Electric Ladyland

I recently purchased Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland and it only had a sample of Voodoo Child recorded.

This is without equal, perhaps a top five of the 60s movement into electronic music.

Hendrix bends space and time on this epic recording.

My favorite Hendrix album!

This album is all over the place stylistically, and sonically. It's a grabbag of moods and attitudes that somehow works despite its eclecticism. The recordings span several years and one can tell. Some songs like Burning Of The Midnight Lamp have a sound more similar to Hendrix' first album Are You Experienced? in that it's a bit primitive sounding, especially the drums. It was among the songs Hendrix had recorded a year previously. Others such as the psychedelic masterpiece suite 1983, A Merman I Should Turn To Be reflect the state of the art in 1968, which was pretty good btw. The songs are all over the place too, from hard rock, proto funk, blues, psychedelic acid rock to pure 60s pop exemplified by Noel Redding's contribution Little Miss Strange. Many guest musicians apart from the original Experience take part as well from Steve Winwood and Jack Cassidy to Dave Mason, Chris Wood and Buddy Miles among others. Jimi himself plays harpsichord, piano, percussion and bass in addition to guitar. He's a better bass player by far than Noel Redding btw. In summary Electric Ladyland is Hendrix' most eclectic album, and his least focused. But it shows the complete range of his genius and instrumental prowess, and it's one of the most essential and best rock albums ever made. I feel jealous of the people who are only recently purchasing this music, what a treat is in store for you!

Listening to this album straight through...Hendrix guitar playing is so other worldly and masterful. The riffs are just.....mind blowing and showcase why this man was the greatest artist to pick up a guitar. From the 15 minute opus of Voodoo Chili to the psychedelia of 1983....to several songs having a funk groove such as House Burning Down.....to the redefining version of Dylan's All Along The Watchtower to the pedal to the metal finale....Voodoo Child.....just a thoroughly phenomenal work of art! One of the greatest albums ever released.

I was 18 when this came out. I cannot even express how deeply it struck me...and I'm usually pretty good with words. I still have my original LP, my replacement LP, and the album on compact disc. There was a time in my youth when I could listen to Voodoo Chile on repeat ALL day long. And (slight return) never failed to jack me up like a clown! Little Wing, Red House, Watchtower, 1983, House Burning, it just goes on and on....my God how I wish Jimi would have been with us longer. There's no telling WHERE he would have gone musically!

*****

Bought this album because of "A Merman I Should Turn To Be". This song captures all the superlatives you see in the reviews about this timeless album. It is my personal favorite on this album. This album is truly a classic that is appreciated more than 40 years after its release and will be for many more generations who love musical genius. Hendrix sits in the same pantheon as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven etc ......those rare human beings that inhabit our planet for but a short time but whose influence transcends time itself.

My favorite album of all the time. Born 1980 Maui My mom loves R&B Dad loves Van Morrison and Eagles I respect clean studio recordings and queue them up daily. Then the raw ness or rawness of Jimi. ElectricLadyland is an album I will choose in the end. Music is relative.