Customer Reviews

Electric Ladyland

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After decades of listening to literally thousands of records and CDs, "Electric Ladyland" still holds a strong position in my list of top 5 recordings of all time. After two landmark albums of the psychodelic era, Hendrix reaches new heights of creativity in the incredible "double LP" release. The long version of Voodoo Chile, which features Steve Winwood and Jack Cassidy (bassist from the Jefferson Airplane), is one of the best hard blues jams of all time. Following a set of shorter titles, including the superb "Gypsy Eyes" and "Burning the Midnight Lamp", you are presented with another great blues jam --- "Rainy Day, Dream Away". Now that Jimi has your blood really flowing, he soothes you back to earth with the dreamy combination of "1983" and "Moon, Turn the Tides". You then soar back up with four more acid rock masterpieces, including the famous Hendrix cover of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower". If you do not own any Hendrix albums, this is absolutely the one to get! You will not be disappointed.

When Jimi Hendrix's album Electric Ladyland was released in 1968, it blew all of the competition out of the water (including Jimi's previous two albums). First off, the scope of this album is stunning; so far reaching, in fact, that it was released as a double LP set, something that was fairly new at the time. However, even in 2003, listening to this album is still amazing as the listener often wonders "How did he get that sound?" or "How does he come up with this stuff?" I, for one, am absolutely in love with this album, and I think that this is his best effort (beating out "Are You Experiecnced" by just a fraction).

I have been listening to this album for about a year now, and I still haven't found all the little subtleties and nuances, so I won't dive into those too deeply, but they're there, believe me. The opening cut, "And the Gods Made Love" shows that Jimi was a master studio technician as well, mixing odd sounds and backwards tapes to give us something that sounds like wind blowing at first listen, but subsequent listens reveal odd sounds that weren't quite noticeable before, and there is even a tape of Jimi's voice that is slowed down and played backwards (rumor has it that he is saying "Ok, one more time" or something to that effect). Next we move into the second intro track, "(Have You Ever Been) to Electric Ladyland", in which Jimi soothes us with his voice, preparing us for the mind-blowing journey that lays ahead, which all comes crashing down on us with the blues-pop jam "Crosstown Traffic."

From here on, this album takes many twists and turns. The 17-minute blues jam "Voodoo Chile" sits next to a nice Noel Redding piece, the psychedelic pop "Little Miss Strange," on which Noel even gets the lead vocal. "Gypsy Eyes" and "House Burning Down" show a more fiery Jimi, while the cool-jazz/blues hybrid "Rainy Day, Dream Away" shows Jimi once again stretching his famous blues chops.

Amidst all of these diverse types of songs, there are a few which really stand out as not only masterpieces in Jimi Hendrix's repetoire, but also posess a beautiful, ethereal quality which cannot be expressed in mere words. The most obvious example of this is "1983...A Merman I should Turn Out to Be" which opens with a guitar intro that is blissfully beautiful in quality. If Jimi had always been a bit "spacey" musically, he really outdid himself here. After its initial reading of the introductory verses, the song gives way to an open, expansive, 13-minute psychedelic jam which features little of Jimi's guitar histrionics, but makes up for that in terms of feel and overall quality. This is Hendrix at his best and a definite highlight of this album. Another highlight would have to be, of course, Jimi's famous reading of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," which was the biggest hit from this album, and it's easy to see why since this is one of Jimi's best moments. When that guitar intro starts up, I always see a montage of Vietnam War footage in my head, as well as images of the counterculture that was going on on the homefront. Never before has a song so captured the element of its time and yet remained a timeless listen at the same time. Absolutely breathtaking. The final track, "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is one of Jimi's best rockers and one of the best songs in his entire canon. Every time I hear this, I see images of Jimi performing this at his legendary Woodstock concert (if you haven't seen it, then you're missing out). "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is another one of Hendrix's best songs; I can't tell if that's Jimi's guitar or a harpsichord from hell being used in that memorable intro. In fact, it's vaguely reminiscent of the intro to "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds," which was issued the previous year.

If you are a fan of classic rock, hard rock, art-rock, or great music in general and you don't already own this, then I pose the question "Why not?" This record has everything, great songs, great guitar work, great production effects and above all, a fantastic musical vision. So don't hesitate to pick this masterpiece of an album, an album which is a true testament to Jimi Hendrix as a musician, and as a creative force in the studio as well. This is one of my all time favorites now, and I'm willing to bet that it will be one of yours too if you give it some time and a few good listens.

As influential as they are, it's hard to believe that The Jimi Hendrix Experience only released three albums. While each were brilliant in their own right, Electric Ladyland is their masterpiece. Originally released as a double album, it brimmed with inventive guitar work, suitably trippy lyrics and Mr. Hendrix's best vocal work. From the simplicity of "Have You Ever Been To (Electric Ladyland), to the fire of "Crosstown Traffic", to the psychedelia of "1983" to bizarre experimentation of "And The Gods Made Love", the album offers the listener as buffet of sounds. The two versions of "Voodoo Chile" are outstanding, the first version is a 15 minute jam with Steve Winwood and Jack Cassidy that burns up and the second has that famous wah-wah guitar riff. His take on Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" gave him his only top forty hit. "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)" and "Burning The Midnight Lamp" are two album cuts that don't alot of play, but rank up there with anything else on the album. Electric Ladyland is a musical landmark and it secured Jimi Hendrix's place as one of the giants in musical history.

(Although some might say First Rays of the New Rising Sun is his final album, which is true to some extent, it was never fully completed).

Tired of listening to the mindless garbage that invades 80% of the radio airwaves these days, about a year ago I took a pretty big step in starting a little collection of "classic" albums by different artists from various decades. For some unexplained reason, "Electric Ladyland" happened to be my first selection. Some of you may laugh at this, but it was probably fate that brought me to this album, because Jimi Hendrix still remains my favorite artist and this album still remains my favorite CD to listen to (not just of his, but of any artist). Since then, I've gotten 10 other Hendrix CD's, all of which are immensely great, but I still find myself returning to this one the most. Biased since it was my first Hendrix album? Perhaps. But according to most, this was his crowning achievement in the studio. A solid masterpiece.

... And the Gods Made Love is a very cool, bassy, weird intro that sets you up for what follows.

Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) is basically the first real song on the album. An R&B flavored electric lick of bluesy perfection.

Crosstown Traffic is one of the few radio friendly songs on Electric Ladyland, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's very catchy and the stereo effects during the chorus will spin your head in a whirl.

Voodoo Chile is one of my favorite Hendrix jams. A 14 minute blues session that oozes brilliance. When Hendrix's guitar coincides with that organ, watch out.

Little Miss Strange seems to be the only song that people are down on about this album since Hendrix's vocals are nowhere to be found, but it's a welcome break after the sweat-inducing finale of Voodoo Chile.

Long Hot Summer Night. I love this song. Very melodic and catchy.

Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) is one of those songs that makes your feet stomp the ground into oblivion. One of Hendrix's few "feel good" songs.

Gypsy Eyes is Hendrix's dedication to women. A fun, head-nodding song with terrific guitar riffs (as always).

Burning of the Midnight Lamp. WOW. Ever wondered what an electric guitar would sound like under water? Well, here's your chance to find out. This is another one of my favorite Hendrix songs. Amazing. The finale of this song will make you sweat.

Rainy Day, Dream Away starts out jazzy, then builds itself up into one of Hendrix's signature riffs. Outstanding.

1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) is the second epic song on the album (after Voodoo Chile). Weird, mysterious, brooding, atmospheric and wonderful. If you feel nothing during this song, check your pulse. You might be dead.

Moon, Turn the Tides... gently gently away is a one minute windy track with no music whatsoever to, I guess, reflect on 1983 and prepare yourself for the next song.

Still Raining, Still Dreaming. BAM! After the relaxing sound effects of Moon, Turn the Tides, this song starts out full throttle with the guitar riff from Rainy Day, Dream Away. One of the few sequels that lives up to it's predecessor (heheh).

House Burning Down is slightly blues, slightly rock. Whatever the case, it's a great listen. Hendrix's guitar effects at the end of the song are simply amazing.

All Along the Watchtower is the cover of Bob Dylan's song of the same name that, unless you've been living under a rock for the past 30 years, everyone has heard by now. The first of the two final masterpieces that, unfortunately, brings Electric Ladyland to it's close.

Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Do I really have to say anything about this? Aside from Machine Gun, it's my absolute favorite Hendrix track. A brilliant, searing, remarkable, influential end to an album consisting of sheer brilliance and inspiration.

If Jimi Hendrix were still alive, or if he had been born late enough to break out into today's music scene, he wouldn't be very successful. You see, he actually made terrific music. And because he made terrific music, you think the kids of today would want to hear his stuff as opposed to Britney or Creed? Ah, well. So it goes. At least we have his extensive posthumous catalogue to remind ourselves what true musical genius is.

Electric Ladyland is one of my top 5 rock and roll albums. It is simply the greatest work that Hendrix ever produced. It's sort of his "Sgt. Pepper", immensely experimental and creative. Electric Ladyland not only contains some of Jimi's best guitar work (Voodoo Child Slight Return, All Along The Watchtower, Come On Part 1, Voodoo Chile) but also contains some of his best songwriting. His lyrics on Are You Experienced were great, even better on Axis, but truly brilliant on Electric Ladyland. Check out Gypsy Eyes, Long Hot Summer Night, Burning of the Midnight Lamp, and 1983 to see what a great songwriter Jimi was. On top of all that, you get his electric blues opus, Voodoo Chile (track #4). This 15-minute jam features Steve Winwood on organ and Jack Casady on bass. On this song, Jimi produces some of the most mind-blowing guitar soloing you'll ever hear. This one track alone is worth buying the album for. Sadly, Electric Ladyland turned out to be Jimi's last completed studio album, but really it's hard to imagine him doing anything greater than this album.

The Beatles were great Hendrix is greater. There is no album like this in the history of music. The GENIUS known as Jimi Hendrix made a masterpiece that no guitarist even today can come close to. The sheer imagination and execution of the music on this album is a joy to behold. I didn't rate Hendrix as the greatest guitarist ever UNTIL I heard this album.

My favorite tracks are
(1) 1983 (A Merman I should turn to be) an Absolutely beautiful breathtaking track, the sound is ahead of its time. And at 13 minutes long you can drift away in this wonderful soundscape.

(2) All Along The Watchtower, this song is incredible and is probably the best known from the album. It has the greatest intro in music history in my opinion. And is not only the greatest Dylan cover ever, I think its the greatest cover PERIOD. Jimi's guitar work is truly awesome on this classic.

(3) Gypsy Eyes, this is cosmic funk. With blistering spacey guitar licks from hendrix and wonderful drum work from Mitchel and a funky bassline.

(4) Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) If any track shows us why Hendrix is considered the genius he is of the electric guitar. Then it is this one. From the awesome wah-wah guitar intro, through to that first incredible guitar solo (which takes the listener to outer space and back) to the menacing chops. Hendrix takes us on a cosmic tour-de-force of the blues. This one song alone convinced me that Hendrix is the greatest guitarist that ever lived. Simply incredible.

(5) Burning Of The Midnight Lamp, gorgeous harpsichord and guitar intro that repeats throughout the track. And amazing guitar tone and solo, with great lyrics by Hendrix and haunting female backing vocals.(this is reportedly Hendrix's favorite self-penned song)

(6) Voodoo Chile, this is the ULTIMATE blues jam. At 15 minutes plus, The menacing groove and awesome inter-play between Jimi and the young Stevie Winwood on organ is amazing. And you can hear a live audience showing their appreciation. Jimi loved to jam, and this track shows it.

(7) House Burning Down, a fantastic violently emotional blues guitar intro, leads into a marching track about the civil rights unrest in America at the time. Serious lyrics but delivered in a light hearted and almost humorous manner by Hendrix. Great guitar effects at the end.

(8) Rainy Day, Dream Away, a nice lilting funky blues jam. With some nice solid drumming from Buddy Miles and sax playing. And some nice blues guitar work by Hendrix.

(9) Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) the most upbeat track on the album. A nice feel to the track, and a great guitar solo from Jimi. Who once again reminds us why he's the best.

(10) Crosstown Traffic, one of Jimi's greatest ever vocal performances, great lyrics and that unique Kazoo solo in the middle. With solid funky drumming to propel the track along.

It is hard to beleive the sounds and colors Hendrix can pull from an electric guitar. He isn't respected as the ultimate genius of the electric guitar for nothing. And this is his greatest achievement. Every music lover should have a copy of this masterpiece in their collection. This is music in its highest artform.

1. Crosstown Traffic- This is a humorous little ditty that compares a dead end love affair to a traffic jam. It doesn't have any of the Hendrix virtuoso playing, but it is still fun to listen to.

2. Voodoo Chile- Here we have an extended epic blues song with awesome guitar, organ, and drum solos. Absolute proof that Hendrix was child from the Delta, a Martian delta.

3. Come on (Let the Good Times Roll)- A lot of guitar players got their inspiration from the solos of this unpretentious rock song.

4. Burning of the Midnight Lamp- Quite a few rumors circulated that Hendrix used underwater guitar effects here.

5. Rainy Day, Dream Away- The duel between Hendrix and Freddie Smith, horn player, is more exciting than anything you'll see at a sporting event.

6. 1983- This song may have opened the doors of the progressive rock movement with its length, experimentation and bizarre, apocalyptic lyrics.

7. House Burning Down- Hendrix made a point about race riots with a science fiction analogy. It has some truly incredible sound effects at the end.

8. All along the Watchtower- It speaks volumes when a musician like Bob Dylan, who wrote the original version of this song, changes his own version to sound more like the remake.

9. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)- Forget about Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. This is the real birth of heavy metal.

10. Check it out for every other song I didn't mention.

I love the long albums. Electric Ladyland is one of classic rock's great double albums. (Its all contained on one disc now but it used to take vinyls to hold all the music contained herein.) Unfortunately this is the last studio album released in Jimi's all too short life time. However the fortunate thing is that it ranks as probably his greatest accomplisment.
The album begins with the thunder and strange sound effects of "And the Gods Made Love" before kicking into one of Jimi's classic ballads, "Electric Ladyland."
The rockin' "Crosstown Traffic" then gives way to the album's first epic, the slow blues burner "Voodoo Chile." (not to be confused with Voodoo Child.) The song is a nearly seventeen minute performance featuring blazing solos from Jimi and Traffic keyboard virtuoso Steve Winwood.
Track 5 written by Noel Redding is the album's only low point. Its a just a dated piece of cheesy pyschedelia. Fortunately Jimi's music makes up the remainder of the album. A couple of rockers followed by pyschedelic masterpieces "Gypsy Eyes" and "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" lead us to what truly makes this one of rock's greatest musical statements.
Beginning with the jazzy "Rainy Day, Dream Away," we are treated to some of the best pyschedelia ever put on record, the sci-fi epic "1983." This song is a orgy of guitars, flutes, and great studio sound effects.
The final three tracks are some of the finest Jimi ever commited to tape. "House Burning Down" reflects the political unrest of the time. "All Along the Watchtower," is one of those rare cases where a cover tune up stages the original. Considering that Bob Dylan is the one who is covered, this was no small feat. Closing the album is one of the all time greatest performances on the electric guitar. (the closest contender being another Jimi tune, "Machine Gun.") The song is of course "Voodoo Child." The song opens with a catchy wah-wah riff before becoming an electric storm of feedback and virtuosity. It is truly a definitive moment in the history of the guitar. "I'm standing next to a mountain, I chop it down with the edge of my hand..." nuff said

Hendrix had few (if any) equals. This was his third official album, and it is quite simply one of the greatest works of art of the last 40 years. If you have little exposure to Hendrix and want to start with material that will dazzle you, move you, thrill you, etc. this is the place to start.

The most noteworthy tracks are in my opinion - Voodoo Chile, Rainy Day Dream Away, 1983 (A merman I should turn to be), Moon turn the tides ...gently gently away, All Along the Watchtower, Burning of the Midnight Lamp, Voodoo Child (slight return), and the title cut Electric Ladyland.

There was a period in my life (1991) where I basically listened to nothing but this album for about 6 months. I still go back to it often and experience the same sense of awe that I had when I first heard it. Despite the fact that I can anticipate every subtlety, I still gape at the beauty every time. May it be so for you as well...Jimi we miss you.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, formed in September 1966 under the watchful and savvy eye and ear of ex-Animal Chas Chandler (who had been tipped off to one amazing guitarist tearing up NYC's Cafe Wha? by Keith Richards' girlfriend, after Stones' manager Andrew Oldham shortsightedly passed on the second great opportunity of his life) were musically a magificent outfit, more coherent than Cream, who onstage (not on record) could devolve into three soloists barely aware of each other. The Experience had Noel Redding as the bedrock rhythm player, letting Mitch Mithell and Jimi Hendrix's telepathic explorations take them and the audience through inner and outer space. After the explosive debut ("Are You Experienced?") and "Axis: Bold As Love", the band started to fracture. "Axis" may be Jimi's greatest single album, certainly it is the Experience's tightest, fleetest (13 songs just under 40 minutes), and most exquisite sounding work, and much of the imagination that needed four sprawling sides to express itself on "Eleectric Ladyland" was reigned in (by Chandler and perhaps Hendrix himself) but fully at peak powers on "Axis."
"Ladyland" is, of course, a classic, but with the recording process taking over a year ("Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" came first, July 1967, and they were back in the studio that December, immediatly after the completion of "Axis"), this drawn out process drove Chas Chandler - fed up with hangers on, drugs, and expensive studio hours wasted - to quit his role as producer, and frustrated Redding as well. If "Axis" is the trio at its best, "Ladyland" shows Jimi with a bigger canvas, a bigger budget, leaving the trio format behind as he starts collaborating with other musicians - most successfully, three members of Traffic and Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady - but also many others who participated in these sessions, from Al Kooper to the Stones' Brian Jones to Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles. Despite the well documented studio excess, there is little waste on the finished product. Sonically the album is all over the place, sometimes murky and almost muddy, a few minutes later exploding in hallucinatory raging power, and still elsewhere crisp and tight as anything on the first two albums. The original LP was indeed grey and drab sounding, and this review is intended for those who may have been skeptical of yet another cd issue or even (like me) analog devotees. But, with Eddie Kramer and George Marino working FOR THE FIRST TIME from original master tapes, this Hendrix album above all the other reissues ("Band Of Gypsys" would be a close second) benefits greatly from the new (1997) remastering. The sonic veil is lifted, and the album truly explodes from your hopefully halfway decent speakers: just turn the volume up on "Come On" or either Vodoo Chile/d", and you'll hear what I mean. Yes, it is more obvious than ever that many studios and sessions and multiple overdubs were involved, but this is as close to the master tape Jimi and Kramer delivered in September 1968 as we're likely to hear for a long time. And Jimi finally, whatever the frustrations of his compadres, didn't make a musical misstep. He honors Curtis Mayfield on the title track, New Orleans' Earl King on "Come On", even Jimmy Smith and what would be called acid jazz three decades later on the "Rainy Day" tracks.
The downside is this pretty much broke the camaraderie and unified spirit of the Experience. Noel Redding to these ears plays bass on perhaps as few as 4 or 5 tracks, with Jimi playing on many of the others and Casady making a grand cameo on the 15-minute "Voodoo Chile." The next year "Smash Hits" collected four previously unreleased early gems on a disc that was issued the same month the group broke up, and it is a fine retrospective that honors their tremendous accomplishments in two-and-a-half years. The group's last studio sessions left some strong tracks (on the box, "South Saturn Delta," and bits and pieces elsewhere). Band Of Gypsys lasted but a month or two before Jimi called Mitch Mitchell back, and two years after this album's release Jimi was still finishing up a successor, which would likely have come out in 1971 as something very close to "Cry Of Love" or "First Rays."
Be it on 180g vinyl or CD, this is the third great Experience album, sounding better than it did in 1968, and is thus essential.