LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

The recordings featured on Volume 2 of the In The Studio series cover the time period April 1969 through to July 1970 less than two months before Jimis death in September 1970. During this period The Jimi Hendrix Experience had split at the end of one last tour following the final concert in Denver. Jimi retained Mitch Mitchell but called on former army buddy Billy Cox to play bass. These two musicians along, with guitarist Larry Lee and percussionists Jerry Velez and Juma Sultan played the legendary Woodstock festival in August 1969. Shortly after that Jimi began a new project called The Band Of Gypsys. This band featured Jimi alongside Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. The band made its live debut in December 1969 at the Fillmore East, which resulted in a live self-titled album. The band however would last barely a handful of dates before falling apart in front of a large audience mid gig at Madison Square Garden. As was Jimis practice however The Band Of Gypsys recorded much material including a track featured on this album Machine Gun. Machine Gun had been a highlight of the live Band Of Gypsys show and the studio version is no less of a highlight here with its extended solo and "Machine Gun" like drumming from Buddy Miles.

Much of the material featured on this album was recorded in New Yorks Record Plant or Hit Factory although with his eye on the studio clock and the old adage of "Time is money" Jimi began work on his own recording studio where he would not be bound by the constraints of time or money. Electric Lady Studios opened with much fanfare in August 1970. In fact the party continued until Jimi had to leave America to play what would be his final British concert date at the Isle Of Wight Festival.

One of the key tracks featured on Volume 2 of the In The Studio series is possibly one of the earliest recordings by The Band Of Gypsys. Machine Gun was recorded less than two weeks after Jimis appearance at the Woodstock Festival and this recording also features Juma Sultan who had played with Jimi at Woodstock.

The recordings contained on Volume 2 are listed here with the track details included to place the recordings into context:

Track Listing:
1. Valleys Of Neptune (5:37)
23rd September 1969 at the Record Plant which was recorded while The Band Of Gypsys were rehearsing and putting material together. This take is without any noticeable bass

2. Lover Man (4:12)
Recorded 6th September 1969. This is another recording to feature the Band of Gypsys. This version was recorded at the Hit Factory and was an instrumental take with Jimis intro

3. Machine Gun (12:51)
29th August 1969 Hit Factory. This is another recording to feature the Band Of Gypsys. This is the first take of one of the most famous Jimi Hendrix songs which was seen as a comment on the situation taking place in Vietnam

4. Trying To Be (Stepping Stone) / Earth Blues (7:16)
15th September 1969 at the Record Plant. Once again another recording with the Band of Gypsys This take also includes Juma Sultan on percussion. The end of this recording segues into Earth Blues




5. Stepping Stone (5:22)
The basic track was laid down 3rd -7th January 1970 at the Record Plant and after much overdubbing and mixing was completed 15th February although Jimi was not satisfied and further work was undertaken right up to August 20th. This version has wah wah guitar effect coming through one speaker as opposed to the panning effect

6. Untitled Guitar Improvisation (5:22)
Jimi recorded many pieces like this improvisation perhaps for work on at a later date perhaps merely for the joy of playing. The exact date of this improvisation is unknown although it is thought to have been recorded in 1970 at the Electric Lady Studios, which places it sometime in late summer

7. Keep On Grooving (Midnight Lightning) (11:57)
17th April 1969 at the Record Plant this is a rough play through with Paul Caruso adding harmonica and Devon Wilson Jimis sometime girlfriend on backing vocals. The relaxed nature of this recording would suggest that it was never considered as a final take

8. Come Down Hard On Me Baby (3:31)
Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in July 1970 with Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox and subsequently re mixed by Alan Douglas after Jimis death

9. Drifters Escape (3:07)
Recorded at Electric Lady Studios on 17th June 1970 with overdubbing done 22nd August with Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox. This version has only one lead guitar part rather than the layered effect Jimi sometimes favoured in the recording studio

10. Belly Button Window (5:29)
Recorded on 23rd July 1970 at Electric Ladyland Studio with Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell this is an unused alternate instrumental version of the song that would eventually form part of The Cry Of Love album the first of Jimis posthumous releases

11. Bolero (5:48)
Recorded 1st July 1970 with Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell and Juma sultan at Electric Lady Studios. This track was also known as Here Comes The Sun