The Jimi Hendrix Experience

( 7 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Sprague
Given the fact that his time in the spotlight lasted little more than four years, Jimi Hendrix recorded a truly stunning amount of material -- so much that even three decades after his death, scads of songs still remain unheard. This four-disc collection goes a long way toward emptying those vaults, unearthing dozens of previously unreleased performances, balanced between new takes on old favorites and long-buried obscurities. Many of the former will primarily be of interest to die-hard fans -- although both "Spanish Castle Magic" and "Stone Free" should turn a few heads -- but the latter, including jaw-dropping improvisations such as "Cherokee Mist" and "Come Down ...
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Sprague
Given the fact that his time in the spotlight lasted little more than four years, Jimi Hendrix recorded a truly stunning amount of material -- so much that even three decades after his death, scads of songs still remain unheard. This four-disc collection goes a long way toward emptying those vaults, unearthing dozens of previously unreleased performances, balanced between new takes on old favorites and long-buried obscurities. Many of the former will primarily be of interest to die-hard fans -- although both "Spanish Castle Magic" and "Stone Free" should turn a few heads -- but the latter, including jaw-dropping improvisations such as "Cherokee Mist" and "Come Down Hard on Me," sound every bit as fresh and fearsome as they undoubtedly did when Hendrix first unspooled 'em. While there's no denying the magic he manifested in the studio, Hendrix was at his best on a stage, alternately challenging, befuddling, and blowing away audiences. The earliest concert recordings captured here -- particularly fierce versions of "Killing Floor" and "Hey Joe" -- date back to the fall of 1966, but even at their nascence, the Experience proved to be fearless and innovative. Those traits became even more pronounced in later live performances, most notably a homespun version of "Catfish Blues" and a suitably eerie "The Wind Cries Mary," both culled from a 1967 gig in Paris. Yes, some of the stuff slathered across the four discs could be considered more novel than revelatory -- including odd runs through "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and oldies such as "Johnny B. Goode," which was previously released on Hendrix in the West -- but even in those less significant moments, his sheer musical mastery elevates the material beyond mere cover-band fodder. The open-ended genre-bending that provides a coda for this chronologically sorted set ends things on a note that's both exhilarating and saddening: The mind-blowing music itself is so staggeringly visionary, it can send your spirit soaring -- until, that is, you are humbled by thoughts of what might have lain ahead.
All Music Guide - Sean Westergaard
The Hendrix family continues its reissue campaign with the release of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, a lavish four-disc box set that should be a boon to Hendrix collectors everywhere. With a beautiful 80-page booklet, and purporting to have 46 unreleased tracks, further inspection actually reveals less than meets the eye, at least for collectors. The problem is that real collectors have already heard most of this material, and not only through bootleg sources. Many of the previously unreleased tracks are just new mixes of live tracks that were issued as part of Stages, Live at Monterey, and Lifelines. Also included is a new mix of the "Gloria" single. While the sound quality is somewhat better handled by the expert Eddie Kramer, the new mixes do not differ substantially from the earlier versions. With the inclusion of virtually all of In the West, and a few quality tracks from Rainbow Bridge and Crash Landing without the wretched mid-'70s overdubs, The Jimi Hendrix Experience almost seems like a shelf-clearing exercise, taking care of the leftover tracks that fans have been clamoring for en masse. The real highlights of the set are the early studio outtakes, presumably from the cache that Chas Chandler withheld from Alan Douglas for so many years. Interestingly, one of the most enjoyable aspects of these studio outtakes is the control room banter that takes place. There isn't a ton of it, but there are some highly enjoyable moments. At the end of "Purple Haze," Hendrix starts to giggle and throws in "Mary Had a Little Lamb." The version of "Third Stone From the Sun" has Chandler and Hendrix's recording of the spoken bits used on the song, tacked on to the beginning. It's great to hear Hendrix cracking up throughout their interstellar conversation. Another moment subtly hints at the frictions that were to end up dissolving the Chandler-Hendrix partnership. After seven minutes of take 21 of "Bold As Love," Hendrix is heard to say, "let's try it one more time, alright?" to which Chas Chandler dejectedly replies "oooohh." The book itself is wonderful; all tracks are fully documented and annotated, with lots of photos, many previously unpublished. There are also recording studio log sheets, newspaper articles, poster/flyers, and Hendrix's handwritten lyrics reproduced. All in all, The Jimi Hendrix Experience is a fine addendum to the Hendrix legacy, but not the place to start; this is a set for someone who already has the studio albums and can't get enough of his genius. The disappointment a hardcore collector might feel at having heard most of this material already should be outweighed by the beautiful, warm sound achieved by Eddie Kramer and the general high quality of the package.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 9/12/2000
  • Label: Experience Hendrix
  • UPC: 008811231620
  • Catalog Number: 112316

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Purple Haze (3:26)
  2. 2 Killing Floor (3:05)
  3. 3 Hey Joe (2:52)
  4. 4 Foxey Lady (3:27)
  5. 5 Highway Chile (3:40)
  6. 6 Hey Joe (3:06)
  7. 7 Title #3 (2:12)
  8. 8 Third Stone from the Sun (9:18)
  9. 9 Takin' Care of No Business (3:42)
  10. 10 Here He Comes (Lover Man) (3:02)
  11. 11 Burning of the Midnight Lamp (1:30)
  12. 12 If 6 Was 9 (5:57)
  13. 13 Rock Me Baby (3:20)
  14. 14 Like a Rolling Stone (6:48)
Disc 2
  1. 1 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1:51)
  2. 2 Burning of the Midnight Lamp (4:06)
  3. 3 Little Wing (3:23)
  4. 4 Little Miss Lover (2:21)
  5. 5 The Wind Cries Mary (4:11)
  6. 6 Catfish Blues (5:26)
  7. 7 Bold as Love (7:09)
  8. 8 Sweet Angel (4:12)
  9. 9 Fire (2:43)
  10. 10 Somewhere (3:48)
  11. 11 Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) (1:28)
  12. 12 Gypsy Eyes (3:43)
  13. 13 Room Full of Mirrors (1:26)
  14. 14 Gloria (8:53)
  15. 15 It's Too Bad (8:52)
  16. 16 The Star Spangled Banner (4:12)
Disc 3
  1. 1 Stone Free (3:43)
  2. 2 Spanish Castle Magic (5:50)
  3. 3 Hear My Train a Comin' (6:58)
  4. 4 Room Full of Mirrors (7:56)
  5. 5 I Don't Live Today (6:33)
  6. 6 Little Wing (3:16)
  7. 7 Red House (13:07)
  8. 8 Purple Haze (4:03)
  9. 9 Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (7:53)
  10. 10 Izabella (3:39)
Disc 4
  1. 1 Message to Love (3:35)
  2. 2 Earth Blues (4:08)
  3. 3 Astro Man (4:11)
  4. 4 Country Blues (8:26)
  5. 5 Freedom (3:52)
  6. 6 Johnny B. Goode (4:46)
  7. 7 Lover Man (2:57)
  8. 8 Blue Suede Shoes (4:28)
  9. 9 Cherokee Mist (6:02)
  10. 10 Come Down Hard on Me (3:18)
  11. 11 Hey Baby/In from the Storm (8:56)
  12. 12 Ezy Ryder (3:43)
  13. 13 Night Bird Flying (4:24)
  14. 14 All Along the Watchtower (4:22)
  15. 15 In from the Storm (4:21)
  16. 16 Slow Blues (1:45)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Jimi Hendrix Primary Artist, Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals, Spoken Word
Buddy Miles Drums, Background Vocals
Graham Nash Foot Stomping
Steve Winwood Background Vocals
Larry Young Organ
Roger Chapman Background Vocals
Andy Fairweather Low Background Vocals
Larry Lee Rhythm Guitar
Noel Redding Bass, Background Vocals, Foot Stomping
Billy Armstrong Percussion
Paul Caruso Harmonica
Chas Chandler Foot Stomping, Spoken Word
Billy Cox Bass, Background Vocals
Gary Walker Foot Stomping
Juma Sultan Percussion
Arthur Allen Background Vocals
Jerry Velez Percussion
Technical Credits
Don Nix Cover Photo
Jack Adams Engineer
Lou Adler Producer
Tony Bongiovi Engineer
Howlin' Wolf Composer
Chas Chandler Producer
George Chkiantz Engineer
Wally Heider Engineer
Jimi Hendrix Composer, Producer, Adaptation
Bob Hughes Engineer
Eddie Kramer Producer, Mastering
George Marino Mastering
Linda McCartney Cover Photo
Van Morrison Composer
Dave Siddle Engineer
Gary Kellgren Engineer
Dave Marsh Liner Notes
John Stafford Smith Composer
Bob Cotto Engineer
Karl Ferris Cover Photo
Abe Jacob Engineer
Janie Hendrix Producer
Francis Scott Key Composer
Robert Petway Composer
Carl Dunn Cover Photo
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 7 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(7)

4 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 7 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Absolutely Worth the Money

    I bought this on a whim for my boyfriend who loves Jimi Hendrix and could not have got more for my money unless they had added a fifth CD. Lots of rare song versions and great song quality. I bought it on a Friday and we literally listened to it ALL weekend - over and over again. Great buy for anyone that enjoys Hendrix - even a little bit.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Hendrix Rules!

    A great collection of alternate takes/outtakes to complete your Hendrix collection!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    awesom-o

    by far the coolest cd collection on hendrix, goes right along with the biography im reading on him that helps you understand more about the man who changed rock. o and to that other guy he was 27 when he died

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Best gift I ever got!

    My wife got this set for me for Christmas 2001. At the time I thought of it as the best Christmas gift I had ever received; in the year or so since then I have come to appreciate the true genius of my idol exponentially with each listening session. This set is not for someone who wants to get to know the works of a given artist - it's not a "greatest hits" compilation as some boxed sets tend to be. This is aimed at the long-time Hendrix fans out there who have an already extensive collection of discs. If you don't own any Hendrix albums yet, go pick up Are You Experienced or Ultimate Hendrix or similar title. If, however, like me you are one of the long-time, hard-core Hendrix junkies then this set is for you!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Must have!

    If you like Hendrix, you must purchase this set. It is the ultimate compilation of Jimi Hendix's best.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    This is as Good as it Gets

    Lucky me! I get to be the first unpaid reviewer to let you know how great this CD is. Every cut reminds up why Hendrix set the rock world on fire during the late sixties and early seventies. His untimely death at age 24 cut short the magic he and his fellow musicians created. Fortunately, this CD will continue to spread his 'message of love' and call for freedom in this new millennium.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    wow

    HENDRIX IS GOD

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Sort by: Showing all of 7 Customer Reviews