is a rock radio staple even today, almost 30 years later. Of course the extended blues-rock jam "Voodoo Chile" is also a standout cut. The cover above is the third different cover this album has had. The original gatefold album cover featured a room full of naked women sitting around. The second cover was was similar to the cover above, but showed Hendrix from the side in yellows and oranges.

Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys (Capitol) 1970

1. "Who Knows? " (9:32)
2. "Machine Gun" (12:33)
3. "Changes" (5:10)
4. "Power to Love" (6:53)
5. "Message to Love" (5:22)

Jimi parts with the Experience and joins up with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles to record this live album recorded at the Fillmore East in New York on December 31, 1969. This album is less bluesy, more funk and jazz filled rock than any of Jimi's Experience albums. "Machine Gun" is an epic, classic song that displays some of the most wicked guitar playing Jimi has ever played. " Band of Gypsys " is an absolutely awesome album!

Jimi Hendrix - Midnight Lightning (Reprise) 1975

SIDE ONE
1. Trash Man (3:15)
2. Midnight Lightning (3:49)
3 Hear My Train (5:43)
4. Gypsy Boy (New Rising Sun) (3:45)
SIDE TWO
5. Blue Suede Shoes (3:29)
6. Machine Gun (7:36)
7. Once I Had A Woman (5:20)
8. Beginnings (3:02)

"Midnight Lightning" is the posthumous ninth studio album by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix and was released in November 1975. It was the sixth Hendrix studio album released after his death and the second to be produced by Alan Douglas. The songs used on the album consisted of post-Jimi Hendrix Experience recordings with studio musicians brought in to overdub parts of songs. The only original recording on the record, apart from those of Jimi himself is Mitch Mitchell's drumming on "Hear My Train A Comin'". (The cover features the shortened title "Hear My Train".) "Blue Suede Shoes" is a cover of the Carl Perkins hit song.

The album is far from a fan favorite, but is one that I use to listen to a lot when I was a kid. As such, it holds a lot of nostalgic value for me. Many fans thought the addition of new studio parts was blasphemy, but frankly, I don't care. Controversy notwithstanding, the songs are good, the playing is fantastic and as far as I am concerned, this is a classic Jimi Hendrix album. The title track is worth the price of admission alone. It is one of Jimi's most intense guitar assaults equal to anything he released while he was alive.

The album features one of my favorite Hendrix album covers. It's a fairly simple painting of Jimi, but it's quite beautiful in it's simplicity. I own this one on vinyl.

Jimi Hendrix - Woodstock (MCA) 1994

1. "Introduction" (1:56)
2. "Fire" (3:53)
3. "Izabella" (5:10)
4. "Hear My Train a Comin' (Get My Heart Back Together)" (9:16)
5. "Red House" (5:40)
6. "Jam Back at the House (Beginnings)" (7:58)
7. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)/Stepping Stone" (2:49)
8. "The Star Spangled Banner" (3:42)
9. "Purple Haze" (3:25)
10. "Woodstock Improvisation" (4:59)
11. "Villanova Junction" (3:04)
12. "Farewell" (1:54)

One of the most historical music events ever captured on tape. Jimi Hendrix was the headliner of the famous Woodstock festival and also the most highly paid of any band. Of course, "The Star Spangled Banner" from this show is legendary in and of itself. Bootlegs have floated around for years of this concert, as well as poorly mastered vinyl copies. MCA finally released a decent, properly mastered copy of this legendary concert in 1994.

Jimi Hendrix - Blues (Polydor) 1994

1. Hear My Train A Comin'" [acoustic] (3:05)
2. Born Under A Bad Sign" (7:37)
3. Red House" (3:43)
4. Catfish Blues" (7:47)
5. Voodoo Chile Blues" (8:47)
6. Mannish Boy" (5:21)
7. Once I Had A Woman" (7:49)
8. Bleeding Heart" (3:26)
9. Jelly 292" (6:24)
10. Electric Church Red House" (6:12)
11. Hear My Train Comin'" [electric] (12:10)

"Blues" is a collection of blues songs recorded during different periods of Jimi's career. Jimi not only pays homage to some influential blues forefathers on this CD, but also proves himself to be quite the bluesman himself. This CD also shows how important and influential the Delta Blues were to Hendrix. There is not doubting he was one of the most influential guitarists of the 21st century. Even his sloppiest, drug induced playing was so rich and charismatic. The opening track is a wonderful acoustic version of "Hear My Train a Comin'" played on a 12-string guitar which has a rich delta blues style. This is followed up by an electric version of Booker T. Jones' "Born Under A Bad Sign". This song is nothing more than a jam. Those who appreciate Jimi's guitar mastery will appreciate this drawn out version. "Red House" is a Jimi Hendrix staple that fits well on this posthumous collection. One of the highlights here is the superb version of Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy". Another standout track is the twelve minute electric version of "Hear My Train". If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have even recognized it as the same song that the album started with. This is one album I really enjoy from beginning to end. It's not quite as manic and psychedelic as some of Jimi's other releases and is a perfect album to kick back to and just enjoy. There are also extensive liner notes included and plenty of photos to digest while listening as well.

Jimi Hendrix - First Rays of the New Rising Sun (MCA) 1997

1. "Freedom" (3:26)
2. "Izabella" (2:50)
3. "Night Bird Flying" (3:50)
4. "Angel" (4:21)
5. "Room Full of Mirrors" (3:21)
6. "Dolly Dagger" (4:44)
7. "Ezy Ryder" (4:07)
8. "Drifting" (3:48)
9. "Beginnings" -instrumental (4:12)
10. "Stepping Stone" (4:12)
11. "My Friend" (4:36)
12. "Straight Ahead" (4:42)
13. "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" (6:04)
14. "Earth Blues" (4:21)
15. "Astro Man" (3:34)
16. "In from the Storm" (3:41)
17. "Belly Button Window" (3:36)

Apparently Jimi was working on this album before his death on Sept. 18. 1970. He never completely finished the album so questions still abound as to what Hendrix's ultimate vision for this double album would have been. This album has been remixed, overdubbed, split up and released under several different titles including "The Cry of Love," "War Heroes," "Rainbow Bridge," and "Voodoo Soup." This particular compilation, however, was put out by the Hendrix family and returns back to the original master tapes from Jimi's own Electric Ladyland Studio vaults and presents the album as close as is possible to what Jimi imagined the album to be. The mixes on this disc are actually the mixes that Eddie Kramer and Jimi were working on before his death. Many reviews I have read, and even the liner notes, state that Jimi was headed in a new direction with this album. While there is some slightly less psychedelic stuff going on, I think the bluesy hard rock isn't that far off from what the Experience was doing in the 60's, with the possible exception of the funk heard in tracks like "Dolly Dagger." This song was to actually be the first single released off this album, but Jimi's tragic death changed everything.

Neil Turbin recorded a cover of "Dolly Dagger".

Jimi Hendrix - South Saturn Delta (MCA) 1997

1.   "Look over Yonder" (3:25)
2.   "Little Wing" (2:44)
3.   "Here He Comes (Lover Man)" (6:33)
4.   "South Saturn Delta" (4:07)
5.   "Power of Soul" (5:20)
6.   "Message to the Universe (Message to Love)" (6:18)
7.   "Tax Free" (4:56)
8.   "All Along the Watchtower" (4:01)
9.   "Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" (4:21)
10. "Midnight" (5:32)
11. "Sweet Angel (Angel)" (3:55)
12. "Bleeding Heart" (3:15)
13. "Pali Gap" (5:08)
14. "Drifter's Escape" (3:05)
15. "Midnight Lightning" (3:07)

South Saturn Delta is a collection of Hendrix rarities. All but one of the 15 tracks were ever officially released in the U.S. that spans his entire career. This is an awesome collection of jams. What is most amazing about this album is that is consists of mostly outtakes. Jimi must have been the pickiest studio musician in the world because these takes are brilliant. The man is a legend!

Jimi Hendrix Experience - BBC Sessions (Experience Hendrix) 1998

Now this was one heck of a find! I found this two-disc set new and still sealed at Hasting's for $2.50. Now tell me that wasn't a mismark! Anyhow, this CD is a collection of the recordings that Jimi Hendrix made for BBC radio in the late 1960s. It contains some of Jimi's greatest songs ("Foxy Lady," "Fire," "Purple Haze," and "Hey Joe") as well as some rarely heard covers (Steve Wonder's "I Was Made To Love Her" (featuring Steve Wonder on drums), Bob Dylan's "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?," the Beatles' "Day Tripper," Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" and Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love." There's also a lot of killer blues on this compilation; Hendrix's versions of the blues standard "Hoochie Coochie Man" absolutely shines and is worth the price of the disc alone. (Motorhead has also covered this song.) There are a few moments of Jimi's humor as well, like on the radio I.D. "Radio One. " The entire thing is put together by studio guru Eddie Kramer (Kiss, Frehley's Comet, Derik & the Dominos), so the fidelity is top notch to boot. Like I said, this was one heck of a find!

Oh and one other thing, I left the cover art above bigger on purpose. I just thought that the picture of the Experience with their hair bigger than life was hilarious. Now that's what I call "hair metal!"

Jimi Hendrix - His Greatest Hits (Legacy International) 1998

1. "Little Ivy" (3:19)
2. "Voodoo Child" (7:16)
3. "Room Full Of Mirrors" (2:54)
4. "Fire" (3:43)
5. "Purple Haze" (3:03)
6. "Wild Thing" (1:20)
7. "Bleeding Heart" (5:28)
8. "The Sunshine Of Your Love" (6:47)
9. "Room Full Of Mirrors" [Extended Version] (8:18)
10. "Bleeding Heart" [Extended Version] (8:36)
11. "Smashing Of The Amps" (6:24)
12. "C# Blues (People, People, People)" (8:32)

The Jimi Hendrix catalog is a bit confusing. First of all, this CD is not an officially licensed album, as far as I know. Second, the title is very misleading as this is not a collection of Jimi's studio recordings. Rather, this is a repackaging of Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London which was filmed and recorded on February 24 1969. The recording was released with a nearly identical cover and track listing under the title "The Last Experience: His Final Live Performance" as well. Regardless of the specifics of the recordings, this is Jimi at his most outrageous. There are some problems with the recording itself. Having "Wild Thing" cut in half is annoying. There are also some other issues with the recording, but these are a minor issue in comparison to the having this piece of Hendrix history. "Bleeding Heart" and ""Room Full of Heart" are outstanding and reason enough to own this CD. The "Smashing of the Amps" also appears on His Greatest Hits Vol. 2 for some strange reason. It's really just a bunch of noise with as bit of the Star Spangled Banner mixed in.

Jimi Hendrix - His Greatest Hits Vol. II (Legacy)

1 "Stone Free" (10:47)
2 "Hear My Train A Comin' " (8:31)
3 "I Don't Live Today " (6:52)
4 "Red House" (8:32)
5 "Foxy Lady " (5:28)
6 "Star Spangled Banner & Smashing Of Amps" (5:42)

With a misleading title of "Greatest Hits", this CD is actually part of the Last Experience Concert: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London. According to the liner notes it was recorded on Feb. 18, 1969. Other sources have February 24 1969 listed. Either way, this concert was filmed and recorded, because it was planned to be released as a movie, Experience. The movie has never seen an official release. Rather it has been released under various names and is one of Jimi Hendrix's most widely distributed bootlegs.. Surprisingly I was able to find very little about this particular release on-line. There is also a His Greatest Hits Vol. I, as well as one simply titled "The Last Experience" which have the same track listing as each other and were also recorded at the Royal Albert Hall. As for the music itself, well, it's Jimi Hendrix live. Even at his worst, he was one of the most entertaining axe abusers out there. I love it! You gotta love the extended jams in "Stone Free" and "Hear My Train A Comin'". If that's not enough for you check out the obnoxious rendition of "Star Spangled Banner" complete with total guitar amp annihilation. I am unsure of the year this CD was released.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience (MCA) 2000

Simply outstanding! A four CD box set that features nothing but alternative takes, unreleased tracks and live recordings of Jimmy and his Experience. While jamming, there is an 80 page, full color book to peruse. All this wrapped up in a purple velvet covered box. This is a sweet box set indeed. No need to really go into detail about each and every song. There are some songs that suffer a bit sonically, but Jimi makes up for this in pure finesse. I can't get enough!

Jimi Hendrix - Live at Berkeley: 2nd Show (MCA) 2003

1. "Introduction" (1:47)
2. "Pass It On (Straight Ahead)" (6:58)
3. "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" (6:07)
4. "Lover Man" (2:59)
5. "Stone Free" (4:08)
6. "Hey Joe" (4:49)
7. "I Don't Live Today" (5:26)
8. "Machine Gun" (11:22)
9. "Foxey Lady" (6:30)
10. "Star Spangled Banner" (2:45)
11. "Purple Haze" (3:48)
12. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (10:49)

This is probably one of the most bootlegged shows that Jimi Hendrix ever performed. I use to own a vinyl bootleg of this show, although I have forgotten the name. So, it only makes sense that the family of Jimi Hendrix release it officially and beat the bootleggers at their own game. The Berkeley shows were also filmed and released in part. However, as far as I know neither the bootlegs nor the video contained the entire show as this CD release does. This performance has Hendrix playing loose, but still with the same passion that made Hendrix the superstar he was. The loosness in his playing may very well be due to his overwhelning addiction to drugs at this point. It's really sad that such a musical genius was so lost in such a destructive habit. Frankly, however, Jimi sounds great. I have always loved his fuzzy, dirty guitar tone, and it sounds excellent here as well. Some of the solos are outstanding! Just take a listent to "Stone Free" or "Machine Gun" and see if it doesn't send chills down your spine. The track listing here is good, with several hits mixed in with some of his "newer" material. Bassist Billy Cox really wails on this CD. This CD issue was mixed and produced by longtime producer Eddie Kramer, so while the sonics aren't perfect, they are far better than I remember the bootlegs being. Overall, a CD that shouldn't disappoint any Jimi Hendrix fans. Even at his slopiest, Hendrix was still the king of the Strat!

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Soup (MCA) 1995

1. "The New Rising Sun" [instrumental] (3:21)
2. "Belly Button Window" (3:34)
3. "Stepping Stone" (4:07)
4. "Freedom" (3:25)
5. "Angel" (4:18)
6. "Room Full of Mirrors" (3:09)
7. "Midnight" (6:01)
8. "Night Bird Flying" (3:46)
9. "Drifting" (3:52)
10. "Ezy Ryder" (4:08)
11. "Pali Gap" (4:42)
12. "Message to Love" (3:33)
13. "Peace in Mississippi" (5:22)
14. "In from the Storm" (3:39)

It's amazing just how many outtakes that Hendrix has. "Voodoo Soup" is yet another attempt to recreate and cash in on Jimi Hendrix's unfinished final studio album. I guess I am a Hendrix die-hard, because despite the poor reviews this CD garnered when it came out, I absolutey love it. Hendrix just had such a charm and charisma to his playing, that even at his sloppiest, I still found it enjoyable. Apparently many were offended that the drum tracks were re-recorded by the drummer of the Knack. Personally, I think that is a shame as well, but he did a fine job here. The sound quality here is much better than most of the crappy bootleg versions of these songs that I have owned in the past. However, some would say they are a bit overpolished for Hendrix. (I guess everyone has to complain about something.) The booklet is quite nice, featuring a lot of reading material and a very cool, retro cover.

LIVE USA, Imtrat, IMT 900.036,

Jimi Hendrix - Live USA (Imtrat 2cd/920.004)

I love live Jimi Hendrix. No two shows sound the same. "Live USA" is a bootleg, and as such, the sound quality isn't superb, but then again, I've heard far worse bootlegs than this. As with the Kiss and Aerosmith Imtrat discs I own, the Jimi Hendrix discs is a good listen despite some of the sound issues. Most of the material here is from a soundboard recording of the July 17th, 1970 at the New Pop Festival on Randall's Island (Tracks 1-10 Disc1). These tracks have the best sound quality. The remainder of the tracks are either from Los Angels, at the LA Forum, April 26, 1969 (Tracks 10-11 Disc 1 & 1,6,7 Disc 2) or from a variety of other shows. There are tons of mistakes in the playing. Jimi wasn't at his best here. He severely screws up the second verse to "Fire" but plays it like the pro he was. Still Jimi's worst playing is still better than other guitarist's best.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live At Monterey (Experience Hendrix/Geffen) 2007 1. "Introduction" (:39) 2. "Killing Floor" (3:14) 3. "Foxy Lady" (3:28) 4. "Like a Rolling Stone" (7:06) 5. "Rock Me Baby" (3:37) 6. "Hey Joe" (5:11) 7. "Can You See Me" (2:37) 8. "The Wind Cries Mary" (3:53) 9. "Purple Haze" (5:34) 10. "Wild Thing" (7:49)

Jimi Hendrix

In 1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experience were quickly making a name for themselves in England but were little known in the U.S., when they appeared at Monterey International Pop Festival in June of 1967. The three day festival, which included artists like The Who, Otis Reading, Canned Head, and the Animals pulled in over 200,000 people. The festival is widely regarded as the precursor to the infamous Woodstock Festival. The Experience took the stage on the final day, June 18, 1967. They tore through a mix of original songs like "Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady," "The Wind Cries Mary" and covers like Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" and the super climactic "Wild Thing" to close the show. This version of "Wild Thing" is one of the most notable live performances ever. In an monumental, iconic moment in rock and roll history, Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire at the conclusion of the song and let it burn. The famous photos of Hendrix on his knees in front of the flaming Stratocaster are taken from this show. Jimi's cover of B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby" features the music from Jimi's own "Here He Comes (Lover Man)", with the lyrics from King's song. Also of note, Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones introduced The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

This performance has been released several times under numerous titles, including the infamous "Monterey International Pop Festival - Otis Redding/The Jimi Hendrix Experience" split vinyl that was released in tribute to two of the Festival's artists that gave memorable performances. This 2007 CD reissue is mastered and mixed by Eddie Kramer, Jimi's original engineer, and features a stereo mix for the first time. (The DVD soundtrack, which was released at the same time, features a new 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo mixes, also by Eddie Kramer.) Apparently this CD reissue also included the entire performance with all Jimi's banter and guitar tuning, whereas past releases have edited out some of these things. Even so, the entire performance is just over 40 minutes long. The CD come wrapped in a full color digi-pack that contains a 24 page, full color booklet. The booklet is packed full of photos from the legendary performance

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile-Greatest Hits

This is a collection of mostly live Hendrix tracks, much of which sounds like bootleg material. All of this material has been released on various vinyl and CD bootlegs over the years. Regardless, it's Hendrix so it's worthy of a listen.

Listening to disc one, you have to wonder just how messed up or drunk Jimi is. "Purple Haze" is absolutely horrendous. At track number five, the sound quality changes for the worse, making me wonder where these performances were stitched together from. There is no information in the packaging to tell you where the songs were recorded. Once Jim Morrison of the Doors joins the show things get even sloppier, funnier and strangely bizarre. Morrison sings (if you can call it that) on "Bleeding Heart", "Woke Up This Morning and Found Myself Dead", "Morrison's Lament'" and the cover of The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows". Morrison is mostly incomprehensible when he is even audible at all. Much of the time he is either mumbling or screaming like an angry drunk. In Morrison's drunken state, his expletive-filled, sexually-explicit rant titled "Morrison's Lament" is pathetic and not something that most people are going to want to revisit more than once. However, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison together is rock and roll history, and is an interesting listen for long time fans. On the positive side, the instrumental version of "Sunshine of Your Love" is an interesting cut. Even at his worst, Hendrix brings something to the table. These songs have been released before on a bootleg called "Woke Up This Morning and Found Myself Dead". The song were recorded live at The Scene, New York City.

Disc two starts off with a ten minute version of "Red House", a classic, heavy blues number from Jimi. This disc features more drunken live jams with Jim Morrison from the "Woke Up This Morning" bootleg. "Uranus Rock" is an monotonous jam with Jim Morrison moaning in a barely audible voice. "Outside Woman Blues" just sounds like the band screwing around, as if they were sound checking or something. "Good Times", "Voices", "Voice in the Wind", "Two and One Goes" and "Let Me Go Rock" are all studio songs that sound very little like the Hendrix we all know and love. I do confess that I really enjoy the song "Good Times". I used to own some bootleg Hendrix vinyl back in the day that had this jam on it, so hearing it again on CD is quite nice. The disc ends with "Room Full of Mirrors", which is another live jam, complete with flute solo.

Disc three is mostly made up of recordings of Jimi and saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood. As far as I can tell from a bit of research on-line the recordings were done around 1963 in New York City, when he was known as Jimmy James and obviously before Jimi became an international star. Though the CD lists them as live tracks, they sound like studio tracks to me. Tracks 1-3 and 5-11 are all taken from the Lonnie Youngblood sessions. If some of this stuff sounds like young musicians jamming in their basement, that's probably because it was. Of the three discs in this collection, disc 3 is the one I enjoyed the most. Though these early sessions don't sound like the mighty Hendrix we all know and love, they were a fun listen nonetheless.

This 3-CD collection is a European import, most likely a bootleg and for die-hards who want to own every piece of Hendrix history on CD. Otherwise, it's not something most people are going to spend any time listening to. It's a shame that it's packaged in such a way to deceive people into thinking it's a hits package. The best part of this 3-CD box set was that it cost me exactly $4. Considering how much people pay for crappy bootlegs of performances like this, $4 was an incredible deal despite the quality of the performances.

Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune (Legacy) 2010

1.   Stone Free (3:46)
2.   Valleys of Neptune (4:04)
3.   Bleeding Heart (6:23)
4.   Hear My Train A Comin' (7:32)
5.   Mr. Bad Luck (2:58)
6.   Sunshine of Your Love (6:47)
7.   Lover Man (4:17)
8.   Ships Passing Through the Night (5:52)
9.   Fire (3:12)
10. Red House (8:22)
11. Lullaby for the Summer (3:48)
12.  Crying Blue Rain (4:56)

I was a bit leary of this album with the pre-release hype being, "12 previously unreleased studio recordings - almost 60 minutes of unheard Jimi Hendrix!" I was even more skeptical after seeing the track listing. I mean songs like "Stone Free", "Hear My Train A Comin'", "Red House", "Fire" are Hendrix standards, even if they do exist in the form of bootlegs and ill-conceived posthumous compilations. However, for the most part "Valleys of Neptune" delivers what it promises. Sure, many of these tracks have been released is various other forms, however, this album compiles versions of these songs that this fan was unaware of. As well, Eddie Kramer's new mix makes them all sound fresh.

The title track, "Ships Passing Through the Night" and "Crying Blue Rain" are easily the rarest tracks here. "Ships Passing Through the Night" was (later transformed into "Night Bird Flying". The version of "Stone Free" included here was included on 2000's The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set, the only difference being that Noel Redding's bass and vocals were replaced with Billy Cox's bass from a slightly later studio session. "Sunshine of Your Love" sounds like a studio jam complete with a bass solo. I wonder how Jimi himself would feel about some of these recordings, since Jimi was a perfectionist and the recordings are obviously never going to be perfect. Obviously anything release by the late great Jimi Hendrix this long after his death will never be rise to the level of his classic studio albums. However, for those of us who can't get enough of the man, "Valleys of Neptune" certainly delivers

Jimi Hendrix - Valley of Neptune (Legacy) 2010

1. Valley of Neptune (4:01)
2. Peace in Mississippi [instrumental] (7:02)
3. Red House [live] (7:10)

A CD single? Wow! Something I haven't seen in many years. CD singles have become a marketing tool of the past. This limited edition, numbered, collectable single features the title track from the album, "Valleys Of Neptune" plus unreleased instrumental "Peace In Mississippi" and a bonus free MP3 download of "Red House" recorded live at Clark University, Worcester, MA 3/15/1968. This single was only available through WalMart. My copy is 12339/15000.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Winterland

It has been said that the Hendrix family has been milking the Jimi Hendrix catalog for a long time, releasing sub-standard stuff that Jimi himself never intended for people to hear. However, fans of Jimi are not complaining too much as releases like the "Winterland" box set stands as a fitting tribute of the guitar legend. Released on September 13, 2011 and compiled across four CDs, this is an extensive look at the six performances that the Jimi Hendrix Experience undertook on October 10, 11 and 12, 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California. With three shows presented on three discs and a fourth disc of other outtakes from these performances, it's fairly easy to get lost in the sheer amount of material presented. However an additional 20-minute interview recorded a month later provides context for the "experience". 

All the material here is soundboard recordings from the six shows. Each disc is supposedly the best performances of that particular day, so though the first three discs are presented as one show, they are actually a compilation of songs from the two shows from that day. This is not unusual and many classic live albums were recorded the same way. Surprisingly, considering the year these were recorded, the sound is fantastic. Even the smallest details, such as a flute on "Are You Experiences" are clearly heard. Noal Redding's bass rings through in each and every song. Of course Jimi's guitar is the focus and is out front and center, but it's never so out front that the other instruments are drowned out of the mix. 

There are far too many songs to go into a song by song analysis, but some highlights include two lengthy jams called "Tax Free", two roaring covers of Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" and two very laid back versions of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone". As with most Hendrix shows, the songs are stretched, extended jams. Songs like "Are You Experienced?", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "Red House" are over twelve minutes long each. 

The four disc collection is packaged with an oversized digi-book and a contains a 36-page booklet packed full of photos and reading material. "Winterland' is definitely not a collection for the casual fan, but diehards should find plenty to like about this one. 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Hey Joe/Stone Free (Legacy) 2013

SIDE ONE
1. Hey Joe

SIDE TWO

2. Stone Free

A 2013 limited, numbered-edition pressing of a 7" vinyl featuring the original mono mix of "Hey Joe" and "Stone Free". This was the first single recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience in England with Chas Chandler of the Animals producing and managing. This 2013 re-issue is a limited numbered re-issue, released for Record Store Day 2013."

Jimi Hendrix - Somewhere (Legacy) 2013

1. Somewhere (4:06)

2. Foxey Lady [live] (6:34)

As a pre-release to the 2013 "People, Hell and Angels" release, this two song CD single was released exclusively through Wal-Mart stores. The disc contains the first single from the album "Somewhere", which is said to be a previously unreleased recording. The b-side track is a live recording of the classic "Foxey Lady". The live track was recored at the Filmore East, NY on January 1, 1970 (First show). The limited edition single is numbered, my copy being no. 13962. I searched several Wal-Marts in my city and come up empty. One day while visiting family in a very small town in New Mexico we went into the local Wal-Mart, which was also very small. I figured I might as well check, and what do you know? They had a big 'ol pile of the CDs hidden in the racks. 

I usually find any Jimi Hendrix song to be enjoyable. The sloppiest of takes still has more charisma than a lot of artists could muster up on their best day. On "Somewhere", however, something seems a little off. It's almost like the vocals and the music don't exactly line up. From what I have read on-line, this would make sense since the vocals are from an entirely different take of the song than the instrumentation. A version of this song that is of better quality was released on the Jimi Hendrix Experience box set in 2000. 

Jimi Hendrix - People, Hell & Angels (Legacy) 2013

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