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To comprehend the significance of this contract, one must first immerse oneself in the 1960s music environment. The era was marked by experimentation, psychedelia, and unprecedented musical innovations. Record companies and managers, always with an ear to the ground, were scouting for the next breakout star. Ed Chalpin is probably remembered for his association with Curtis Knight and the Squires, which caused problems for Jimi Hendrix throughout his career.


The Infamous Deal Between Jimi Hendrix and PPX Enterprises

Jimi Hendrix's infamous PPX contract from 1965.
Jimi Hendrix’s infamous PPX contract from 1965.
Credit: PaulFraser

In October 1965, Curtis Knight introduced Jimi Hendrix to Ed Chalpin. Nine days later, despite Jimi Hendrix signing a two-year deal with Sue Records in July 1965, they recorded for Chalpin. Chalpin signed Hendrix to a three-year recording contract with PPX Enterprises and was given one dollar to make the contract legal. On the surface, the proposition Chalpin offered Hendrix seems almost comic—a contract in exchange for a single dollar.

However, this one dollar was a standard “consideration” clause in contract law, binding the deal. In addition, Hendrix was to receive 1% of the retail price of all records produced, which, at that time, was more favorable than many other musicians. The contract also stated that Hendrix would “produce and play and/or sing exclusively for PPX Enterprises Inc., for three years.” Furthermore, Hendrix required that it produce “a minimum of three sessions per year.


Legal Battles and Their Aftermath

As Hendrix’s career trajectory soared upward, complications with the Chalpin contract emerged. Initially seen as a mere stepping stone, the deal became a tangle of legal disputes, especially as Hendrix’s popularity exploded on both sides of the Atlantic.

The intricacies of music rights, especially in the 1960s, were vast and complex. Chalpin’s releases became a constant source of stress for Hendrix. Matters reached a head in 1968 when it was revealed that not only were these early recordings causing a dent in Hendrix’s reputation, but he also technically owed Chalpin another album. A legal tussle ensued, with Chalpin releasing even more of these earlier tracks to capitalize on the situation.


How Hendrix’s Other Deals Complicated His Contract with Chalpin

  • Recording with the Jimi Hendrix Experience: Not long after signing with Chalpin, Hendrix went to England, where he formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience and signed with manager Chas Chandler. They secured a deal with Track Records in the UK and later with Reprise Records in the U.S. Hendrix began recording and releasing music, notably his debut album “Are You Experienced?” which gained rapid success.

  • Overlap of Rights: Chalpin claimed that Hendrix’s new recordings violated his contract with PPX Enterprises. The crux of the matter was that while Hendrix’s agreement with Chalpin was primarily for “producing and promoting” records, the contract’s language was broad enough to allow Chalpin to argue that Hendrix should not have been recording with other companies during their agreement.

  • Releasing Old Recordings: Chalpin capitalized on Hendrix’s newfound fame by releasing the older tracks that Hendrix had recorded with him. Chalpin saw Hendrix’s new success as an opportunity to repackage the earlier sessions, even though they didn’t represent Hendrix’s evolving sound. These recordings were not of the same quality or style as the ones Hendrix made in the UK, but they were repackaged and released under titles that made them seem like new Hendrix material, which misled some fans.

  • Legal Disputes: Legal battles ensued due to these overlapping contracts and the release of old recordings. In one of the settlements, Chalpin was granted rights to release an album of Hendrix’s material, which became “Band of Gypsys,” albeit the actual circumstances and details of the agreement were more nuanced.

  • Ongoing Tensions: The controversies around Chalpin and his releases of Hendrix’s music persisted even after Hendrix’s untimely death in 1970. The old PPX recordings continued to be repackaged and released in various formats over the years, causing confusion among fans and often being seen as exploiting Hendrix’s legacy.

In sum, Hendrix’s association with other labels while still having ties to Ed Chalpin created a maze of contractual and legal issues that overshadowed aspects of his career and posthumous releases.


Alexandre G.
He’s just a guy who got tired of bothering his friends with talk about music, so he decided to create a blog to share what he loves most.
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Brian Graifman
Brian Graifman
4 months ago

This is misleading and wrong. The one dollar exchange is a standard contractual “consideration” clause. The contract provides one percent – more than each of the Beatles had in their EMI contract.

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Bonus d'inscription à Binance
13 days ago

Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.