Are You Experienced was the debut album for the Jimi Hendrix experience, a new British band consisting of lead guitar and vocals by Jimi Hendrix (an unknown at the time), bass by Noel Redding, and drums by Mitch Mitchell . Before the album was released as a whole, three double-sided singles (Hey Joe and Stone Free on the first in 1966, Purple Haze and 51st Anniversary in March of 1967, and The Wind Cries Mary and Highway Chile in May of 1967). The Album was then released in May of 1967 in the UK and reached number two (it was unable to surpass The Beatle’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Clun Band) remaining in this spot for eight straight months. The three singles were not included on the album.
While The Hendrix Experience was immediately a huge hit in the UK, it was not largely popular in the United states until late June of 1968 when Hendrix preformed at the Monterey Pop Festival in California. This performance was iconic because Hendrix burned his guitar, an action that was caught on tape and wildly broadcasted. The success of the performance prepared Hendrix for his U.S. album release. Because the United States had not yet heard the six hits released as singles in the UK, these were added to the American version of the album. In order to make room for these, Red House, Can You See Me, and Remember were removed. In addition, the album cover art was changed.
In 1987, as part of their 20th anniversary, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #5 on "The 100 Best Albums of the Last Twenty Years." In 1997, Al Hendrix, Jimi’s father won the rights to the Are You Experienced Album. Because of this, the album was rereleased including all of the songs from both the UK and US versions.
No comments:
Post a Comment