Experience Hendrix


"Oh no, not another greatest hits package", I hear you moaning out there. Yep, that's what this one is. This actually came out in Europe about a year ago or so. It was delayed here, I assume so MCA could dump it's stock of the Ultimate Experience CD (which this CD replaces). And it's still difficult to get this one in some areas, despite the fact it's supposedly been available domestically since early November 98. Mine came from a trading friend of mine in the U.S., and even then he still had to special order it in for me. Who can understand the workings of the recording industry? Not I, for one.

Anyway, lets talk about what you get here. Great tracks, from Jimi's first 5 albums (AYE, Axis, EL, TCoL, Rainbow Bridge), plus an added track from Woodstock. Unlike previous releases, including the recent Ultimate Experience, the tracks come from the original master tapes, not 2nd & 3rd generation backup copies. The booklet is very informative, like most of the recent EH releases have been. Hardcore fanatics like myself will notice something different in the track from Woodstock, Star Spangled Banner, which we hadn't seen in previous releases of this track. You can hear more. And less. Less added fake crowd noise. Listen to the beginning of SSB from the Atlanta 70 show, and listen to the beginning of SSB from the Woodstock release. Notice similiarities? It's the same friggin' crowd!! Not only has Alan Douglas replaced musicians he didn't think were good enough on tracks, now he's replacing audiences! Listen to the telltale thumps after the first bar or two. But that has been corrected here, the hippies have returned :) Also, you can hear more of the other instruments now, Juma's percussion and Billy's bass for example. Good to hear the original, maybe this is hinting at a new release of a complete Woodstock performance? Janie Hendrix, Jimi's sister and president of Experience Hendrix, did say once that a complete Woodstock would be released at some point. That would be so great!!

Quality is, as has come to be expected from Experience Hendrix, excellent throughout. Confused by all the Hendrix re-issues, greatest hits packages, etc? Here's a great CD to introduce yourself to Jimi's music with.

Catalog #: Experience Hendrix MCAD-11671