LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

The only place Jimi seemed to be able to relax was in the recording studio and his studio of choice certainly in New York was The Record Plant. It was at The Record Plant that Jimi jammed with many varied artists including the likes of Stephen Stills, John McLaughlin and many others. McLaughlins album was produced by Alan Douglas who would have a far greater role to play in Jimis recordings after his death in September 1970.

The sessions featured on this volume of the Jimi Hendrix In The Studio series are Drawn from recordings made at The record Plant in New York. It was here that Jimi would spend not merely hours but sometimes days just playing and finding out just what the recording studio offered and it could be said that Jimi regarded the studio as somewhat of a sound laboratory. It was here that a great many people would drop by to jam or maybe just hang out. The recordings contained on this disc cover the period between June 1968 when Jimi was recording material that would eventually be heard on the double album Electric Ladyland and April 1970 which was post Band Of Gypsys. Throughout the performances you can here a musician who is relaxed and enjoying the creation of music for the sake of it although the cost of studio time was certainly one of the considerations for Jimi when he decided he wanted a studio of his own. It would have been Mike Jeffrey who pointed out the fiscal need for his own studio and also a place where he could record and play day and night of he so desired.

Starting with the opening track Bleeding Heart. This Elmore James song would eventually see a release almost two years after Jimis death on the War Heroes album although certainly recorded at around the same time that material was being recorded for his next studio album a popular live song for the Experience who performed it live at The Albert Hall in 1969 amongst other notable concert appearances. This take was recorded on the 24th of March 1970 by Hendrix, supported by Cox, Mitchell and Juma Sultan on percussion, this version is a different mix from the master with the wah wah and vocals mixed low at the start and at the end there is a small drum break and some of Jimi messing around on guitar

The next three tracks on this disc are versions of Rainy Day Dream Away and Rainy Day Dream Away/Still Raining Still Dreaming. All three come from an earlier session recorded on the 10th of June 1968 and eventually appeared on the Electric Ladyland album. Here we have the original run through with a false start and then the practice session. On the original Electric Ladyland album both the tracks Rainy Day Dream Away and Still Raining Still Dreaming were separate tracks but here the two tunes run together to make an extended version. A dry alternate mix of Rainy Day Dream Away/Still Raining Still Dreaming recorded 10th June 68 featuring Jimi on guitar, Mike Finnegan on organ, Buddy Miles on drums, Freddie Smith on sax and Larry Faucette on percussion.
Stephen Stills and Jimi Hendrix seemed to cross paths on a regular basis and Stills has subsequently expressed his love of both the man and his music. There was also the story that Jimi wanted Stephen Stills to play bass in his band following his return from Germany in the autumn of 1970.

Unfortunately it wasnt to be however here is an example of what they could have done together judging by this jam session. Recorded around mid May 1969 we have takes 4 and 5 of Send My Love To Linda/ Live And Let Live
Here Jimi is joined by Stills and Dallas Taylor who had both played on the soon to be massively popular debut from Crosby Stills and Nash. Both acts would subsequently make history when they appeared at the legendary Woodstock festival some three months later

The final track featured on this volume finds Jimi going back to his blues roots and covering Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley. Both artists held a massive influence over rock music in the late sixties and early seventies and Jimi Hendrix was equipped better than most to put a new spin on an old standard. Mannish Boy/ I m A Man was recorded on the 22nd April 1970 with Billy Cox on bass and Devon Wilson and unknown guests on percussion and drums. This is a peculiar session as three sections of the tape have been found but the whole session is still incomplete, this has been deduced by some composites that have been discovered that include parts that are missing from the original tapes.
This latest volume of the In The Studio Series finds Jimi relaxed and in good form. Surprisingly as during this period he was in high demand and the pressure on him both in terms of what the public wanted and also his own personal creative aspirations must have been a difficult road to walk

Track Listing:
Bleeding Heart (Hendrix) 3:49
Rainy Day Dream Away (false start) (Hendrix) 0:54
Rainy Day Dream Away (practice session) (Hendrix) 2:19
Rainy Day Dream Away/Still Raining Still Dreaming (Hendrix) 10:23
Send My Love To Linda/Live And Let Live (Hendrix) 11:04
Mannish Boy/ I m A Man (Morgenfield/McDaniel) (39:55)