A Celebration: Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Electric Lady Studios’ Box Set Review
by Jeff Burger
Way back in 1982, in a review of an album of previously unavailable material called The Jimi Hendrix Concerts, this writer expressed surprise that a dozen years after the guitarist’s death, “anything at all remains left to release.” In fact, that 1982 double-LP turned out to offer a mere tiny taste of what would follow. It has now been more than half a century since Hendrix’s passing and heretofore unheard music keeps on coming.
The latest offering is a boxed set called Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision. On three CDs (or five LPs), it delivers 39 tracks, only one of which has previously been released. All of it was recorded between November 1969 and August 1970. On most of the numbers, Hendrix is backed by Billy Cox on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, although Buddy Miles mans the drum kit on a few tracks and a few other players, including Steve Winwood, make occasional contributions. The new set, released October 4, 2024, is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Much of the program consists of alternate versions of songs that wound up on the posthumously released First Rays of the New Rising Sun. The package also includes covers of Bob Dylan’s “Drifter’s Escape” and the blues standard “Farther Up the Road,” and there are several extended jams, among them one that incorporates elements of five songs and clocks in at more than 26 minutes.
The box supplements the CDs with a Blu-ray that offers an engrossing hour-and-a-half-long documentary about the creation of Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios, where he recorded all of this material. Also on the Blu-ray are surround-sound versions of all 17 songs from First Rays of the New Rising Sun and three bonus tracks. A 48-page booklet includes photos, handwritten song drafts and liner notes.
Throughout, the sound quality is excellent, and Hendrix’s guitar work is rarely less than astonishing.
Related: Our review of the Hendrix Hollywood Bowl live release
A top editor at leading consumer and trade magazines for more than 40 years, Jeff has interviewed dozens of musical luminaries, including Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Wolfman Jack, Tommy James, Tom Waits, the Righteous Brothers, and the members of Steely Dan.
No Comments so far
Jump into a conversationNo Comments Yet!
You can be the one to start a conversation.