#30 Jimi Hendrix, 'Are You Experienced' (1967)
Previously #15
Hendrix’s debut release is the record that changed the way the world would think about the guitar forever. The year before its release, Hendrix was struggling to earn a living as a backing guitarist in R&B. He was introduced to The Animals ex-bassist, Chas Chandler, by Keith Richards’s girlfriend, Linda Keith, who brought him to London and would recruit Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to play with him. The trio was rejected by Decca Records, the same label that had rejected The Beatles, but were signed to Track, a new label started by managers of The Who.
The record opens with one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time, ‘Purple Haze,’ into the manic ‘Manic Depression’ and then ‘Hey Joe,’ the very first Hendrix song I ever heard; a song originally by Billy Roberts. It’s a personal favourite for that reason, and for me, the quintessential Hendrix song, even though I know it’s not. But it’s just so good. ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ is another great one on this record, as is ‘Fire,’ later a hit for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Even though I’ve heard this song hundreds of times, this time was the first time I noticed the British accents on the backing vocals. I had always known that Hendrix, originally from Seattle, launched his career in London. I had never actually considered that his band members were British and never noticed the accents. ‘Foxy Lady’ will always remind me of ‘Wayne’s World,’ but this one really is quintessentially Hendrix. It captures the late ‘60s, the Summer of Love perfectly. I’ll always remember years ago the first time hearing ‘Third Stone From The Sun,’ an instrumental track which, at about a minute into the song, bears a familiar riff. I remember thinking to myself that there’s no way I could be hearing what I’m hearing, but it’s true… Right Said Fred’s ‘I’m Too Sexy’ was based on this riff. Who would have thought? As I said, this release changed the way the world thought about guitar. Hendrix wasn’t the first to introduce feedback and distortion into electric guitar (John Lennon actually claims to have been the first artist to feedback on ‘I Feel Fine’), but he sure perfected it. Millions would be inspired by Hendrix. In fact, Hendrix was so influential that he single (left) handedly caused a resurgence in Fender Stratocaster guitars, causing a dramatic increase in sales, thrusting the guitar into the history books as arguably the most recognisable and desired electric guitar of all. Also noting that the UK edition differed from the US edition. The incredible blues track, ‘Red House’ was on the UK edition, while on the US edition it was replaced with ‘Hey Joe.’ ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ also wasn’t on the UK edition, neither was ‘Purple Haze.’ The CD version included other classics such as ‘Stone Free’ and would ultimately bring all the versions of the release together in one 17-track package. Whichever version you listen to, one thing is for sure Hendrix exploded onto the scene with so much energy and power, he burnt out way before his time at the age of 27-years-old.
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