SONY Italy official repress!! Band of Gypsys was a short-lived but influential band formed by Jimi Hendrix after the breakup of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The lineup included Hendrix on guitar and vocals, Buddy Miles on drums and vocals, and Billy Cox on bass. Unlike the psychedelic rock of the Experience, Band of Gypsys leaned more into funk, soul, and blues, marking a shift in Hendrix’s musical direction.
Released in March 1970, Band of Gypsys is a live album recorded during a series of performances on New Year’s Eve 1969–70 at the Fillmore East in New York City. It features powerful, groove-heavy tracks like "Machine Gun," a searing anti-war epic, and funk-driven songs such as "Who Knows" and "Power of Soul." The album showcases a rawer, more politically charged side of Hendrix and highlights his evolving sound post-Experience.
Band of Gypsys is considered a landmark recording in the development of funk rock and live performance improvisation, and it was the only official Hendrix album released during his lifetime that did not feature The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
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