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Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall Hendrix was born in Seattle, dropped out of high school, joined the Army (rather than go to prison for riding around in a stolen car) and was discharged about a year later. Stories have circulated for years on why (and how) Hendrix got his Army hitch shortened. One maintained he got injured on a parachute jump. Another claimed Hendrix faked being a homosexual. Pretty funny, considering Jimi's later, rather pronounced, reputation as a lady's man. More likely, Hendrix was a disinterested, sub-par soldier that was of little use to the Army. Either way, he was back on the street.
Along the way, Jimi mastered the electric guitar. That may be an understatement. Deeply influenced by Blues and Rock 'n' Roll, and blessed with a combination of talent and drive, Hendrix re-invented guitar playing. He began working in various touring bands, including Little Richard's, where he was allegedly fired for diverting too much attention from the star. While playing in New York under the name Jimmy James he was "discovered" by the Animals' bass player Chas Chandler. Chandler was about to leave the Animals and go into artist management.
Call it beginner's luck, Chandler uncovered a powerful force. He shipped Jimi to England and held auditions for band members. Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums) were hired and The Jimi Hendrix Experience was born. Their debut LP, released in '67, "Are You Experienced?" was a Rock classic with the raw opening track "Purple Haze." The first U.K. single was a cover of the Leaves "Hey Joe." "Fire," "Manic Depression" and "Foxey Lady" were other highlights. The songs featured psychedelic lyrics ("'cuse me while I kiss the sky") and Jimi's intoxicating yet precise guitar. "Axis Bold As Love," the second LP followed suit, with "You Got Me Floatin'," "Bold As Love" and "Spanish Castle Magic." The original Spanish Castle was a Seattle area teen club.
The pinnacle for the Experience was the third, double album, "Electric Ladyland." "Crosstown Traffic," "Burning The Midnight Lamp" and "House Burnin' Down" contained brilliant guitar expositions along with Jimi's most confident and expressive vocals. It reached its pinnacle with the stone brilliant cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower." Hendrix took a non-descript song and turned it into a classic blending acoustic and electric guitars and providing just the right amount of vocal swagger. The album featured contributions from Steve Winwood and Chris Wood from Traffic and Jefferson Airplane's bassist Jack Casady. Casady's participation caused Redding to get bent out of shape. He soon left to start his own group, which went nowhere. Mitchell stayed a bit longer but Hendrix eventually lined up Billy Cox (bass) and Buddy Miles (drums) for the less than stellar, Band Of Gypsys. A New Year's Eve show ('69) recorded at the Fillmore East and some recently released rehearsals for that show is all that remains. Jimi's playing was looser with a more Soul oriented approach as he attempted to expand his horizons. While there were some good tracks, the group's chemistry failed to gel. Hendrix was working on the solo "Cry Of Love" when he died from a barbiturate OD - he choked to death on his own vomit. If there is such a thing as a good way to go, that certainly isn't one of them.
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There was some talk, in Jimi's last days, of his teaming with jazz great Miles Davis. However enticing, such a pairing probably wouldn't have worked. Usually two geniuses in the same room is one too many. Still, they might have come up with a brilliant breakthrough or something totally incoherent - likely no middle ground. But who knows? In the end, speculation regarding what Jimi would have accomplished in the '70s and beyond is fun, but moot. It just wasn't to be.
Hendrix is often lumped together with fellow '60s icons Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. All three checked out in the early '70s from drug related causes, though only Joplin's death was officially listed as an overdose. But both Joplin and Morrison appeared at the end of their tether when they escaped the mortal world. Only Jimi's career had any real future. His life reads like a half-finished novel. If only there was more… Actually, there was - tons. But it wasn't what everyone was hoping for.
Following Jimi's death there was the meandering film "Rainbow Bridge" (the soundtrack is OK and contains "Dolly Dagger"). Concert footage, demos, outtakes, alternate takes, bootlegs, pre-fame recordings as a backing musician (notably with King Curtis) and even Hendrix vocal and guitar tracks with new backing musicians, rolled out in a constant stream (reportedly culled from over 1,000 hours of material). But a brilliant moment here and there was outweighed by the dregs. It wasn't Jimi's fault. The unfinished or ill-conceived ideas/jam sessions were never meant to be released. But the keepers of the Hendrix legacy, especially producer Alan Douglas, saw there was a money to be made from these scraps. Cashing in seemed to be the mode of operation. After a long legal battle, the Hendrix family was able to gain control of the recordings so Jimi's legacy is hopefully in better hands.
Given the incredible amount of material that has been posthumously released, you might assume Hendrix never ventured far from a tape recorder. However, his essential works are the three Experience albums. For "Are You Experienced" Hendrix re-invents Rock guitar. While "Purple Haze" is certainly lyrically dated, the music is as vibrant as ever. Add to that the blasting fun Rockers "Fire" and "Foxey Lady." Even the "experimental" songs "Third Stone From The Sun" and "Are You Experienced?" are fascinating. "Axis: Bold As Love" contains "If 6 was 9" but is somewhat subdued compared to "Are You Experienced" with ballads "Little Wing" and "Castles Made of Sand." These two albums laid the groundwork for Jimi's crowning achievement "Electric Ladyland." The double album has some of Hendrix's best work including the Blues jam "Voodoo Chile." Also, Hendrix started moving away from the power trio line up of the first two albums and used outside musicians.
The Band of Gypsys was a deservedly short-lived group. Hendrix, seeking a new direction, doesn't get much support. Buddy Miles' ham-handed drumming drags rather than propels. The straight-ahead, anti-war "Machine Gun" is among the set's more memorable efforts. Following Jimi's death "Cry Of Love" was eventually pieced together. Given that, it's a solid, accomplished effort with "Freedom" and "Ezy Rider."
Except for "Greatest Hits/Best Of" packages, most everything released after '71 (a year after Jimi's death) is only for collectors or those with money burning a hole in the pocket.
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