Jimi Hendrix: Undisputable Classic or Overrated Dud?

Or Himmler. Or Goebbels. And listen, this isn't a claim on rugged individualism — I'll leave that to the president's speechwriters. Nor am I saying I can't "accept" the fact that everyone likes Hendrix. He just doesn't take me "there" is all. And I'm wondering why — I'm a fan and appreciator of most of the canon.

I don't get you. Now you're comparing some of the world's greatest artists to Nazis. No wonder you don't dig Jimi.

A singer? No. A songwriter? Negative, good buddy.

I'd be with ya on the overrated thing if I didn't think Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland were some of the most awesomely psychedelic records to ever slip their way into the mainstream.

Janis Joplin suspect?

maybe YOURE A RACIST!!!!!!!

i love Jimi but some bits are dud. i prefer his songs about outer space to his songs about chicks (Foxy Lady anyone?)

Grrr! GrRgrRRgGGRrr! Gr! Gr! GRRRrrRRR! GRGRRRRR gr gr gr ?GRRrrr!!

Yeah, I'm gonna have to combine the two choices we've been given and go with "overrated classic."

most of the canonical dudes who i think suck I don't really feel bad about disliking, but never got into hendrix at all. i feel guilt and shame for it.

you should. he was great. just as a composer he was great. also, a snappy dresser.

could you recommend 3 songs for me to check out? you know, besides purple haze and foxy lady

"Machine Gun" from Band of Gypys, "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)", "Burning of the Midnight Lamp", and "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" and shit most everything from Electric Ladyland. First to there are long epics, but very cool in different ways. Second two are great songs imo, and display parts of his personality I really dig. Axis: Bold As Love is pretty great all the way through, but skip any tracks not sung by Jimi.

Should say "first two there are long epics" by the way

can't everyone at least love "Little Wing"?

get One Rainy Wish

Yeah "One Rainy Wish" also great (and impossible not to at least like I would think)

I'd recommend Axis : Bold as Love as a starting point. It's a balanced mix of jimi's contrast of mellowness and raw energy. Little Wing, One Rainy Wish, Castles Made of Sand, If 6 Was 9, Spanish Castle Magic, Bold as Love... I love every song in there.

Have found myself listening to the expanded version of Are You Experienced (with the singles and b-sides etc) over and over lately. I would say you can't go wrong with it as a starting point, though I can also see the case for Axis (which I love too obv). AYE isn't quite as diverse as Axis and from a songwriting pov perhaps isn't quite as polished either - but the sense of things starting up and possibilities opening is part of what makes it so exciting for me.

I need to revisit Axis one of these days. It's always been my least favorite of Hendrix's released-in-his-lifetime albums.

Oh man Axis is so taut and neat and fine and colourful.

yeah Axis was my favorite! until i sort of permanently settled on Band of Gypsies

Axis is definitely my favourite Hendrix album. Also try and get hold of 'Radio One', a compilation of sessions The Experience recorded for Radio 1 in 1967.

any doubters need to check voodoo chile on electric ladyland. the 15 minute version.

also, shout outs to mitch mitchell. one of the funkiest englishmen there ever was.

Oh man Axis is so taut and neat and fine and colourful.

― comedy is unnatural and abhorrent (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, January 3, 2013 2:47 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is OTM. I think Hendrix was at his happiest on this record, probably the only one he made completely (or at least relatively) free of distractions.

Agree wit all the Axis love, just wish that Noel song was cut from it. Even with Jimi's great playing on it I find myself sad that it's on there. They could have fit another Jimi tune, you know.

also, shout outs to mitch mitchell. one of the funkiest englishmen there ever was.
Was looking at Mitchell's wiki entry recently and it struck me as very sad that he achieved so little post-Hendrix.

Hendrix is one of the of not THE best voice in rock history.

"Was looking at Mitchell's wiki entry recently and it struck me as very sad that he achieved so little post-Hendrix."

i don't really know what was going on with him in the 70's. never read anything about that. i really like that first ramatam album and i don't get why he didn't make more rocking stuff in that decade. might have been things going on there... i love what noel did. the road album is one of my favorite records of the 70's and the two noel redding band albums from the 70's are excellent as well. and i also dig both fat mattress albums a bunch. Road one of the best hard rock albums that not everyone knows about. fat matress records definitely worth owning if they have them as a cd twofer or something. even on vinyl they don't cost a ton. great production.

(to be fair though kinda love ramatam so much cuz april lawton is my lord and savior.)

Yeah Axis is the best. The most pop album, the most psych. By the time Axis comes in at the end, it's effing paradise.

"If 6 Was 9" probably the best song to play someone who thinks he's just an overrated guitar noodler.

I like that Noel song alot btw! Nice change of pace to white boy English psych pop with the mighty Hendrix Experience backing.

I like 'She's So fine' as well. The lyrics do veer into hippy cliché in places, and the guitar solo feels tacked on, but it's got a charm to it. Noel's singing voice works on the track as well, a bit like and English Doug Yule.

From April Lawton's wiki:

Indeed she was such a virtuoso that she was rumored to be transsexual — rumors confirmed by her friend, Fanny guitarist June Millington, in a 2010 interview for GuitarGearHeads

I've never read this anywhere else. Really?

I really think the melodic floaty stuff like "Little Wing" or "Have You Ever Been" is the best bet for Hendrix-doubters. At least they'll concede the dude could write a tune!

And who can deny "All Along The Watchtower"? I've heard that song zillions of times and it still freaks me out.

yeah jane is the only person who ever publically said that about april. but i guess it was kinda known in the 70's? i dunno, don't think june would lie about that that. i'll always love her whatever she was. and she was a she as far as the world is concerned. and as far as her ownself was concerned.

jane lives around here but has never come in my store. i'd have her sign some fanny records. she gives guitar lessons.

(i think sue ghezzi from isis was a better guitarist than june but april better than both)