Customer Reviews

Kiss the Sky

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my introduction to all the great Hendrix stuff outside of 'Purple Haze' and 'Foxy Lady'. The man had a gift for songwriting and creating a vibe in the studio or on stage and this disc documents it all the way. The live I Don't Live Today (shades of Jimi's Native American heritage?) and Killing Floor are worth the price of the CD itself, and the awesome build up in the guitar solo (multi-layered) in Stepping Stone is unparalleled elsewhere in Jimi's studio work. I used to own this on cassette tape and am totally happy to see it on CD. All the tracks are noteworthy, not dull moment or filler song on the entire album. After buying Jimi's three studio releases and one live album during his lifetime (up to 1970), this is the next one to get.

Long live.....

Now THIS album is really producer Alan Douglas' best effort.....I just like the whole ' vibe ' of this compilation , and the songs really flow well together....the inclusion of the Monterey Pop Festival live track ' Killing Floor ' , and ' I don't Live Today ' from the San Diego , May 24, 1969 show , REALLY add a nice touch to the track selection.......and as far as a 'greatest hits ' compilation , this is THEE one to go with .... it truly represents some of his BEST work and shows the diversity of his talent.....everything from his Blues roots to his Instrumental masterpiece 'Third Stone from the Sun' to his INCREDIBLE sonic landscapes on ' Voodoo Child ' [ slight return ] and ' Are you Experienced ' plus the song by Dylan that Jimi made his own ' All along the Watchtower ' are all here...........BUY THIS ALBUM NOW , you won't be disappointed !

This is a compilation set that seems divided between the more familiar classics with some less familiar cuts thrown in for good measure. Previously unreleased "Killing Floor" and live version of " I Don't Live Today" along with Band of Gypsies era "Stepping Stone".

"Are You Experienced?" title cut from the debut album opens this set. "Purple Haze", "Red House", along with "Third Stone From The Sun" also from the debut album are presented here. "Castles made of Sand" From Axis and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "All Along The Watchtower" from Electric Ladyland.

All in all not a bad collection but just somewhat pointless.

I preferred the much more thorough compilation: "Experience Hendrix"

Actually the reason for the purchase was the 98 cent price tag.

Arrived in good shape and for under a dollar I can't complain.

"I Don't Live Today" is actually from the performance recorded May 24, 1969.

Killing Floor is indeed from the Monterey International Pop Festival (June 18, 1967).

Stepping Stone was ONLY ever played twice by Jimi, both of which were during the famous Band of Gypsys NYE run (12/31/69 - 1/1/70).

Voodoo Chile (SR), this version is NOT from Monterey, as the song was not played there. I am unsure of this tracks origins.

Of all the "best of" releases, I think Kiss The Sky is among the best. It is a great mix of all the old FM favorites, plus very good rare tracks that high-light Jimi's fantastic abilities.

First of all Id like to say i could never give a hendrix album below 4 stars simply because it is hendrix, no matter how basic or crappy a compilation it is. Hey, this stuff isnt bad, however its silly what that other review said about it being obscure, this is basically smash hits number two. Its not a bad buy for a new hendrix fan, but you can do better, because compilations could never do hendrix justice. Hendrix's later music andconcerts are what showed the world what he could have done, and that stuff will just blow you away.

Another thing is that other reviewer had his facts completly wrong and acted like he knew about jimi hendrix. Voodoo child slight return was not played at montery pop, it wasnt written for another three years and the same with stepping stone. Get experienced fool.

This is an interesting album. It's a assortment of studio and live tracks compiled to pretty much no one's benefit. Tracks, Are you Experienced? and I don't live Today come from a concert at San Diego, March 24, 1969. Also, tracks, Stepping Stone, Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and Killing Floor comes from the Monterey Pop festival, June 18, 1967 and the rest are studio recordings. I think that it's worth getting because of the material and the insight that it gives into some of Jimi's more obscure songs. Also, don't listen to anyone who calls jimi a bloated alcohol-addled corpse because he probably is one.

brilliant, ephemeral collection true to the bloated alcohol-addled corpse of jimi hendrix's spirit at it's best. The tracks are clean, crisply remastered, but the real brilliance lays in hendrix's masterful guitar work. This is not entirely surprising, Hendrix was a legend in his own time, and is still legendary today. His solo work moves smoothly, as Hendrix masterfully manipulates the guitar in that legendary way that only he could. But enough of those cheap thesarus jokes...

seriously, a great cd from a great artist, buy it for the music and the benefit of whoever owns Hendrix's royalties, but if you truly want to experience the guitar master's work you should buy his original cds, better yet LPs, not just a cheap compilation.