Electric Ladyland is a rock and roll album by Jimi Hendrix and his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in 1968 (see 1968 in music). This album is seen as the peak of Hendrix's mastery of the electric guitar, and it is frequently cited as one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time. It was the last of Hendrix's albums to be professionally produced under his own supervision; after Electric Ladyland, Hendrix spent the remaining three years of his life attempting to organize a new band and recording a large number of musical tracks.
Released as a double album, Electric Ladyland is a cross-section of Hendrix's wide range of musical talent. It includes samples of every type of his music, ranging from psychedelia ("Burning of the Midnight Lamp") to soul-turning, bluesy guitar jams (the live recording "Voodoo Chile"), 1950s-style rock and roll ("Little Miss Strange"), and the epic studio production "1983." Hendrix also recorded a cover version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" that is seen by many as superior to the original version. ("Watchtower" is the only song from the album that receives regular airplay on classic rock radio stations, much to the chagrin of Hendrix's fans.)
The recording of the album was extremely problematic. After a troubled tour of Scandinavia and England, Hendrix had by now decided to return to America and, frustrated by the limitations of commercial recording, he decided to establish his own state-of-the-art multitrack studio in New York, to which he could have unlimited access to realise his expanding musical visions. Construction of the studio, called Electric Lady, was beset with problems and it was not finally completed until mid 1970.
Hendrix's formerly disciplined work habits were also becoming erratic, and the combination of interminable sessions and studios filled with hangers-on finally led Chas Chandler to quit on December 1, 1968. Chandler later complained that Hendrix's insistence on doing multiple takes on every song ("Gypsy Eyes" apparently took 43 takes and he still wasn't satisfied with the result), combined with what he saw as incoherence caused by drugs, led him to sell his share of the management company to his partner Mike Jefferey . Hendrix's studio perfectionism was legendary -- he reportedly made guitarist Dave Mason do over 20 takes of the acoustic guitar backing on "All Along the Watchtower" -- yet he was always insecure about his voice and often recorded his vocals hidden behind studio screens.
Despite the difficulties of its recording, many of the album tracks show Hendrix's vision expanding far beyond the scope of the original trio (it is said that the sound of this record would help inspire Miles Davis' sound on Bitches Brew) and saw him collaborating with a range of outside musicians including Dave Mason, Chris Wood and Steve Winwood from Traffic, drummer Buddy Miles and former Dylan organist Al Kooper.
In the final stages of the album's production, a studio technician renamed the album "Electric Landlady." The album was almost released under this title until Hendrix noticed it, which upset him considerably. The title was quickly changed back.
Many people theorize the title of the album was a subliminal hint towards Bob Dylan, by only including certain letters to form ELECT DYLAN. That is, From Electric Ladyland one can form ELECTric laDYLANd.
In 1998 Q magazine readers voted Electric Ladyland the 22nd greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 72.
Track listing
Songs written by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted.
- "...And the Gods Made Love" - 1:21
- "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" - 2:12
- "Crosstown Traffic" - 2:25
- "Voodoo Chile" - 15:05
- "Little Miss Strange" (Noel Redding) - 2:50
- "Long Hot Summer Night" - 3:30
- "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)" (Earl King) - 4:10
- "Gypsy Eyes" - 3:46
- "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" - 3:44
- "Rainy Day, Dream Away" - 3:43
- "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" - 13:46
- "Moon, Turn the Tides...gently gently away" - 1:01
- "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" - 4:24
- "House Burning Down" - 4:35
- "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan) - 4:01
- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" - 5:14
On the original vinyl release, track 7 was titled "Come On (Part 1)".
Personnel
Production
- Producer: Jimi Hendrix
- Engineers: Gary Kellgren, Glen Kolotkin, Eddie Kramer
- Mixing: Jimi Hendrix
- Remastering supervisors: Janie Hendrix, John McDermott
- Remastering: Joe Gastwirt, Eddie Kramer, George Marino
- Arranger: Jimi Hendrix
- Director: Jimi Hendrix
- Art direction: Ed Thrasher, Vartan
- Design: David King, Rob O'Connor
- Cover design: Karl Ferris
- Photography: John Adler, Karl Ferris, Gered Mankowitz, Linda McCartney, David Montgomery, Richard Montgomery, Axel Rad, David Sygall, Ed Thrasher
- Back cover: Karl Ferris, Linda McCartney, Richard Montgomery
- Writer: Jeff Leve
- Essay: Derek Taylor
- Liner notes: Jimi Hendrix, Michael Fairchild, Derek Taylor
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 1968 |
Black Albums |
5 |
| 1968 |
Pop Albums |
1 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
| 1968 |
"All Along The Watchtower" |
Pop Singles |
20 |
| 1968 |
"Crosstown Traffic" |
Pop Singles |
52 |
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46
