In 1966, the twenty-three-year-old American guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix made a stormy entrance into Swinging London. He had it all: a fabulous playing technique, a cool, bluesy voice and the flamboyance of a rock star. With a British rhythm section, consisting of bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, his worldwide triumph then began. Preceded by the three mighty singles Hey Joe,
… Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary, The Jimi Hendrix Experience's debut album Are You Experienced was released in England in May 1967. With the a and b sides of the singles added later on CD, there is not a weak song to be found on this classic. After the steaming Foxy Lady followed by the furiously spinning hard rock of Manic Depression and the twisting slow blues of Red House, the record is only ten minutes away. The atmosphere is psychedelic and sometimes downright stoned, as in Third Stone From The Sun, adorned with twisted and delayed voices. Producer Chas Chandler, however, always kept an eye on the fact that the material remained pointy, so that the strong songs continue to dominate. The power of Are You Experienced thus remains tangible, long after the Summer of Love, when the record was released only by The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band held the top spot in the UK charts. (MR) The power of Are You Experienced thus remains tangible, long after the Summer of Love, when the record was released only by The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band held the top spot in the UK charts. (MR) The power of Are You Experienced thus remains tangible, long after the Summer of Love, when the record was released only by The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band held the top spot in the UK charts. (MR)more
