Friday 16 September 2016

What we're listening to. Hendrix 'Electric Ladyland'


Hendrix influenced too many people to say here but given that he died at only 27, from barbiturates, it's a fairly stellar career and a rocky one. In fact the studio recording of this record was always seen as a 'party' rather than a 'recording' which ensured tensions in the making with the production team.

The Band were a three piece including Cork's own Noel Redding. Al Kooper is here along with Stevie Winwood and Buddy Miles.

Electric Ladyland, his third album (and last) was the breakthrough and his only number one Album (1968). 'Are you Experienced' is also well worth the listen. 

From Seattle, you mightn't know that he was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, ridiculous as that sounds.

Starting as backing for The Isley Brothers and the great Little Richard, he famously went on to headline Woodstock as the world's highest paid performer at the time in 1969.

This is a double Album featuring a version of Dylan's 'Along the Watchtower', 'Crosstown Traffic' is here, 'Voodoo Chile' (listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan's superb version too) and it's a rock at its finest. You won't find 'Hey Joe' here and others you'll know, but it is the Hendrix Album to have.

Obvious to play something from it, but no.....so to try to be different here's the excellent Willy De Ville's 'Hey Joe' as a tribute, because you may not have heard it.... Another classic. Another influenced. 


Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog (you can search them in the Search top left on the Blog)......ABC 'Lexicon of Love': Rickie Lee Jones 'Rickie Lee Jones': Billy Joel "Glass Houses": Rodriguez "Cold Fact": Prefab Sprout 'Steve McQueen'; Chet Baker 'Live 64-79'; The Stone Roses 'Stone Roses'; Joe Jackson 'I'm the Man'; Oasis 'Morning Glory'; Bob Dylan 'At The Budokan'; Van "It's too late to stop now Volume 2/3/4"; Air 'Moon Safari'; Talking Heads 'Stop Making Sense'; Lynyrd Skynyrd 'One for the road'; Marvin Gaye 'Whats Goin on'; Mercury Rev 'Deserters Songs'; Dave Matthews 'Crash'; Beyonce 'Lemonade'; Prince 'Sign O the times'; Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'; Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black';Police 'Outlandos D'Amour'; Michael Jackson 'Off the Wall'; Carole King 'Tapestry'; Beatles 'Red Album'; Sex Pistols 'Never mind the Bollocks'; Sam Cooke 'Live at Harlem Square'; The Doors 'LA Woman'; Thin Lizzy 'Live & Dangerous'; Kendrick Lamarr 'Butterfly'; Aretha Franklin 'Amazing Grace'; Clapton '461'; Massive Attack 'Blue Lines'; The Clash 'London Calling'; Chris Isaak 'At The Filmore'; Bob Dylan 'Street Legal'; Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'; Jackson Browne 'Love is Strange'; Lou Reed 'Transformer'; Steely Dan 'AJA'; Stones 'Black+Blue'; Stephen Bishop 'Careless'; Nils Lofgren 'Night after Night'; Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells'; Neil Young 'Harvest'; Led Zep '4'; David Bowie 'David Live'; Van Morrison 'It's too late to stop now'; Wings 'Band on the Run'; Rod Stewart 'Atlantic Crossing'; Ryan Adams 'Heartbreaker'; Santana 'Essential'; Bob Dylan 'Desire'; Roxy Music 'For your pleasure'; Bob Marley 'Legend'; Stephen Fretwell 'Magpie'; James Taylor 'Sweet Baby James'; Deep Purple 'Machine Head'; Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'; Leon Bridges 'Coming Home'; Eagles 'Hotel California'; Jungle; Aretha 'Soul Queen'; Neil Young 'After the Goldrush' ; Zappa 'Overnite Sensation'; Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'; Keith Jarrett 'Koln Concert'; Doobies 'Southbound'; Stevie Earle 'I feel Alright'; Tom Waits 'Closing Time'; Pink Floyd 'Dark Side'; Van Morrison 'Moondance'; Eric Church 'Caught in the Act'; Randy Newman 'Little Criminals'; Elton John 'Madman across the water'; Patti Smith 'Horses'; Doobies 'Captain and Me'; Steely Dan 'Can't Buy a Thrill'.