Jimi Hendrix - What album to buy first?

Clipdat
Clipdat Posts: 12,949
edited June 2018 in Music & Movies
I've been on a bit of a journey lately exploring some classic albums that I've never heard or been exposed to, and I've gotten some great recommendations from fellow members.

Having never really listened to any Jimi Hendrix, and certainly haven't listned to any of his albums from start to finish, I'm unsure of where I should begin.

Can anyone recommend which album I should pick up first, and on what format? CD, Vinyl, SACD? I was thinking maybe Electric Ladyland?

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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    I have always been a great fan of Are You Experienced - it's laden with hits you will know, and ones you will come to know and appreciate. One of the all-time greatest albums IMO.
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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,900
    Are You Experienced, this will wet your appetite for all things Hendrix. The format is not important, although I prefer black licorice.
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  • 55LS70
    55LS70 Posts: 184
    My suggestion is Hendrix in the West. If for nothing else. its version of "Red House." Current vinyl and CD versions (I have both) are fairly good and reasonably priced.
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,108
    I would just go in chronological order: "Are You Experienced", then "Axis: Bold As Love", then "Electric Ladyland", then "Cry of Love". Or maybe just try "Smash Hits" as a good "Best Of" to start. I would become familiar with the studio stuff before venturing into the live material.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    Thanks talking Pug! I wanted to stick with a formal album as opposed to a best of type compilation, just to get the full experience/journey of listening to it start to finish.
    Viking64 wrote: »
    I would just go in chronological order: "Are You Experienced", then "Axis: Bold As Love", then "Electric Ladyland", then "Cry of Love". Or maybe just try "Smash Hits" as a good "Best Of" to start. I would become familiar with the studio stuff before venturing into the live material.

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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,900
    edited June 2018
    I agree with Viking on the first 3 and in that order. Don't forget the BBC sessions bringing up the rear.
    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,108
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Thanks talking Pug! I wanted to stick with a formal album as opposed to a best of type compilation, just to get the full experience/journey of listening to it start to finish.
    I believe none of his studio albums have been released on SACD yet. The first 2 will be in August. There is a thread about that on this forum. I have the first 4 albums on CD and they all sound great to me.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    edited June 2018
    It looks like there's two versions of "Are You Experienced"? A mono and a stereo?

    Edit: Hm, might wait for the SACDs.
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,108
    Clipdat wrote: »
    It looks like there's two versions of "Are You Experienced"? A mono and a stereo?

    Edit: Hm, might wait for the SACDs.

    Another thing about that album is there is a U.S. version and a U.K. version, with considerable differences in track listings. The thing to do is buy one of the newer versions that contain ALL 17 tracks from BOTH versions.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,015
    Essential Jimi Hendrix is a good starter set. You can pick it up on amazon for around a fiver used. Two discs all kinds of good stuff, but no Red House for some weird reason. I was about 12 when Are You Experienced came out and when I first heard it I'd never heard anything like it. I still think The Wind Cries Mary is one of the best songs ever written. Even after 50 years. Eventually, you need to get the studio albums, and in order is a good suggestion, but Essential is a good collection. I think the English version of Are You Experienced had Red House on it. Hendrix:Blues is a good record, flies under the radar for the most part. There was a deal that I posted several weeks ago where ElectricLadyland was on sale for $11 on 180 gram vinyl. I got one delivered about a week ago, great deal, super album, if that's still available its a NO BRAINER. Look back and find that thread and if its still available do it now.

    https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/813BoUcVjTL._SX522_.jpg
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,015
    In addition, after a while you may want to pick up the purple velvet box set shown here, which I've always liked a lot:
    https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71g3L8BwpZL._SY550_.jpg
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,015
    This is the Smash Hits referenced above. Real good track list, not as inclusive as Essential Jimi Hendrix but in some ways the track list runs tighter from start to finish... Each has its positives ....
    https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/813nY0h0nsL._SX522_.jpg
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    edited June 2018
    Reading through this thread is interesting for me.
    I am not a huge fan, but I like the soft Hendrix best, FWIW.

    The Wind Cries Mary is just a heck of a song, as is Little Wing.

    As mentioned at the covers thread, I quite like his version of Hey Joe, too.

    Also top-notch, I think, is Castles Made of Sand, although, old audiophile schmuck that I am, I really do quite like Tuck & Patti's cover :p
    YMMV, of course -- maybe too twee for Hendrix fans.

    https://youtu.be/VSSpJ9_y6iA

    A lot of his other music is just too self-consciously, bombastically Important to really grab me -- I am pretty much a Greatest Hits kind of guy vis-a-vis Hendrix.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    googling to find the video above also turned up this :p

    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08098131.2011.630150
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  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,534
    Little Wing is essential Hendrix, but IMHO SRV's cover is better...
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    ok
    I admit, I skimmed all of the above, EVERYONE

    always OMITS the best live JH album "LIVE AT THE FILMOR EAST"

    You may have missed it cuz it's known as Band Of Gypsys

    "Machine Gun" is my FAV . . . .
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    I guarantee you'll dig it
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited June 2018
    I would buy "Electric Ladyland" - UK vinyl version, the original release with that nasty cover from 1969. These can be a little pricey.

    Sadly, I don't have one.
    Carl

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    Thanks for all the replies so far, appreciate it!
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    Clipdat, grab everything you can!! The man was unreal, no one ever played the guitar like he did, and Never will again, unless the Universe blesses us with another prodigy!!

    I'm a HUGE Concrete Blonde fan, and love her version of 'Little Wing' https://www.bing.com/search?q=concrete+blonde+little+wing+video&form=EDGEAR&qs=PF&cvid=86be4c9567a248f8b075ea605b13c23c&cc=US&setlang=en-US&PC=HCTS

    not my fav, you have to see them live doing this song it's due

    "Bloodletting" is a very good, must have for a speaker workout, never fails to impress music fans at casa de la stu...
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    I decided to order Electric Ladyland for now and wait until the SACD release of "Are You Experienced" and "Axis: Bold As Love".
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    I hope you bought Electric Ladyland with the original cover.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    Looks like this:

    hlmfcn2fixes.jpg
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,108
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Looks like this:

    That's the original U.S. cover.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    This is what I bought in Georgetown around 68-69. Forgot exactly when.

    https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1129&bih=976&ei=GkYpW-WgGYXa8AOllbJQ&q=electric+ladyland+original+cover&oq=electric+ladyland+original+cover&gs_l=img.3..0l2.1845.12727.0.13002.32.22.0.10.10.0.213.2374.12j8j1.21.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..1.31.2570...0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1.0.rO7FPtrPlHM

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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,900
    edited June 2018
    ^^That is the UK version, nice.
    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    The first three and BOG,,, his Woodstock performance was not shabby either,, try to get your mind right,, thank goodness for the 60’s
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    BlueFox wrote: »
    This is what I bought in Georgetown around 68-69. Forgot exactly when.

    https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1129&bih=976&ei=GkYpW-WgGYXa8AOllbJQ&q=electric+ladyland+original+cover&oq=electric+ladyland+original+cover&gs_l=img.3..0l2.1845.12727.0.13002.32.22.0.10.10.0.213.2374.12j8j1.21.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..1.31.2570...0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1.0.rO7FPtrPlHM

    I have that one. B)
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    ^^ hey - you don't do vinyl! ^^
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    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    3o6ozC2VM9R0XSMNKo.gif
    MrBuhl wrote: »
    ^^ hey - you don't do vinyl! ^^

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    MrBuhl wrote: »
    ^^ hey - you don't do vinyl! ^^

    I was wonderin' about that myself.
    Maybe he has a copy of Roxy Music's Country Life on licorice pizza, too.
    You know, just 'cuz.

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