Customer Reviews

DORIELLA DU FONTAINE

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For the record, Jimi, Buddy Miles (on drums as usual), and Lighting Rod of the proto-rap supergroup the Last Poets (see "Hustler's Convention") recorded this together in 1969. This is actually one of the "street toasts" (underground ghetto poetry about street life) once commonly heard in Black America prior to the advent of recorded rap music, so there is a bit of history here. Jimi does his "wolf whistle" on the guitar to good effect here, and overall succeeds in instrumentally complimenting the mood of the tale.

The title cut itself is a story of a prostitute who is the queen of her trade, preceding Too-Short's raps of this kind by 20 years.

"O.D." consists of Rod rapping the tragic story of a friend who overdoses from heroin over a really soulful and moving organ solo by Buddy Miles. Seldom does modern rap music deal with such themes today.

Overall, this is a good early example of the street poetry that evolved into rap, along with some good instrumental backing from Jimi and Buddy. Younguns may want to listen to see how it's done right.

This is an excellent item IF you like Jimi Hendrix and can appreciate him beyond a stereotypical black-light poster. If you only want all Voodoo Child all the time, this probably isn't for you; but if you want to see another side of his greatness and can appreciate this cd as an early attempt at rap music, then this is a good pick up.
His playing isn't really inspired, but it does work in the spoken word context of the story, and at times does complement it a bit. NO distortion drenched solos, though. The excellent thing about this release is that it's so different from the usual Hendrix......but this could also be a turn-off for some. There's none of the "sound painting" of Electric Ladyland or the obsessive production of Axis Bold As Love. This single sounds to have more in common with Gil Scot Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".
If you've heard enough Jimi Hendrix to appreciate his musical forays into the unknown, this cd delivers another (limited) hint of his excellence.
If you are a big fan of his 3 main records but haven't gotten to his extensive studio efforts (successes and failures) I'd save this one for a later purchase.

If I remember correctly, this was put together after Jimi's death. I'd take the time to look it up but I just listened to it and I'm now so bored and depressed that I simply can't bother. So the formula is like this: dredge up some old studio stuff of Jimi jamming a mellow groove, then let some dude rap over the top of it, saying his own name ad nauseum in some sort of drooling self-tribute. What a waste. Probably enough to make Jimi hurl.