Jimi Hendrix

Start with his three studio albums with the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

I really like the hendrix:blues album and the hendrix bbc sessions double cd. hendrix's version of killing floor on the bbc cd is awesome.

I have to disagree very strongly with both recommendations. I bought the BBC sessions -- it's so poorly recorded that I can't listen to it and tossed it somewhere the day I first listened to it. I bought the albums Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland as well and they also have very poor recording quality. I'd recommend you get just the compilation Voodoo Child -- one CD is of his best studio recordings (which are well chosen and include some great Band of Gypsies songs, while the second is of live performances (also covering some important material not covered in the studio CD). The mastering is done far better on this compilation. I got mine for $19 when it first came out in the Virgin Records in Times Square.

The new Classic Records reissue of "Blues" is stunning.The sound quality is the best of any Hendrix recording to date.I most highly recommend this vinyl. The complete 45rpm singles collection is great as well with sound quality that is far beyond any original issue.It's true that the recording quality of any early Hendrix stuff is really bad.The fact that the mastering "engineers" are always patting themselves on the back for the work they did with the Hendrix recordings.It is junk at best.The later and unreleased stuff is of substantially higher quality.That last box set in the purple velevet is actually pretty good too.

Band of Gypsies - Recorded live New Year's Eve 1969-70 at Fillmore East in NY. The best Jimy Hendrix album IMO - not the best recording unfortunately, but still well-worth it...

Also my favorite by Jimi Hendrix.

I'd totally reccomend Band of Gypsies too, it was my first Hendrix CD and still my favorite. When track 3 (Changes) comes on, I can't help but rock out.

i recently bought some more hendrix, figuring the newer versions would sound nicer and be more accessible to me at the time.. i got are you experienced? and axis: bold as love.

few things are better than this music. i'm glad i was able to grow up with a greatest hits album of his in my cd collection, but now i just can't get past axis.


i'm bold as love
just ask the axis

Essential Jimi Hendrix

First let me say that about the only thing I have in common with Jimi Hendrix is that we both have the same birthday, November 27th.

I was in the 4th grade when Are You Experienced was released. Also released that same year were the first album by The Doors, Surrealistic Pillow by The Jefferson Airplane, and Sgt. Pepper by the Beatles, among other classic 60s rock albums.

I became a fan of the Beatles first, Airplane second, Doors third, and Hendrix last. This was only because of my relative youth and lack of musical sophistication, not because Jimi's music was lacking. Now, many years later, I can finally appreciate the music of Jimi Hendrix.

To build a collection of Jimi Hendrix recordings is lifelong undertaking. Best-Of collections are fine, however, it is best to start with the basics. These are, in the order they were released:

Are You Experienced -

(On almost any rock music critics list, this recording would have to be counted as one of the most important album releases of all time. It is right up there with Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, Sgt. Pepper, and Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan, and DSOM by Pink FLoyd)

Axis Bold As Love -

(Not quite as revolutionary as the 1st album, but every bit as good technically. Here Jimi's playing appears effortless while laying down tracks that decades later are still stumping guitarists.)

Electric Ladyland -

(A double album with a famous gate-fold album photo of female nudes that was banned in many places, contains some of his best work.)

The current CD versions of these 1st three have been totally remastered under the control and approval of Jimi's family, especially by Jimi's father, who sued to regain control of this part of his son's music catalog. The current versions are better sounding and truer to the original mixes as Jimi originally released these albums.

Worth seeking out are the recordings of Jimi playing at the Monterey Pop festival in June of 1967. These performances are available on video both as a separate tape and as performances within the concert documentary film Monterey Pop. Here Jimi holds the the audience spellbound and awestruck when he lays his guitar down on stage and sets it on fire, kneeling in front of the instrument while gyrating and rocking and continuing to coax sound from this guitar.

Also a must see and hear is the film Woodstock (the original), Jimi closes the concert with some very memorable performances.

Then there are the concert tapes such as Band of Gypsys. Definitely worthwhile, but only after you have been exposed to Jimi's studio albums.

Jimi Hendrix was even better live then he was in the studio,Saw him preform at the filmore east in the mid sixties,one of the wildest song he played was the star spangled banner.He was a great guitarist,
after that he burned his guitar.
I quess I am showing my age.

If you are into Hendrix then:

Are You Experienced
Axis: Bold As Love
Electric Ladyland
Band Of Gypsies
First Rays of the New Rising Sun

The greatest hits collections and compilations never do THE MAN justice. Some of his best songs are never on those collections.

Regards

Well I happen to like hendrix's live stuff better than the studio stuff (which is great stuff too). With live recordings you have to be a bit more forgiving on the sound quality because it was never meant to be released on album or cd. Even with the sound quality issues the music on the bbc sessions are fantastic and filled with energy. early Hendrix at his best (imho).

Awhile ago there was a 4 cd box set available called Stages that had 4 different hendrix concerts. If you're into live hendrix and listening to him busting into sunshine of your love immediately after a long intense jam of spanish castle magic then you're in for a treat! if not stick to the studio stuff.

Saw him live in Seattle in 68. So long ago. None of the recordings do due justice to the energy that was present. It was a great time for music.

Yes, I am bumping a seven year old thread because it rocks quite literally. What do people think about all the recommendations above? I have the Valleys of Neptune CD, and I might get the vinyl. Who thinks I should get the Are You Experienced album on vinyl as well?