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Fran wrote:The vinyl reissue of Axis...... is amazing. I remember when I got it I couldn't believe how fresh it sounded.....

Glad you agree with me Fran; it is so gobsmackingly good as to leave Jimiphiles weeping. Now you can begin to understand why I'm so anxious to hear the rest of the two track analogue masters.....

Listening to this last night and even though I gave it a hearty recommendation now I'm not so sure due to the Soul/Funky elements creeping into the set.Out of the 16 songs only about 5 or 6 are worth listening to again and that includes the two versions of Machine Gun!They were just too tight and a little bit too well rehearsed for my liking...Just compare 'Stone Free' here (which I think is brilliant!) with the Albert Hall Experience which takes you places the other tighter version doesn't. But to tell the truth I always preferred the original rocking Experience with Noel Redmond on bass because they were always unpredictable.Still I do have an awful lot of time for Billy Cox as long as Buddy Miles is as far away as possible :-))) and don't forget when this came out first it was the very first time that any of this stuff saw the (official) light of day and that fact alone coloured our opinion somewhat......So if you're a Hendrix completists by all means go for the set but otherwise stick with the original single Lp Band of Gypsies release.

Its the major worry with Hendrix "new" releases, isn't it?

I too think the original experience are way out in front, and I would say the rhythm section of Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell are just incredible. I really know nothing about drummers, but I always loved mitch mitchell's drumming - theres a good dose in there of animal from the muppets, but yet he always managed to hold it together..... and didn't demand his right to a drum solo!! Noel Redding - I never rated him as highly, perhaps unfairly.... but never thought him as imaginative as Mitch.

Jimi was so obviously in a state of change when he died - you can hear him in the later material trying desperately trying to find a voice, a style that put distance between the new work and the older work. What a shame he died when he did - we were absolutely robbed....


Fran

Fran wrote:Its the major worry with Hendrix "new" releases, isn't it?

I too think the original experience are way out in front, and I would say the rhythm section of Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell are just incredible. I really know nothing about drummers, but I always loved mitch mitchell's drumming - theres a good dose in there of animal from the muppets, but yet he always managed to hold it together..... and didn't demand his right to a drum solo!! Noel Redding - I never rated him as highly, perhaps unfairly.... but never thought him as imaginative as Mitch.

Jimi was so obviously in a state of change when he died - you can hear him in the later material trying desperately trying to find a voice, a style that put distance between the new work and the older work. What a shame he died when he did - we were absolutely robbed....
Fran

Thanks for that Fran....I laughed at the Animal comparison and it's oh so true!! I actually read somewhere but I can't remember where that somebody described Mitch Mitchell drumming as being very similar to Elvin Jones! Just listen to the new remastered 'Axis Bold As Love' for confirmation! Whereas Noel was,as some wag memorably described him, a frustrated lead guitar playing bass player!??! But you knew that already :-))) Also I take your point about his later material, he really was desperately trying to find a (new) voice wasn't he and being totally frustrated by things and events beyond his control. In a way, looking back at his short life, which was getting messier by the minute, I can honestly say that I am relieved that God did take him when he did.. apart from everything else, what was left for him to prove, really??

With all of the current talk it prompted me to put this on tonight....

apart from everything else, what was left for him to prove, really??

Well, I suppose we'll never know..... but if he was properly facilitated and managed (who was in those days!) he could have done anything. I particularly think that he was only starting to develop as a songwriter. I know Dylan was a major influence, but I think he would have put more effort into the words.... look at songs like belly button window, or even little wing and angel - thats the kind of thing I'm talking about.

I often thought what if... he ended up in Laurel Canyon at the right time and in the right person house what mighta happened. Or maybe went and lived with George Harrison for a few months. I know socially and background racially etc etc that would never have happened but that'd be the kinda thing I think he might have moved towards.

Many commentators make much of the move towards including jazz/funk influences, but I wonder more about the lyrics end of it - that was a big big area for him to develop in.

Fran

All very valid points Fran and the lyric side of Jimi passed a lot of people I would guess including myself because I'm more a music/sound/atmosphere type of chap. I do remember
reading his lyrics one time and I was suitably impressed.So that is one area he could have developed if he had have got in with the right people.....if, if, if, if...... Which incidentally reminds me of something my father said to me a while back, God, he rightly made me howl!! I can't recall what we were talking about but I used the word 'if' a lot; he turned round in exasperation and said, without even batting an eyelid: 'If, if, if, if your Aunt had balls she'd be your Unkle!!!!' A fairly feisty 95 year old, wha!!!!!

fergus wrote:With all of the current talk it prompted me to put this on tonight....

What do think of it fergus?

'If, if, if, if your Aunt had balls she'd be your Unkle!!!!' A fairly feisty 95 year old, wha!!!!! had balls she'd be your Unkle!!!!' A fairly feisty 95

Rotflmao!


Fran

cybot wrote:.... 'If, if, if, if your Aunt had balls she'd be your Unkle!!!!' A fairly feisty 95 year old, wha!!!!!

My kid of guy!!!