"Axis: Bold As Love" by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE (1 December 1967 UK 2nd LP on Track 613 003 and 15 January 1968 USA on Reprise RS 6281 in Stereo featuring Mitch Mitchell (Bass), Noel Redding (Drums) and Producer Chas Chandler (February 2012 UK Sony Music/Experience Hendrix/Legacy 1CD-only Reissue (original Remaster issued March 2010 as a CD+DVD in A Card Digipak) – Eddie Kramer and George Marino Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Little Wing…"

The first decent reissue of "Axis: Bold As Love" turned up 28 April 1997 on MCA Records/Experience Hendrix MCD11601 (Barcode 008811160128) as part of 'The Hendrix Family Authorised Editions Series'. It was a Remaster of Jimi's second studio album carried out by the LP's original engineer Eddie Kramer aided and assisted by Audio/Restoration boffin George Marino.

That was superseded by another Kramer/Marino Reissue/Remaster on the 8 March 2010 which put "Axis: Bold As Love" into a card digipak and added on a DVD. Sony Music/Experience Hendrix 88697621632 (Barcode 886976216320) however has been deleted now for some time and clocks in at around twenty quid on the open secondhand market. Use the barcodes provided above to locate either issue.

What we're finally left with is what we have here – a 1CD-only 2012 reissue of that 2010 Remaster put into a standard plastic jewel case for under six quid. To the Spanish Castle Music and Little Wing details...

UK released 6 February 2012 - "Axis: Bold As Love" by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE on Sony Music/Experience Hendrix/Legacy 88691938922 (Barcode 886919389227) is a 1CD-only Reissue of the 8 March 2010 Remaster and plays out as follows (39:29 minutes):

1. EXP [Side 1]

2. Up From The Skies

3. Spanish Castle Music

4. Wait Until Tomorrow

5. Ain't No Telling

6. Little Wing

7. If 6 Was 9

8. You've Got Me Floating [Side 2]

9. Castles Made Of Sand

10. She's So Fine

11. One Rainy Wish

12. Little Miss Lover

13. Bold As Love

Tracks 1 to 13 are his second studio album "Axis: Bold As Love" - released 1 December 1967 in the UK on Track 612 003 (Mono) and Track 613 003 (Stereo) and 15 January 1968 in the USA on Reprise RS 6281 (Stereo only) featuring Mitch Mitchell (Bass), Noel Redding (Drums) and Producer Chas Chandler. The STEREO MIX is used for this CD. All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix except "She's So Fine" written by Noel Redding. The album peaked at No. 5 in the UK and No. 3 in the USA. 

The 24-page colour booklet is festooned with photos from the archives of Linda McCartney, Eddie Kramer, Bruce Fleming and Baron Wolman (amongst many) - the great axeman in studio and live mode with his crew of bushy-haired two. The British LP originally on Track Records was a gatefold with a 4-page lyric insert and while that fab black and white photo that dominated the inner gatefold of the three disappointingly isn't here, the lyrics are. That minor omission is replaced with long and fantastically detailed liner notes (Pages 11 to 20) from JYM FAHEY that go into the staggering pace of recording (the "Are You Experienced?" debut barley finished and the double "Electric Ladyland" on the summer horizon) - Hendrix's career skyrocketing less than nine months after Chas Chandler has brought Jimi to England in September 1966. It's a fab read and even goes into the near disaster with master tapes for Side 1 and "If 6 Was 9" which were thankfully resolved. The remaster by EDDIE KRAMER and GEORGE MARINO, supervised by Janie Hendrix and John McDermott on behalf of the Experience Hendrix Estate, gives oomph and power to every song. Which brings us to the music...

The 'dodgy subject' of UFOs gets speeded up and slowed down in the entertaining but ultimately silly "EXP" where Jimi's guitar gets screeched into the Universe never mind your living room speakers (panned and all). That's quickly followed by the first real Audio hit and song - the stunning bass and drums of "Up From The Skies" - that vocal and flicked guitar sounding so alive it’s frightening. I love that so cool guitar solo he does as he talks (I can dig it baby). The true Hendrix punk riffage sound comes roaring into your ears with "Spanish Castle Music" - just a little bit of magic - and again a fantastic transfer that captures that lethal double-whammy of power and subtlety.

We trip the light-funky-tastic with his skip-and-bop "Wait Until Tomorrow" - drums whacking as Dolly Mae hangs from her window pane - Jimi almost rapping the lyrics as he flicks those tasty strums. Rapido rhythm burning my eyes in "Ain't No Telling" - his guitar once again Funk-Rocking as he solos into one of the albums beauties. There are reasons why so many have covered the gorgeous "Little Wing" - but to hear it with such power and clarity here is almost too much to bear. I also think of Stevie Ray Vaughan when it plays - beautiful and ethereal playing like all the greats. Fantastic stuff even if it’s always felt to me like it ends too quickly.

There is a very evident hiss element in "If 6 Was 9" but that 'air' surrounding the performance actually lends it even more power IMO. White collar conservative...pointing their plastic finger at me... you just have to love the myriad of musical ideas going on here - like no-one (let alone Producer Chandler) could capture what was going on in Jimi's head, in turn transmitting down through to his fingers and out onto the fretboard.

Side 2's "You've Got Me Floating" (corrected to "You Got Me Floatin'") is another wild Funk-Rock child that segues into that other LP gem "Castles Made Of Sand". The Bass and Drums once again so staggeringly clear and present and how cool are those Indian Brave verses before he goes into that edgy guitar solo. And that 'eventually' ending with that echoed guitar fade out. Always feeling like an odd-man-out, Noel Redding's "She's So Fine" has all the trademark Experience sound but his voice is not the 'cool' of Jimi - which is a shame because they're cool guitar noises going on all around.

Racing towards the finish is the fantastic swoon of "One Rainy Wish" - a sort of "Little Wing" Part 2 - a song sleeping peacefully under the tree of song. Both the neck-jerkingly sock-it-to-me Funky "Little Miss Lover" and the Rock waltz life-giving-waters of "Bold As Love" finish the album with genuinely amazing style (that huge fuzzy solo towards the end still drops a jaw or two).

Hendrix would drop the 2LP atomic bomb of "Electric Ladyland" in November 1968 with "Voodoo Child" and "Crosstown Traffic" - the same month The Beatles would chuck out their double-album urge-to-splurge "The Beatles" - commonly known of course as 'The White Album'. 

Sixties Rock, Blues Rock, Psych... My god what a year 1968 was and what a good idea for you to start your slight return to it...right here baby... 

"Electric Ladyland" by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE (2010 Experience Hendrix/Legacy CD and DVD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Moon Turned Fire Red..."

I suppose in truth it's probably impossible in 2015 to properly assess or even be rational about something as iconic as "Electric Ladyland". And yet for dudes like me who saw older teenage boys grooving to its wild guitar-scapes (I was 10 when it was released in 1968) – I joined in the head-shaking and tennis racket guitar hero shapes they were throwing in sitting rooms with large mahogany Stereograms because I instinctively knew something awesome was unfolding before me - I just didn't know what. Besides - even if I didn't 'get' the cool soundscapes sexy Jimi was laying down - there was always that awesome 'Nude Women' cover to gawk at (didn't understand that either but I was getting there). Well here we are again with another Reissue - but is "Electric Ladyland" really the masterpiece they all say it is? Damn right man – and relistening to this meticulous Remaster – you're only going to love and appreciate it even more. Here are the Slight Returns...

UK released March 2010 – "Electric Ladyland" by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE on Experience Hendrix/Sony Legacy 88697 62164 2 (Barcode 886976216429) is a CD and DVD in a three-way card digipak and breaks down as follows:

CD (75:27 minutes):

1. ...And The Gods Made Love [Side 1]

2. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)

3. Crosstown Traffic

4. Voodoo Chile

5. Little Miss Strange [Side 2]

6. Long Hot Summer Night

7. Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)

8. Gypsy Eyes

9. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp

10. Rainy Day, Dream Away [Side 3]

11. 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be)

12. Moon, Turn The Tides...gently gently away

13. Still Raining, Still Dreaming [Side 4]

14. House Burning Down

15. All Along The Watchtower

16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Tracks 1 to 16 are the double-album "Electric Ladyland" – released October 1968 in Stereo in the USA on Reprise 2RS 6307 and November 1968 in the UK on Track Records 613008/9.

CD - the artwork was famously different for both countries – the UK produced the naughty 'nude ladies' gatefold sleeve on the outside as opposed to the side-profile face shot of the US album (which is what’s been used for every CD reissue ever since). The only CD to have the UK artwork is one that was produced in the early days of the format in a clunky double jewel case (probably pressed in Germany around the mid 80s) – and the only acknowledgement of that artwork is a two-page spread on Pages 24 and 25 of the booklet that shows an Alternate shot of all the women who took part in the photo-shoot. The gorgeous 36-page booklet that accompanies this digipak edition has pages of reminiscences from Derek Taylor (quotes from those who were there) as well as repros of handwritten notes on Newhouse Hotel paper by Jimi on the track runs and how he wanted the credits on the sleeve to look. It also includes a facsimile of his ‘Letter To A Room Full Of Mirrors’ and loads of fantastic colour photos of The Experience Live, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell (including the cover shot Linda McCartney). Although the British inner gatefold isn’t reproduced here (which seems odd – the American inners are all over the inner digipak flaps and picture CDs) – you have to say that for such a classic album it’s all very tastefully done and informative at the same time. There's also online content from the Experience Hendrix website available via the CD...

DVD - after the Experience Hendrix Logo appears - the non-regional DVD offers a Menu with a 'Film' broken into four chapters most of which are discussions by Original Producer Eddie Kramer on "Crosstown Traffic", "Gypsy Eyes", "Voodoo Chile" and "1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be)". The downside is that although it’s hugely entertaining and informative - duration is only 25 minutes or so and you crave more. What you do get is Kramer sat at a mixing desk isolating Jimi’s vocals – talking about the musical connection Steve Winwood and Jack Casady had with Hendrix when they did the Blues jam "Voodoo Chile" (much appreciation all around) and confirmation that Dave Mason of Traffic sings uncredited backing vocals on "Crosstown Traffic". Chas Chandler talks briefly of the crazy way the album was effectively recorded in the studio (too many hangers on and 50 takes of songs so Jimi could get it right – much to the chagrin of both Mitchell and Redding) while that’s followed by live footage and short interviews of old with Noel Redding. The quality of the print is fantastic given the vintage - but as I say - you wish there was more because its over too soon and this double-album deserved twice the input. Subtitles include English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian and None...

The Remasters have been handled by original album Producer EDDIE KRAMER (who also features heavily on the DVD) and Sound Engineer GEORGE MARINO with Supervision by Janie Hendrix (Jimi’s stepsister and CEO of Experience Hendrix which handles his musical legacy) along with Sound Engineer John McDermott whose been involved in quite a few of the Experience Hendrix CD reissues.

Recorded at the Record Plant in New York with Producers Chas Chandler, Eddie Kramer and Gary Kellgren - the core band was Hendrix on Guitars and Vocals with NOEL REDDING on Bass and MITCH MITCHELL on Drums. Guests included STEVE WINWOOD of The Spencer Davis Group and Traffic on Organ with JACK CASADY of Jefferson Airplane on Bass for the 15-minute Blues jam of "Voodoo Chile" while DAVE MASON of Traffic is confirmed by Producer Eddie Kramer to have sang uncredited backing vocals on "Crosstown Traffic". AL KOOPER plays Piano on "Long Hot Summer Night" while the Jazzy combo of Mike Finnigan (Organ), Freddie Smith (Horns), Larry Faucette (Congas) and Buddy Miles (Drums) played on two tracks – "Rainy Day, Dream Away" and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming". Excepting "Little Miss Strange" which is a Noel Redding credit - all songs are Hendrix originals except for "All Along The Watchtower" and "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)" which are Bob Dylan and Earl King cover versions respectively.

The opening one and half minutes of noodle that is "And The Gods Made Love" gives way to a sensual vocal on "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" – but its when "Crosstown Traffic" kicks in that the hairs on your arms rise. I mean just how cool is this tune – and how uber cool was he – "...the sexiest man that's walked the planet..." as Neneh Cherry says in the booklet – hell yes. You can't help be but blown away – all that noise and all those guitars and all that those off-the-cuff vocals - yet it makes a coherent whole that rocks. "Crosstown Traffic" is only two and half minutes long yet it seems HUGE and other-worldly. Then of course we get the Side 1 monster "Voodoo Chile" - Blues done through the filter of Jimi Hendrix. 15 minutes of Steve Winwood and Jack Casady trading licks on Organ and Bass with Jimi opening up and showing his stunning feel for the genre and his axe. It begins with that lingering organ and feedback and Wow is the only appropriate response...

Noel Redding's poppy contribution "Little Miss Strange" has always seemed 'old' musically compared to what Jimi was doing on the rest of the record – but his edgy guitar contribution brings it into play (I’ve always liked it). The audio on "Long Hot Summer Night" is wicked – hissy for sure in certain places – but the presence is wonderful – swirling around your speakers with life and balls. It's followed by a much-needed boogie and rock out - his kicking version of Earl King's "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)" and I'm reminded instantly of that other stunning Guitar God Stevie Ray Vaughan who must surely have based a lot of his output on this (that solo sounds fabulous). I cannot be rational about "Gypsy Eyes" – I've adored it for 4-plus decades. It was the first Hendrix 7" single I bought in a now rare UK Picture Sleeve (I've even included it in a screenplay I've written – but that's another hairyman story). The remaster really brings out that amazing phasing of the guitars. "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" shows his songwriting expanding – that strange mix he settled on where the sound seems from another world – his vocals and those treated backing voices – brilliant.

Bolstered by the Horns of Freddie Smith, the Organ of Mike Finnigan and the backbeat drums of Buddy Miles – the Jazz-Blues of "Rainy Day, Dream Away" is not what you expect and yet the song fits here so perfectly. We then get the second album monster – the near 14-minute trippy genius of "1983..." According to original producer Eddie Kramer Jimi wanted to stretch out musically and sonically – so he tries effects on everything – guitars and voices – structure – it ends up feeling almost Prog Rock before such a thing even existed. There's a lot of hiss in certain parts of it for sure – but the Audio on those Drums and Bass is awesome throughout – a great job done in the transfer. Perhaps everybody's fave boogie on the album “Still Raining, Still Dreaming” remains amazing to me and of course "All Along The Watchtower" redefined into something altogether more potent – but even those are kicked in the proverbial nuts by the sheer wallpo of the album finisher "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" – quite probably the most unlikely Number 1 single in the entire Universe. This is surely his most magnificent moment and one that still sends chills up my arms a full 45 years after the event.

"...Stand up next to a mountain...and chop it down with the side of my hand..." 

And didn’t he just...WOW!