The Essential Jimi Hendrix

The Essential Jimi Hendrix

1978 – Jimi Hendrix

So, I am often asked, in a somewhat dubious fashion, “Hey Mr. Chris?” to which I usually offer up the appropriate response, “Yes my son?” swiftly delivered in a slightly condescending way to immediately give off the sense of my obvious superiority in the field of vinyl collecting.

There is of course, more to the question, and here it comes. “So like, I’ve heard a lot of Jimi Hendrix on the radio and YouTube and stuff (#sigh #smh), but I’d really like to get a better sense of the man, the myth, the legend that was and still is The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I guess what I’m trying to ask oh Great One is, what would be a good record to get experienced?”

“Well Skippy, I’m glad you asked that question because I get that a lot.”

Let’s face it folks, the catalog is HUGE and it’s getting bigger everyday, so this type of query is totally legit.

There is quite a lot to cover on this compilation and it’s quite possible I will have to comeback and do an episode on this double album, but for now, let’s just taste the genius.

So, without further ado, I present to you, The Essential Jimi Hendrix.

Aptly named because it is essential and well, it is Jimi Hendrix.

Don’t get me wrong, there are so many amazing Hendrix albums that you should own on vinyl, but if you are just now delving into this stupefying and breathtaking form of music, then this is a great place to start.

Jimi Hendrix having fun

Double gate-fold compilation album released in 1978, “The Essential Jimi Hendrix” is a plethora of liquid mind blowing Hendrix. Twenty-two tracks put together by Reprise Records (yes, THAT Reprise Records) that span the works of the mad genius and his band-mates up to that point.

Personel

  • Jimi Hendrix – Guitar and Vocals
  • Noel Redding – Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals
  • Mitch Mitchell – Drums
  • Buddy Miles – Drums on “Still Raining, Still Dreaming”, “Room Full of Mirrors” and “Ezy Ryder”
  • Billy Cox – Bass Guitar on “Room Full of Mirrors”, “Izabella”, “Freedom”, “Dolly Dagger”, “Stepping Stone”, “Drifting” and “Ezy Ryder”

NOTE: Buddy, Billy and Jimi would later come together to form “The Band of Gypsies”. For another conversation.

As a fifteen-year-old, this was the best thing that ever could have happened to me. The sounds of the guitar, bass and drums coming from the speakers changed my perceptions of music for all time. The choice of songs put together on these two records turned me on to a lot of stuff that was not soaring through the airwaves and plopping out of everybody’s car stereo at that time. This gave me a glimpse of the other side, the less commercially exploited side of the genius that was Hendrix.

James Marshall Hendrix

“If you can just get your mind together

Then come on across to me

We’ll hold hands an’ then we’ll watch the sun rise

From the bottom of the sea”

– Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced

Track List

Side One

  1. Are You Experienced?
  2. Third Stone From The Sun
  3. Purple Haze
  4. Little Wing
  5. If 6 Was 9

Side Two

  1. Bold As Love
  2. Little Miss Lover
  3. Castles made Of Sand
  4. Gypsy Eyes
  5. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
  6. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)
All songs written by Jimi Hendrix except “All Along The Watchtower” – written by Bob Dylan.

Side Three

  1. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
  2. Still Raining, Still Dreaming
  3. House Burning Down
  4. All Along The Watchtower
  5. Room Full Of Mirrors
  6. Izabella

Side Four

  1. Freedom
  2. Dolly Dagger
  3. Stepping Stone
  4. Drifting
  5. Ezy Rider

The first record hits you like an extraordinary “best of” album with killer cuts like “Are You Experienced?”, “Purple Haze” and “Castles Made Of Sand“, but by track four of side two you’re hearing things like “Gypsy Eyes” and “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp” which were not getting much airplay at the time. These were the kind of tracks that pulled me deeper into the Hendrix universe and really expanded my mind musically. I couldn’t wait to pull out the second album and check it out, so I did.

Jimi putting on a Lenny Bruce record with Dylan by his side – What?!

Side Three, Track One – “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)” and yes, I have actually been there. When I lived in Chelsea back in the day, I used to wander down to Greenwich Village, New York and stand outside the studio to watch all the comings and goings.

Electric Lady Studios recording space

So when I dropped the needle on side one of this amazing album and “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)” came out of the speakers, I was very confused. See below.

I actually had to check the label just to make sure someone hadn’t stuck a Curtis Mayfield record in my Jimi Hendrix jacket. But this was Jimi man like, what a soul. And I thought, “Wow this man has a whole other side to him”.

And it goes on, with tracks like “Still Raining, Still Dreaming” and “House Burning Down” and all the doors were opening man because this was not “Purple Haze” right. This was something very different, but the same.

Hungry for something different? Side Four is a magical realm of discovery. With tracks like “Freedom“, “Izabella” and “Drifting”, the versatility of the band as a whole is on full display. “Dolly Dagger” actually ended up being one of my all time favorite Hendrix tracks.

So what have we learned today?

  1. I am great.
  2. “The Essential Jimi Hendrix” is just that – ESSENTIAL.

This collection is like some Jimi Hendrix fans got together and hand picked the tracks and laid them out in a specific order to pull you in and blow your mind. Truly an amazing compilation that any Hendrix fan can appreciate.

The Essential Jimi Hendrix

If you are looking for a place to start, this is it. If you are already experienced, buy it anyway. It’s just a great collection of Jimi’s music and it sounds amazing on vinyl!

Thanks for stopping by, now drop the needle.

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