Stone free (Jimi Hendrix) (LP 2742 - 2749)

Jimi Hendrix Experience  Smash Hits (Vinyl, Experience Hendrix/MCA Records, 1968/2002) *****  

Jimi Hendrix  Experience Hendrix (CD, MCA Records, 1997) *****  

Jimi Hendrix  :Blues (CD, Polydor Records, 1997) **** 

Jimi Hendrix  West Coast Seattle Boy - The Jimi Hendrix Anthology (CD, Sony Music, 2010) **** 

Jimi Hendrix Hendrix In The West (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1972) ***** 

Jimi Hendrix Experience  Radio One (Vinyl, RKO Records, 1988) ***** 

Jimi Hendrix  Sound Track Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix (Vinyl, Reprise Records, 1973) **** 

Jimi Hendrix  The Jimi Hendrix Concerts (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1982) ***** 

Genre: Rock 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records; JB Hi-Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Johnny B. Goode (In the West)

Gear costume: Catfish Blues (Blues); Little Wing (In the West)

Active compensatory factors: Here we go, the last edition of the Hendrix-a-thon. This compilation edition has some real gems.

The two studio greatest hits sets - Smash Hits and Experience Hendrix (The Best of Jimi Hendrix) cover all the right bases. 

Smash Hits takes a less is more approach and has 12 of the best, Experience Hendrix goes for a slightly more comprehensive look and has 20. So, take your pick. I love both.

Blues is an excellent thematically oriented compilation. It positions Jimi amongst bluesman like Muddy Waters (Mannish Boy), Albert King (Born Under a Bad Sign); Elmore James (Bleeding Heart) and others.

The alternative versions of Hear My Train Comin' bookend the album superbly and the alternative take of Voodoo Chile Blues is a real treat.

Plus it has Catfish Blues and you can never have enough of that song!

West Coast Seattle Boy (The Jimi Hendrix Anthology) is an excellent single CD made up of some highlights from the 4CD box set of the same name.

It has alternative takes of familiar songs and some real oddities like a rough version of Dylan's Tears Of Rage. It's a worthwhile edition to the Hendrix canon.

Attention now turns to compilations of live versions. Not as knuckle headed as that sounds on paper.

Hendrix in the West cherry picks songs from three sources: Berkeley Community Centre; San Diego Sports Arena; and Isle of Wight (two songs that didn't appear on Isle of Wight).

This was one of the first Hendrix albums I bought when I was sticking a toe in the water after getting hooked by Isle of Wight. So, I have a soft spot for In the West.

Radio One is a compilation of tracks from BBC radio's Top Gear and Saturday Club. Plus, there are songs from Alexis Korner's Rhythm and Blues Show. 

There were five sessions in total, all from 1967, when Jimi was in England.

It's a three sided double album which just explodes from first track (Stone Free) to last (Burning of the Midnight Lamp).

Along the way are treats like Daytripper, Hound Dog, Fire (as always a highlight), and even the Radio One Theme. An outstanding collection!

It's also got a great cover!

The double album soundtrack to the film Jimi Hendrix (an early attempt at documenting the phenomenon that he bccame) was also an early purchase when I was more budget conscious. Compilations are good value for money when you're young and wanting to sample all sorts of sounds.

The interview sections included on each side are not that interesting but the music is outstanding, of course. 

The live material comes mainly from Monterey, Berkeley, Woodstock, Isle of Wight, and the Fillmore East show with Buddy Miles.

Finally (phew - it's been a trip and a half!!), is The Jimi Hendrix Concerts, a double album compilation of songs mainly from Winterland, San Diego, Albert Hall, and Berkeley.

Again, it's a handy collection, but maybe slightly superfluous now that there are so many live albums out there.

Where do they all belong? Do I need any more Hendrix albums? Probs not, but every time Experience Hendrix ships a new live album I'll be tempted.

I mean, for goodness sake, he was the greatest guitarist that has ever lived. Why would I not be tempted?

Fire (Jimi Hendrix) (LP 2731 - 2741)

Jimi Hendrix Jimi Plays Monterey (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1986) **** 

Jimi Hendrix Experience  Hollywood Bowl August 18, 1967 (CD, Sony Music, 2023) **** 

Jimi Hendrix  "Experience" - Original Soundtrack (Vinyl, Astor Records, 1971) ***  

Jimi Hendrix  More "Experience" - Original Soundtrack (Vinyl and CD, Bulldog Records, 1972) **** 

Jimi Hendrix Experience  Los Angeles Forum April 26, 1969 (Vinyl, Sony Music, 2022) ***** 

Jimi Hendrix  Live at Woodstock (CD, MCA Records, 1999) ***** 

Jimi Hendrix Experience   Freedom - Atlanta Pop Festival (CD, Legacy Records, 2015) **** 

Jimi Hendrix  The Rainbow Bridge Concert July 30 1970 (Vinyl, Radioactive Records, 1972) ** 

Jimi Hendrix  Isle Of Wight (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1971) ***** 

Jimi Hendrix  Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live at the Isle of Wight (CD, Experience Hendrix, 2002) ***** 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience  Pipedream: Recorded on stage in Amsterdam 1968 (Vinyl, Bootleg) ***** 

Genre: Rock 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records (Monterey/ More Experience); JB Hi-Fi (Hollywood Bowl); Real Groovy (Experience 

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Fire (Woodstock)

Gear costume: Star Spangled Banner (Woodstock) / Purple Haze (Woodstock); All Along The Watchtower (Isle of Wight)

Active compensatory factors: Jimi seemed to play every day, either in the studio, or else live. And he played some big gigs - Atlanta Pop Festival, Monterey, Woodstock, The Isle of Wight, and he played some smaller gigs - package tours and so on. He was everywhere!

My run down isn't strictly chronological in terms of release date or performance date, but there a lot of them, so - settle back. I've grouped them roughly in years - 1967 kicks us off. Okay, all set? Here we go!

Monterey was to become a big deal at the time and has become an even bigger deal since. It was a tight set - one that fits on two sides of a record. Jimi is in great form and very chatty between songs. He was clearly feeling good. The highlight for me is Purple Haze.

Hollywood Bowl has a similar set list and length. Sgt Pepper, Catfish Blues and Fire make an appearance instead of Hey Joe, Can You See Me and Rock Me Baby. Mitch has his customary drum solo during Catfish. He's a great drummer, but drum solos are drum solos.

The set was part of their tour supporting The Monkees. Yes, you read that right. I'm a huge fan of both Hendrix and The Monkees, but they had very different approaches and sounds. Still, Jimi gives it his best, even though the crowd wasn't really his crowd.

Best moment - a supercharged Fire.

"Experience" and More "Experience" document his Royal Albert Hall show of 1969. 

"Experience" is well described in Wikipedia as 'an incomplete soundtrack to the unreleased film "Experience" documenting the Jimi Hendrix Experience's performance at the Royal Albert Hall on February 24, 1969'.

More "Experience" has edited versions of two tracks from "Experience", plus two previously released songs (Hendrix in the West - coming up next in the compilation edition) and three additional recordings from the February 24 concert.

Yes, all very messy. Fitting given the actual film was never released because of legal difficulties. The CD version I have is More "Experience" (plus Hey Joe and Foxey Lady). It came free with a newspaper (The Sunday Times) when I was living in England.

The music? Although it's not recorded brilliantly, it still sounds like primal Jimi Hendrix, beginning with a ripper version of Sunshine of Your Love. Dave Mason and Chris Wood from Traffic appear on Room Full of Mirrors and add some texture to the electric mayhem unleashed by Jimi.

More "Experience" is the better album in terms of sequencing. Little Wing (Little Ivey on the cover) and Fire are especially good, but the album holds together really well.  

The LA Forum gig, coming a few months later, is even better. Jimi is in a playful mood and the band is tight and on form. Foxey Lady sounds terrific but so does everything else. Spanish Castle Magic in particular sounds spectacular! It's also interesting to trace the development of Jimi's remarkable version of Star Spangled Banner. It's starting to take on the characteristics that would culminate in his Woodstock version.

By the time The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Atlanta Pop festival in 1969, Noel Redding had been replaced by Billy Cox. The band still sounds like they are getting used to the change to me and although it's a great set, it's not quite up to the level of the Woodstock gig.

I know I'm biased, being mildly obsessed by the Woodstock festival, but that set sounds terrific - I'm right front and centre as Gypsy Sun and Rainbows tear into a stellar performance.

Jimi is in inspired form throughout and his stage patter is fantastic.

Many standouts on this one - from Izabella, Fire, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) and the definitive version of Star Spangled Banner. Mitch and Billy joining in makes this version extra special. Jimi is in complete command of his instrument; primal, awe inspiring, and beautiful in equal measure.

Onto 1970 now, and first up is the Rainbow Bridge Concert, the early show, from Maui, Hawaii.

While the album's production lacks the sparkle of Woodstock, this album still sounds okay. 

However, the whole performance feels a bit flat, especially after the highs of the previous year. Maybe he was getting over playing these songs? After all - how many times did he perform Foxey Lady? A sloppy version of Fire tells you all you need to know really. In fact, his versions of Fire are a great barometer for an overall performance I've found. Probably telling that it's missing from the Isle of Wight setlist. 

Getting to the end now and time for Isle of Wight. Five stars you say?

Well yes. Because this was the first Hendrix album I ever heard and owned. I borrowed it from a schoolfriend when I was in Form 4. Taped it, and I played it and played it until I knew it off by heart.

I love everything about it and don't care about any criticisms. I love the sloppiness, I love the stage intro. I love the security radio cut ins along the way, I love the cover (I did a painting of it) and I love the versions.

To me, he sounds relaxed, fully in command. Mitch and Billy sound in top form to me, too. This is my go-to Hendrix album. Always will be.

The expanded Isle of Wight concert came out on album and was renamed Wild Blue Angel (no idea why). It's great to have, as well as the DVD. It's pretty intense to listen to in one go, which is why I prefer the less is more single album.

Pipedream is an excellent bootleg recorded in Stockholm, Sweden 1967 (mislabeled on the cover as Amsterdam 1968). The recording is high quality, as is the Jimi Hendrix Experience performance. 

I Don't Live Today is one of many amazing tracks. And the version of Fire? Spectacular! Driven by Mitch's speedy drums, it sounds fresh as a daisy! 

Where do they all belong? Final part will be a run down on the various Greatest Hits style compilations.

(Jimi Hendrix) (LP 2723 - 2730)

Jimi Hendrix  The Cry Of Love (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1971) ***  

Jimi Hendrix  Rainbow Bridge (Vinyl, Reprise Records, 1971) *** 

Jimi Hendrix  War Heroes (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1972) **** 

Jimi Hendrix  Loose Ends (Vinyl, Reprise Records, 1973) ** 

Jimi Hendrix  Crash Landing (CD, Polydor Records, 1975) *** 

Jimi Hendrix  Nine To The Universe (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1980) ***    

Jimi Hendrix  Valleys Of Neptune (CD, Sony Music, 2010) ****  

Jimi Hendrix  Axis: Outtakes (CD, Purple Haze Records, 2004) *  

Genre: Rock 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records for the vinyl; Real Groovy (Crash Landing); JB Hi Fi for the last 2 CDs

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Freedom (Cry Of Love)

Gear costume: Highway Chile (War Heroes) 

Active compensatory factors: These studio albums are basically in two broad areas - the supposed fourth studio album, and, secondly, odds and sods.

Cry Of Love is the first posthumous release (six months after he died) and is an attempt to collate the songs he was working on for studio album number 4. 

It kicks off strongly, with Freedom, but from there onwards a lot of the songs lack the experimental, thrusting into new territories qualities that the three studio albums had. My Friend and Belly Button Window haven't aged well either - just sayin'. 

Instead, it's a mixed collection of songs - some would never have made the cut I feel, and I sense it would have been panned by critics at the time, coming so soon after Electric Ladyland. In other words, it sounds semi-finished.

The Cry Of Love almost gets a bonus point for a great cover!  

Rainbow Bridge also came out in 1971 and is also predominately an attempt at studio album 4 (with one live track - Hear My Train A Comin'). Dolly Dagger and Earth Blues are fun tracks that feel finished, but the rest are either studio jams or works in progress. Another 3-star effort, because this is Jimi after all.

War Heroes gets a bonus point for the great cover, and the title, but a minus point for the inclusion of loose jam moments like Peter Gunn. Still there is enough great stuff on this one to make it one of the best posthumous albums.

Bleeding Heart, Stepping Stone, Highway Chile, Beginnings, and Izabella all deserve their place in the Hendrix catalogue.

Loose Ends at least gets an honest title, but a shoddy fan art cover. The contents are pretty shoddy at times too.

It starts off well enough with the earthy Come Down Hard On Me Baby, but then we have a collection of loose jams that were never destined for general release. Jimi would not have approved them, I'm sure.

Crash Landing was Jack Douglas' attempt to complete a number of unfinished tracks. To do so, he added session musicians to Jimi's guitar and vocal tracks.

Generally, he achieved his aim, as the songs now sound 'finished', but there was a lot of controversy at the time of its release, given the level of manipulation - the girl singers being the most obvious addition, but they are only on one track. 

I still like it - it sounds like a well-produced 'real' album, and I can't really tell where the joins are. 

Nine to the Universe is the third Jack Douglas produced posthumous album (I used to have Midnight Lightning on cassette but I haven't bothered to find it on vinyl or CD).

This time he retains the original musicians around Jimi, but he names the 'songs' as these were all loose instrumental jams - never designed to be released to the public. Crazy what greed will do.

The first song, Nine to the Universe, is an interesting and worthwhile jam with Buddy Miles on drums, and I do like the organ and guitar interplay on Young/ Hendrix (named for organist Larry Young), but the rest is not of the same standard, unfortunately.  

There must be hours and hours of this jamming material in the vaults, so I'm sure it will dribble out for years to come.

Valleys of Neptune has a great title and cover (Jimi's watercolour art and Linda McCartney's portrait). It's another collection of stuff from 1969 post Electric Ladyland and supposedly for the fourth studio album.

It's a good collection of material which includes Noel Redding, Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell, and sundry others.

Standouts are: alternative versions of songs like Stone Free, Mr. Bad Luck (a great discovery), a super funky Lover Man.

The final album in this batch, Axis Outtakes, is an odd one - a double album of outtakes from the much earlier Axis: Bold As Love sessions.

The quality on some tracks is not as good as these other albums, so this is most probably a bootleg - the other clue is it being on Purple Haze Records.

It's pretty clear why these are outtakes, and the Noel Redding songs don't help. One for the OCD collectors this one, which I'm not.

Where do they all belong? Next up - the live albums.

Them changes (Buddy Miles) (LP 2720 - 2722)

Jimi Hendrix  Band of Gypsies (Vinyl, MCA Records, 1970) *****  

Jimi Hendrix  Band of Gypsies 2 (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1986) ***** 

Jimi Hendrix  Machine Gun - The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/1969 (CD, Experience Hendrix, 2018) ***** 

Genre: Rock 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records; Real Groovy Records; JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Machine Gun

Gear costume: Power Of Soul

Active compensatory factors: The Band of Gypsies album released in March 1970 was the last released in Jimi's lifetime (he died in September of that year), so it has a real legitimacy that the other live albums don't share.

The album has grown on me over the years and although I much prefer Mitch Mitchell's drumming, Buddy Miles' more basic rock style suits this more funk infused music.

Band of Gypsies 2 is a cobbled together release. It has Fillmore East songs on side one and side two has songs from other Band of Gypsies shows post Fillmore East. 

It still sounds pretty damn awesome to me, some people even prefer this album to the first one.

The third album is the entire first show at Fillmore East and is the best of the three. Obviously, it is much more cohesive, even though it includes a lot more Buddy along the way. 

It even has a couple of Jimi Hendrix Experience songs for good measure, so this is the one to get if you want the whole deal.

Where do they all belong? Next post takes in all those post 1970 studio outtakes albums. Prepare for a much bumpier ride!

Fire (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) (LP 2717 - 2719)

The Jimi Hendrix Experience  Are You Experienced? (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1967) *****  

The Jimi Hendrix Experience  Axis: Bold as Love  (Vinyl, Reprise Records, 1967) *****

The Jimi Hendrix Experience  Electric Ladyland (Vinyl and CD, Polydor Records, 1968) *****    

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Fire (Are You Experienced?)

Gear costume: Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (Electric Ladyland)

Active compensatory factors: The Hendrix catalogue continues to grow and has gone way beyond the three studio albums he released when he was alive.

I've decided to split my Hendrix collection into five parts: those three JHE studio albums; The Band Of Gypsies live albums; the posthumous studio collections; the posthumous live albums; the compilations.

First up, three extraordinary studio albums in 2 short years. His only three - each one a classic and no record collection worth a damn should be without them.

Are You Experienced? is a BIG album. Eleven songs, many of them staples of his live act for the next 3 years. It still sounds extraordinary - like it was beamed in from a far-off galaxy.

Axis: Bold as Love was also from 1967 but it sounds like it came from 2027. Such a huge development in months. Only The Beatles best Hendrix in terms of quantum leaps in sound during their career. Together with Brian Wilson, they were sonic astronauts without peer.

Third studio album was the wide-ranging double album Electric Ladyland. Breathtaking in its scope and reach and influence. No one has ever matched his guitar playing ability. No one ever will.

By the way, my copy is the nude ladies cover as pictured. Daring and provocative - just like the music inside the cover.

Where do they all belong? Episode 2 is next - The Band of Gypsies albums.

The tie that binds (Levon Helm) (LP 2716)

Levon Helm and The RCO All-Stars  Levon Helm and The RCO All-Stars (Vinyl, ABC Records, 1977) ****  

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: Slowboat Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Tie That Binds

Gear costume: Rain Down Tears 

Active compensatory factors: The All-Stars are certainly that: all of Booker T and MGs, The Blues Brothers horn section, Paul Butterfield on harmonica and Dr John. Phew. A heavy crew!

This was Levon's first solo album away from the band, but even so, Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson both make cameo appearances.

Given all that, the songs and Levon's performance tend to sound like a bit of a neglected element. What should have been a landmark album is merely a quite good one.

Where do they all belong? Back to The Band.

Hooked (Hello Sailor) (LP 2715)

Hello Sailor  Hello Sailor (Vinyl, Key Records, 1977) *****  

Genre: NZ music, rock 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Blue Lady

Gear costume: Gutter Black

Active compensatory factors: Interesting that Gutter Black (the lead off song on side one) has over 11 million listens on Spotify and Blue Lady only has 4 mill.

This was the band's debut album and it distills all that is best about the band - Faces/Stones style guitar riff-a-ramas, attitude songs about the down and out underbelly of Auckland life, and in lead singer Graham Brazier they had a genuine rawk staaar.

They were far from a one trick pony though as Dave McArtney and Harry Lyons were also talented singers, songwriters and musicians (is in Harry's case as he's still with us - McArtney and Brazier both died far too young).

Five stars? Oh yes! A Nu Zild classic!

Where do they all belong? At the time I was more a Split Enz/ Citizen Band fan (The Beatle influenced locals) than a dedicated follower of Hello Sailor, so I only have this album and memories of seeing them at The Gluepot (I think - maybe it was The Windsor Castle) with Mike and Greg. Should try to get their second album Pacifica Amour at some stage, though.

Good morning Mr Rock'n'Roll (Headband) (LP 2713 - 2714)

Headband  Happen Out (Vinyl and CD, Harvest Records, 1972) *****  

Headband  Rock Garden (Vinyl and CD, Key Records, 1975) *** 

Genre: NZ music, rock 

Places I remember: M

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Good Morning Mr Rock'n'Roll (Happen Out)

Gear costume: (I Get High) Olena (Rock Garden)

Active compensatory factors: I have great great memories of that first album and it often figures in my top 30 albums of all time. For me, it's the best NZ record ever!

You can read a summary of the band adventures here.

Happen Out has featured before on the blog but not in this countdown. You can read my earlier thoughts here and here.

Having just heard it again, I can attest that it still rocks like a mother trucker with Tommy Adderley at his peak. 

The band regrouped for Rock Garden, but without Ron Craig (guitar) and Billy Kristian (bass). It's a crucial change as the album isn't as inspired as the debut and there are a few dodgy moments - the cover is a mistake, even though Tommy liked it, and a few of the songs contain some dodgy misogynistic moments.

The other crucial missing ingredient was the brilliant producer Peter Dawkins, who was leading the line on Happen Out.

Where do they all belong? A search for Headband singles is a work in progress.