Calling Long Distance


UniVibes is a magazine put out by Caesar Glebeek, one of the authors of Electric Gypsy, the great book on Jimi Hendrix. As a bonus, UniVibes has offered 3 CDs of Jimi Hendrix material not found anywhere else. This one, Calling Long Distance, is the first of the three, but is no longer available for purchase. An interesting collection of songs, many of the songs on these three CDs were very rarely performed in concert, mainly in Sweden it seems. Some of the tracks are muffled sounding, but considering the rarity of them, it makes little difference. Little Miss Lover comes from an LP, possible the acetate only version of this song. Catfish Blues, I believe appears on the BBC Sessions CD. Oh Man, Is This Me Or What is a small part of an interview with Jimi. A feedback drenched and experimental sounding Purple Haze follows, signifying the end of the earth from the sounds of it ;) Getting My Heart is Jimi playing the blues like only Jimi can (and according to Jimi in the introduction, this is only the second time they've performed this song!). Instrumental Improvisation is a bass heavy blues tune, but is much too short. Hey Baby makes an early and much appreciated appearance, and features a little more guitar exploration than on other versions. Red House, Jimi's blues masterpiece, closes this CD and as Jimi so often did in concert, slows it down and just plays it so in-fucking-credibly.

If you can find this CD, I defintely recommend adding it to your collection. The other 2 CDs are still available from UniVibes; I have one of them, and am planning on getting the third. UniVibes is a very good source of song information and ROIO releases, and a subscription is probably a good idea if you are a major collector of Jimi's music, even if the price is a bit steep (imo). I just wish they would quit the fighting with Experience Hendrix.

Catalog #: UniVibes UV-1001