Voodoo Child (The Jimi Hendrix Collection) - Jimi Hendrix

...10. Crosstown Traffic
11. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
12. Spanish Castle Magic (alternate recording)
13. Stone Free (alternate recording)
14. Izabella (original Band of Gypsys single version)
15. Stepping Stone (original Band of Gypsys single version)
16. Angel
17. Dolly Dagger
18. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
19. 3rd Stone From the Sun


Disc Two (Live):-

...hear them.
- Voodoo Child is perhaps Jimi's best known song, and a clear favourite of mine. Possibly one of the most distinct song beginnings there has ever been, it still sends shivers down my spine. For the uninitiated, there is only one way to play this song; LOUD! It really exists in two forms; Voodoo Chile (pronounced like child with a silent D, not like the country!), recorded after jamming in a New York club at 7am. The crowd sounds ... more

Voodoo? It's all a purple haze to me...

There are many Jimi Hendrix compilations out there, but this surely must be the best. It comprises of two fantastic discs; one of Jimi's best studio tracks, followed by the best of his live performances. Here are the tracks from the two CDs:-

Disc One (Studio):-

1. Purple Haze
2. Hey Joe
3. The Wind Cries Mary
4. Fire
5. Highway Chile (alternate recording)
6. Are you experienced?
7. Burning of the Midnight Lamp
8. Little Wing
9. All along the Watchtower (alternate recording)
10. Crosstown Traffic
11. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
12. Spanish Castle Magic (alternate recording)
13. Stone Free (alternate recording)
14. Izabella (original Band of Gypsys single version)
15. Stepping Stone (original Band of Gypsys single version)
16. Angel
17. Dolly Dagger
18. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
19. 3rd Stone From the Sun

Disc Two (Live):-

1. Fire (Winterland, San Francisco, CA, October 12th 1968)
2. Hey Joe (Winterland, San Francisco, CA, October 12th 1968)
3. I Don't Live Today (Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles, CA, April 26th 1969)
4. Hear My Train Comin' (Berkley Community Theatre, Berkley, CA, May 30th 1970)
5. Foxey Lady (Maui, Hawaii, July 30th 1970)
6. Machine Gun (Fillmore East, New York, NY, January 1st 1970)
7. Johnny B. Goode (Berkley Community Theatre, Berkley, CA, May 30th 1970)
8. Red House (New York Pop Festival, Randalls Island, NY, July 17th 1970)
9. Freedom (Isle of Wight Festival, England, August 30th 1970)
10. Purple Haze (San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, May 24th 1969)
11. Star Spangled Banner (Woodstock Festival, Bethel, NY, August 18th 1967)
12. Wild Thing (Monterey Pop Festival, CA, June 18th 1967)

His life
Many people have heard of Jimi, but sadly very few know much about his life...
Born Johnny Allen Hendrix in 1942, son of Al Hendrix and Lucille Jeter Hendrix. His dad later changed his legal name to James Marshall Hendrix, which he remained until his death. He had a tough upbringing, with his parents divorcing when he was 9, and his mother dying when he was 16 in 1958.
He joined the Army after getting caught with a stolen car, where he was later discharged for 'behavioural problems'! This was not before meeting Billy Cox, later to be member of the Band of Gypsys, and forming a loose band called the Kasuals.
His first ever gig was in the basement of a Synagogue, but he was unfortunately fired between sets for being a bit wild. Honestly Jimi...

And he has graced this small island too, in fact in the beginning he was more popular here than at home in his native America. He later swept home with this success and shot to fame; Woodstock didn't do him any great damage either! Brought to England by Chas Chandler in 1966 to recruit musicians and start his first band.
'The Jimi Hendrix Experience' formed in London in 1966, and with whom most of the album songs are performed, comprised of two others:
- Noel Redding, a rocky lead guitarist who switched to base guitar, and provided some backing vocals on a few tracks;
- Mitch Mitchell, a young jazz drummer who had previously worked with Georgie Fame.
Jimi later worked with two old friends Billy Cox and Buddy Miles to form 'Band of Gypsys' but are generally considered far inferior to the previous band. They still make the album however, with tracks 14 and 15 on the studio album.
And the best bit; he's played Leeds University Refectory, where I used to eat lunch for 3 years during my degree!

Jimi's guitar was also an iconic symbol of this era in music; the Fender Stratocaster. Jimi had used a variety of guitars in his early career, but bought a Strat in 1965 which he used for all his performances and recordings from then onwards. First introduced by some gents by the names of Buddy Holly and Hank Marvin, later to be taken up by guitar legends such as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and eventually the Beatles. It would be hard not to attribute the success of the best selling guitar in history to Hendrix.

Jimi died in September 1970, amid a bit of a mystery. The circumstances of his death were never fully revealed, and probably never will be. He was found dead in his basement flat of a hotel in London, thought to have taken sleeping pills with alcohol and died choking on his vomit. However, the door was found open. Some say he committed suicide (a sad poem was interpreted as a note in his flat), but others maintain that he was murdered by professionals. His girlfriends testament was no help, Monika Dannemann claimed he was still alive in the ambulance, but others stated he had been dead for hours when found in the flat.
Although requesting to be buried in England, he was buried in Washington.

The most important factor with this album is the fact that it was made by 'Experience Hendrix', a production company that was formed by Jimi's surviving relatives to protect his legacy. The album represents a comprehensive tour de force of his life and work, helping to introduce the vast cultural impact that Jimi had in his short-lived career to those who remain uninitiated; and a must-have collectable to those in the know. Experience Hendrix have compiled the CD to try to best represent the true Jimi through his music
The booklet included with the CD aids this greatly with a biographical introduction to Jimi, from his childhood, upbringing, early career and various bands; right up to his early demise at the age of 27. Written by Kurt Loder (a well-known American writer and journalist). He is perhaps most famous for editing Rolling Stone Magazine, and remains a contributing editor today.

Personally, I think this album is so great that everyone should listen to it, to gain a small insight into the effect that Hendrix has had on music, culture and society; both in his lifetime, and the snowball effect he has had after his premature death.

There are several of Jimi's tracks that have to be considered classics; everyone knows them when they hear them.
- Voodoo Child is perhaps Jimi's best known song, and a clear favourite of mine. Possibly one of the most distinct song beginnings there has ever been, it still sends shivers down my spine. For the uninitiated, there is only one way to play this song; LOUD! It really exists in two forms; Voodoo Chile (pronounced like child with a silent D, not like the country!), recorded after jamming in a New York club at 7am. The crowd sounds were added afterwards however. The other version, found on this album, is Voodoo Child (Slight Return). This was the last track on the album Electric Ladyland, but sadly only released posthumously, when it shot to number one in 1970.
- Purple Haze is also a classic anthem, and one of his more recognisable tracks. It is not, however, a reference to LSD as many think; it's actually taken from a book he was reading at the time, Night of Light by Philip José Farmer. (And Jimi sings "Scuse me while I kiss the sky', not 'kiss this guy', a common mondegreen! Don't believe me? Go to www.kissthisguy.com, an archive of misheard lyrics!!).
- All along the Watchtower is commonly mistaken for a Jimi original, but it is of course Bob Dylan (though Jimi's has overshadowed it, and rightfully so in my opinion!! One-nil to the cover artists!). It is clearly a great, versatile song when so many people have done versions, including: Neil Young, U2, Run DMC, Elton John, Leeny Kravitz, Paul Weller, Pearl Jam, Funkstar De Luxe. Heck, I'm tempted to make a version...
Err, no Dave.

There are also several tracks that a re unusual on the album, whether through being previously unavailable, or being alternate recordings.
One of my favourite tracks remains Johnny B. Goode on the live album (track 7) however. A cover of Chuck Berry's song from 1955, Jimi's version is scratchy, rough edged; raw rock and roll energy from Jimi's origins within the genre. Much of the rock and roll styling from this period can be seen to diffuse into Jimi's other work, in my opinion mainly tracks such as the bluesy track Red House. The track also includes some classic Hendrix banter with the crowd before playing. This is testament to his relaxed nature on stage, and the crowds affection for the music and the man himself.

The live CD has to be my favourite; Jimi remains unrestrained and free to perform as he wishes; the best way to hear him. Although fantastic, the studio versions always seem too controlled and 'produced'. On the this disc, tracks 1, 2, 8, 9, and 12 have never previously been available on other releases, making this album truly unique; unlike the many Jimi compilations out there. Plus the facts that the locations of all the live tracks are given means that you can continue you Jimi experience by finding the live DVDs of his gigs that are out there (www.jimihendrix.com is a great resource for this). Thankfully there are many recordings of Jimi; he was around at the first boom of rock and roll, as well as music/recording technology, apparently resulting in over 500 unique releases. Staggeringly however, there is reported to be much more material still unreleased and hiding away. Much is tied up in ongoing legal battles, and other work is being held by 'Experience Hendrix' for release at slow intervals (trying to protect the longevity that Jimi has).

My one complaint about the CD is that it's in a card fold out case; I would have preferred a plastic case to protect Jimi's magic more effectively! The discs themselves are great however, one an eclectic bright orange, and the other purple!

Hear more:-
The best albums Jimi released with Experience were: Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, and Electric Ladyland.

Learn more:-
www.jimihendrix.com - The official Jimi Hendrix website

The Dull Bit:-
Released - 2001
Length - 2 hours 25mins
Record label - MCA Records
Cost - £12.99 delivered (bargain for 31 songs!)
Where from? - www.play.com

Random fact: Although clearly one of the most important musicians in American musical history, All Along the Watchtower was Hendrix's only Top 40 single. Madness!

Are we experienced? We are now Jimi.

Thanks for reading!
 

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