The UK LP versus the US Version of Jimi Hendrix's Debut Album
The above 2012 Single-CD Reissue and Remaster Offers Both
And At A Reasonable Price Too - Available Either New or Used...
"Are You Experienced?" - The US Stereo Album Cover Art from 1967
Featured "Hey Joe", "Purple Haze" and "The Wind Cries Mary"
All on the US LP, but not on the UK one - only singles in the UK
"...Control Of My Soul..."
"Manic
depression is a frustrating mess..." the original wild-child guitar God
sang on his debut 1967 album only to launch into an equally wild-thing solo
moments later - a grungy feeding-back bendy-string beast ripping across your
Hi-Fi man with mal-intent.
I
used to think Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott was the coolest dude to ever walk the
face of God's earth, but even our beloved Philip Paris would give that nod to
James Marshall Hendrix from Seattle, in the U.S. of A.
"Wait
a minute...something's wrong baby..." Jimi wails in the stunning "Red
House" - "...there ain't no life nowhere man!" he moans in
"I Don't Live Today" and "...waterfall don't ever change your
ways..." in the impossibly-pretty "May This Be Love". Going back to
"Red House", Jimi then urges us to stop worrying because, look out
baby, Jimi's still got his guitar and we can stand in his fire! But I digress, because we need to talk about versions of Hendrix's debut album...
Even
now I have to admit that I half adore and half hate "Are You
Experienced" in its original English run. I know the LP is impossibly cool
(like "2001: A Space Odyssey" hip) - but I have to say that the US
different track version on Reprise Records and in Stereo appeals to me so much more as a
listen than the Blighty cut that came months early (also Track
Records' debut LP release). Hendrix got it right be re-arranging "Are You Experienced?" for the American market.
But
what puts this single-CD reissue into the must-have realms of time and space is
the best-ever audio and the six so-damn-cool bonuses tagged on after the UK
song track run from 1 to 10. Let's get to the digital doughnuts of his
explosive beginnings...
EU/UK
re-released 6 February 2012 - "Are You Experienced" by THE JIMI
HENDRIX EXPERIENCE on Experience Hendrix/Legacy/Sony Music 88691938902 (Barcode
886919389029) is a 2012 Single CD Reissue in STEREO of the CD+DVD Remaster
issued two years earlier in 2010. It comes in a Clear Jewel Case (Rear Inlay
Visible) with a 24-Page Colour Booklet, has Seven Bonus Tracks and plays out as
follows (60:22 minutes):
1.
Foxy Lady [Side 1]
2.
Manic Depression
3.
Red House
4.
Can You See Me
5.
Love Or Confusion
6.
I Don't Live Today [Side 2]
7.
May This Be Love
8.
Fire
9.
3rd Stone From The Sun
10.
Remember
Tracks
1 to 10 are his debut album "Are You Experienced" - released 12 May
1967 in the UK on Track Records 612 001 in Mono and 23 August 1967 in the USA
as "Are You Experienced?" on Reprise Records R 6261 in Mono and RS
6261 in Stereo with different tracks and artwork. All songs by JH except "Hey Joe" which was a Billy Roberts song and cover version.
BONUS
TRACKS:
11.
Are You Experienced?
12.
Hey Joe
13.
Stone Free
14.
Purple Haze
15.
51st Anniversary
16.
The Wind Cries Mary
17.
Highway Chile
ALBUM:
This
CD (booklet and rear inlay) uses the UK Track Records artwork in the booklet
even though Hendrix commissioned new more Psych artwork for the US issue (the
US artwork isn't here at all). Also because of the Bonuses, it will allow fans
to sequence the 11-Track American LP as follows - [14] = Track 14 etc...
Side
1 "Are You Experienced?" US Album:
1.
Purple Haze [14]
2.
Manic Depression [2]
3.
Hey Joe [12]
4.
Love Or Confusion [5]
5.
May This Be Love [7]
6.
I Don't Live Today [6]
Side
2 "Are You Experienced?" US Album:
1.
The Wind Cries Mary [16]
2.
Fire [8]
3.
Third Stone From The Sun [9]
4.
Foxey Lady [1]
5.
Are You Experienced? [11]
SINGLES:
1.
Hey Joe [15] b/w 51st Anniversary [15]
April
1967 US Debut 45-single on Reprise 0572 (no UK issue)
2.
Purple Haze [14] b/w The Wind Cries Mary [16]
June
1967 US Second 45-single on Reprise 0597
3.
May 1967 UK Debut 45-single on Track 604004 as
The
Wind Cries Mary [16] b/w Highway Chile [17]
4.
Stone Free [14] b/w If 6 Were 9
September
1969 US 45-single on Reprise 0853
The
A-side was lifted from the "Smash Hits" LP - while the B-side "If
6 Were 9" (not on this CD) can be found on reissues of his second studio
album from 1968 "Axis: Bold As Love"
The
24-page booklet is both impressive and infuriating – gorgeous layout but no US artwork – no picture
sleeves for the singles from the USA, the UK and around the world – album credits aren't here or single dates. But the pictures are
cool, the lyrics are here too, the see-through tray is nice and the superb six bonuses plus that EDDIE KRAMER and GEORGE MARINO Remaster
from the 2010 CD+DVD Deluxe Edition (reissued here as a single CD) is so damn good. Check out those fading moments in the "Tomorrow Never Knows"-tinged Revolver moment that ends the American LP - "Are You Experienced?"
with the piano, drums and guitar - fantastically clear and with real muscle - you finally feel the power of the band.
There
are two things that punch-home on this reissue - the better audio, though still
muddy in places (as was the nature of the recordings) it packs a huge wallop
when given some welly on the Volume dial - and the fact that the US artwork is
missing. But even now, as I sequence the US playlist - what a powerhouse the
album is - and I feel warrants the legendary status it carries in this
configuration – even if the mighty "Red House" was not on it. I had
also forgotten about the waterfall beauty of his playing and those panned drums
in the fabulous "May This Be Love".
Dig
those drums again and that pumping guitar as he launches into the US LP Side 1
closer "I Don’t Live Today" – and that feedback as he goes on his
miserable way. And probably my fave-rave of all his slow songs "The Wind
Cries Mary" – footprints dressed in red – a broom drearily sweeping up the
broken pieces of yesterday’s life. But genius moment supremo and tripping Pysch gong of the
year goes to "Third Rock From The Sun" – how damn good is this swish-swashing amble across your frazzled mind with its treated guitars and so-smooth voice interludess. Huge is the only way to describe "Foxey
Lady" too (hate that misspelling), but for me the backwards-sounding "Are You Experienced?" that ends the platter is still utterly
mesmerizing. A great album and a genuinely groundbreaking moment in Rock and not just the Sixties.
"...If
you can only just get your mind together...", he sang all those decades ago.
But first – are you
experienced? he further probed. Well I am Jimi – I am!
God Bless you Jimi Hendrix - you axe-wielding foxy star traveler from
another universe...because he sure as shit wasn't from this one!
