The new release from the people at Experience Hendrix culls together enough material for a boxed set. This review focuses on the single CD of highlights from the new box set because these songs get to the heart of what is most important in the collection they’re calling West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology.
The CD opens with a robust rendition of “Fire” that does not sound much different from the original, but it does open the disc with a vibrant sound. “Love Or Confusion” sounds great coming out of the speakers and it seems to have more detail in the notes Hendrix fires off throughout this tune. “Room Full Of Mirrors” has a funky groove and funky guitar riffs and is the CD’s first actual “previously unreleased recording.” “Roomful Of Mirrors” is a song Hendrix worked on repeatedly over the course of 18 months. Billy Cox and Buddy Miles play on this rendition with Hendrix adding his own overdubs on guitar and bass. The song definitely has substance in its groove. Moreover, “Roomful” blends into another Hendrix gem called “Shame, Shame, Shame,” another mesh of Hendrix guitar, vocal flourishes, and groove.
“Mr. Bad Luck” is called a “previously unreleased alternate recording” and even though it is completely familiar, Hendrix fans will undoubtedly dig the grittier sound in the guitar and vocals. “May This Be Love,” a “previously unreleased alternative recording” has a thicker sound in Hendrix’s rhythm guitar as well as a heavier vocal approach than what Hendrix fans have heard on previous takes. Again, the subtle difference may appeal more to Hendrix fanatics, but it is still a good song in whatever variation.
The initial recording of “Are You Experienced” is offered here as a “previously unreleased recording.” Hendrix’s rhythmic riffs are a bit more prominent on this original take and his lead phrasing is still dizzyingly out of this world. Without vocals, this take offers the listener an insight into the recording process Hendrix used back in the day.
A home demo recording of Hendrix with harmonica player Paul Caruso of Bob Dylan’s “Tears Of Rage” is unique in two ways. Not only is this song a “previously unreleased recording,” Hendrix learned this Dylan tune from an unreleased demo tape before Dylan’s people had actually released the album to the public. Hendrix makes an earnest effort with his mellow, bluesy strumming and his voice is pure and unfiltered. Caruso’s harmonica playing beautifully augments what Hendrix is holding down on acoustic rhythm.
“Hear My Freedom,” another “previously unreleased recording” has a full band sound with organist Lee Michaels(presumably) and Buddy Miles on drums with Mitch Mitchell adding cowbell and percussion. In the beginning, it’s a fantastic instrumental jam workout that has just enough structure to call it a complete number. When Hendrix comes in more prominently with his fully unique guitar phrases, it’s enough to make this CD worth owning. Hendrix finally starts singing about half way through and his vocal approach has a free-wheeling go for the feeling thing going on.
Hendrix and his Experience band mates along with Traffic’s Chris Wood on saxophone and Jerry Goldstein on piano, rock out on “Hound Dog Blues,” the Big Mama Thornton classic that was popularized in the 1950s by Elvis Presley. Hendrix’s love for this song comes through in his spirited interpretation of the guitar rhythms, which he plays nice and thick before picking off some high notes in the middle of it all. “Lonely Avenue” is another “previously unreleased recording” and Hendrix rocks right out on vocals and guitar. His uses of intervals of notes brings added intensity to an already fantastic groove from drummer Buddy Miles. There is no bass guitar to this song, and it is fun to hear Hendrix riffing his way through without a low end to keep him anchored in this blues-rock number.
“Burning Desire” is another track that makes this CD worth owning. With Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums, Hendrix gets his riffs going in many directions at once and this eight and a half minutes song shows how much he can do with a competent and creative rhythm section. What these three players do in this number is pure art. “In From The Storm” is a “previously unreleased alternate recording” from the Cry For Love sessions, and is actually the version Hendrix considered his final rendition of the song. It was mixed by Eddie Kramer and Mitch Mitchell after Hendrix died in the fall of 1970.
“Bolero” and “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)” flow together as Hendrix had intended. Hendrix worked on this with Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell and also with percussionist Juma Sultan. This version, which combines a “previously unreleased recording” of “Bolero” and a “previously unreleased alternate recording of “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) has the prominent groove and the melodic sweep that does justice to the Hendrix legacy. His vocal here has that earthy, gypsy quality that made it ease to relate to the person behind the genius. These collections would do well to stick to material that is wholly new to the general public. Yet, the alternate takes from an artist like Hendrix are invaluable to the die hard fans who obsess over his every note. West Coast Seattle Boy is still a very good CD for any Hendrix fan or any rock music fan.
www.jimihendrix.com
Thanks for the Hendrix review and for turning me on to your website. I am a total Hendrix fanatic and the info is very important to me. I do cover allot of Jimi’s songs and he is my #1 in shaping my style of guitar playing.