Born in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington, Jimi Hendrix (baptized Johnny Allen Hendrix) would celebrate this month 70 years. Considered one of the most innovative and influential guitarists in rock history, the American choked on his own vomit on September 18, 1970, after an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, in London. He was 27 years old, months before completing 28. In life Jimi Hendrix leaves three studio albums: Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced, 1967, Axis: Bold as Love, the same year, and Electric Ladyland, 1968, besides the live album Band of Gypsys, recorded with the band of the same name and released in 1970.
It is amazing throughout so many years, that the updates about the Hendrix legacy continue to emerge, and thank goodness. 2013 will be the year of previously unreleased album of 12 recordings by Jimi Hendrix called People, Hell and Angels and will be released in March. It is the latest release since 2011’s Winterland – a live box comprising Jimi Hendrix Experience’s six performances at the WInterland. According to Janie Hendrix (guitarist sister) “He was trying to create a new sound,” said Janie at radio KISW Seattle, “He put more instruments like in Woodstock.” , and told to his father, “you’ll be doubly proud of me.” The 12 songs were recorded in 1968 and 1969, and he worked on this material apart from the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and they were intended for a double LP titled First Rays of the New Rising Sun. “In ’68 and ’69, Jimi was in the studio constantly” recalls Kramer (see the interview below), “his whole life was in the studio.” Some songs were recorded with Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, bassist and drummer respectively of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, others rely on the participation of musicians like Stephen Stills (guitarist then lost Buffalo Springfield), saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood, and future members of the Band of Gypsys, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles.
According to the Rolling Stone, the songs have a base of instrumentation on woodwinds, keyboards, drums and a second guitar. Some of this material has seen the light of day in editions such as The Cry of Love and Rainbow Bridge, 1971, and War Heroes, the following year – ie, the first three entries from posthumous discography of the guitarist.
Also in production is the film about Jimi Hendrix, starring Andre 3000, of OutKast. Filmed in Ireland, All Is By My Side focuses on the early years of Hendrix’s career and should have music signed by André 3000, versions of The Beatles, Hendrix and Muddy Waters. He says: “I thought: what Jimi would like people to know about it that is not on YouTube?”.
Read more about Jimi Hendrix Live at Monterey here.
You can listen here to the three different versions of Somewhere.
You can listen here to a new version of Earth Blues.
Tracklist of People, Hell and Angels:
Earth Blues
Somewhere
Hear My Train A Comin’
Bleeding Heart
Let Me Move You
Izabella
Easy Blues
Crash Landing
Inside Out
Hey Gypsy Boy
Mojo Man
Villanova Junction Blues
Sneak Preview with Eddie Kramer:
