Jimi Hendrix

Adzzz

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Often clouded with the 'greatest guitarist' of all time tag, which is obviously a debated issue but looking past his guitar virtuosity I think Jimi is very much an underrated song-writer, you only have to listen to Axis: Bold As Love to hear some really thoughtful and very abstractly beautiful songs, like Castles made of Sand, One Rainy Wish, Bold as Love, If 6 was 9 - etc, etc.

I can't think of one song of his I dislike and for me to think of my top 5 songs of his is incredibly difficult.

I'd split it into two categories:

Melodic Songs:
1.) Castles Made of Sand
2.) Bold as Love
3.) Wind Cries Mary
4.) Little Wing
5.) One Rainy Wish

Typical Hendrix Songs:
1.) Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
2.) All Along the Watchtower
3.) Purple Haze
4.) Machine Gun
5.) Hey Joe

I've left some very classic works out of both lists, but please feel free to add your top 5 Hendrix songs, or if you feel daunted by that task split into two categories like I did.
 
esmufc10 said:
Jimi, Janis and Jim.
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They all died within a short period of time didn't they? Jimi and Jim did anyway, it might have been another female singer of the time who died young.

Hmm, might listen to the Doors now. Either that, or the Velvet Underground.

I expect you to tell me your favourite Hendrix track Elvis.

@ Duke - Wind Cries Mary is a fantastic song, lovely simplistic intro but so melodic, just brilliant.
 
AdZzUtd said:
They all died within a short period of time didn't they? Jimi and Jim did anyway, it might have been another female singer of the time who died young.

Hmm, might listen to the Doors now. Either that, or the Velvet Underground.

I expect you to tell me your favourite Hendrix track Elvis.

@ Duke - Wind Cries Mary is a fantastic song, lovely simplistic intro but so melodic, just brilliant.
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They all died at 27. Janis Joplin is excellent.

Favourite song? Would have to be Vodoo Child.


Pure sex.
 
esmufc10 said:
They all died at 27. Janis Joplin is excellent.

Favourite song? Would have to be Vodoo Child.


Pure sex.
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Yeah I do like Janis Joplin, not only were they the same age they were all within about a year of each other dieing I think. It pretty much ended the 60's and ushered in the 70's musically.

There is something about Voodoo Child. Probably it's sheer immensity.
 
AdZzUtd said:
Often clouded with the 'greatest guitarist' of all time tag, which is obviously a debated issue but looking past his guitar virtuosity I think Jimi is very much an underrated song-writer, you only have to listen to Axis: Bold As Love to hear some really thoughtful and very abstractly beautiful songs, like Castles made of Sand, One Rainy Wish, Bold as Love, If 6 was 9 - etc, etc.

I can't think of one song of his I dislike and for me to think of my top 5 songs of his is incredibly difficult.

I'd split it into two categories:

Melodic Songs:
1.) Castles Made of Sand
2.) Bold as Love
3.) Wind Cries Mary
4.) Little Wing
5.) One Rainy Wish

Typical Hendrix Songs:
1.) Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
2.) All Along the Watchtower
3.) Purple Haze
4.) Machine Gun
5.) Hey Joe

I've left some very classic works out of both lists, but please feel free to add your top 5 Hendrix songs, or if you feel daunted by that task split into two categories like I did.
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I agree that Hendrix is underrated as a songwriter, however I thought I should point out that he didn't write two of the songs you're crediting him with.

My top five Hendrix tracks would be:
  1. Voodoo Child (slight return)
  2. Castles Made of Sand
  3. Crosstown Traffic
  4. Spanish Castle Magic
  5. Gypsy Eyes
 
MikeUpNorth said:
I agree that Hendrix is underrated as a songwriter, however I thought I should point out that he didn't write two of the songs you're crediting him with.

My top five Hendrix tracks would be:
  1. Voodoo Child (slight return)
  2. Castles Made of Sand
  3. Crosstown Traffic
  4. Spanish Castle Magic
  5. Gypsy Eyes
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The songs I credited him with writing which I mentioned were from the Axis album. Not Electric Ladyland or Are You Experienced?
 
Have to agree with you Narnar, Highway Chile is an awesome tune and prob my fave, in fact that whole album- war heroes- I think is his best.
 
today marks the 40th year without him

RIP
 


Massive Hendrix fan myself and in my own opinion he was the greatest ever to pick up the guitar. He paved the way for others to follow.

He would of gone on to even greater success had he lived.
 
1983 is a fantastic song, sure theres a longer version on the album too, probably worth checking out mate.

Rock In Peace Jimi!
 
Little Wing is my favourite Hendrix song, easily one of the most beautiful love songs ever created.


1) Little Wing
2) Fire
3) Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) (Isle Of Wight Version)
4) All Along The Watchtower
5) Wind Cries Mary




2:20 - 2:50 is amazing.


Acoustic blues
 
Have this up on my wall.

jgDOC.jpg


Love Jimi!
 
Been playing the guitar since I was 10 and it's impossible to get away from the opinion that Hendrix was the best ever (mostly by people who've never even picked up a guitar) - which I strongly disagree with.

But he was certainly influential and had some great songs - I have a Hendrix guitar pedal and thrashing out some Voodoo Chile just doesn't get old.
 
izzydiggler said:
Been playing the guitar since I was 10 and it's impossible to get away from the opinion that Hendrix was the best ever (mostly by people who've never even picked up a guitar) - which I strongly disagree with.

But he was certainly influential and had some great songs - I have a Hendrix guitar pedal and thrashing out some Voodoo Chile just doesn't get old.
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I don't see why having the ability to play guitar gives you any greater knowledge on who constitutes being the best ever. I play guitar and have done for several years and I think Hendrix is the best. Or maybe a better way to phrase it is that he's my favourite and therefore the best in my mind.
 
philipb231190 said:
I don't see why having the ability to play guitar gives you any greater knowledge on who constitutes being the best ever. I play guitar and have done for several years and I think Hendrix is the best. Or maybe a better way to phrase it is that he's my favourite and therefore the best in my mind.
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Well personally I think having a certain proficiency at something puts weight behind an opinion (I didn't claim it to be 'knowledge' of a fact) - if Heston Blumethal and I reviewed a restaurant, I'm sure most people would listen to his opinion over mine.

Regardless it's just an opinion - no right and wrongs, everybody is entitled to their own, blah blah blah, repeat ad nauseum.
 
I still think he's the best, however Robert Johnson provides a strong claim for that title.
 
izzydiggler said:
Well personally I think having a certain proficiency at something puts weight behind an opinion (I didn't claim it to be 'knowledge' of a fact) - if Heston Blumethal and I reviewed a restaurant, I'm sure most people would listen to his opinion over mine.

Regardless it's just an opinion - no right and wrongs, everybody is entitled to their own, blah blah blah, repeat ad nauseum.
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I see what you're saying but I don't think it applies all the time.

Anyway, who is your favourite of all time?
 
I play too and I would say that Jimi was the 'best' ever if you had to put some sort of reasonable measure on it.

If you consider technical ability (relative to his era), his body of work, commercial and creative (which in three active years before his death was incredible) and his influence on guitar players that came after him (no one else comes anywhere close). Then I think it would be hard to find a 'better' guitarist.

I think it is his influence on guitarists of his era and those that came after that really sets him apart from all the other players. Eric Clapton, who at the time was considered the best guitarist around, was in awe of Jimi when he landed in London. Then you have modern virtuosos like Satriani who as a teenager was promising American Football player and upon hearing of Jimi's death gave up his American football career to dedicate his life to mastering the guitar. You also have a virtuoso pop musician in Prince who was massively influenced Hendrix and even adopted some of his look. Add to that guys in modern day super-groups like John frusciante and Kirk Hammet who are also massively influenced by Jimi and you have a range of influence that I perceive to be unparalleled by any other player.

I prefer a lot of his extended blues jams to his studio stuff. I think his 'hits' like Foxy Lady and Purple Haze actually do him a disservice as they come no where close to reflecting the depth of his talent.



I have an incredible version of this tune that I could not find on You tube. It has about a 4 minute guitar solo blasting out some really abstract phrasing and dissonant sounds that I am astounded that he can make work.

Funnily enough though, Jimi is not even in my top five favourite players.
 
For me technique is always given far too much importance in any 'greatest ever', discussion, as if there's this need to separate ability on an instrument from songwriting talent. When music is about expression and feeling, to be a technical master, able to play things no-one else can alone seems meaningless to me. I think technical ability like theoretical knowledge is only useful in terms of being in a better position to receive inspiration and do more with it. I'm sure there have been many more technically proficient guitarists than Hendrix, but I think it would be a hard job to conclusively argue that another's playing has mattered that much more.

I agree he's underrated as a songwriter. The earlier albums all have great songs but Band of Gypsys is probably my favourite by some way. First hearing it as a teen made me want to both learn and give up playing the guitar in a moment (to annoyingly and inevitably slip back into discussing him as a guitarist).



He undoubtedly would have gone on to record even more incredible music. Would have loved him to have had the chance to record more like this:

 
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