James Marshall Hendrix was and remains to be a sensation in the world of rock n’ roll. When he got his first electric guitar at the age of 16, he already knew that he was going to be a star.After some time playing back up for Tina Turner, Little Richard, and Isley Brothers, he found himself doing the opposite of what he was supposed to do. So he formed his own rock band called Jimi James and the Blue Flames in 1965.This opened doors for Jimi to be recognized and so Chas Chandler, former Animals bassist, thought he was great. As his manager, Chas took Jimi to England to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience adding Noel Redding as bassist and Mitch Mitchell as drummer.
This marked Hendrix’s global stardom. His color conquered all possible flaws that America and Europe could find. They were the hottest new item to tour around two countries and make rounds in clubs city after city.In 1967, the group released their first studio album under Tracks Records, Are You Experienced? in which Jimi fused R&B, psychedelia, and blues.
Each track in the album is a testimony to Hendrix and the gang’s musical diversity.Purple Haze, an all-time favorite song off the album, had Hendrix running fantastically nice and clean in terms of tones and progression. Although it was mentioned that this album is a fusion of different musical styles acquired by Hendrix through experience, this track establishes Hendrix’s original guitar playing style.Are You Experienced, meanwhile, is more of a manifestation of psychedelia – smooth guitar riff, sensational licks and brain teasing charm. The other tracks are meant to be wild and crispy as rocky blues though, such as Fire and Hey Joe.
The Wind Cries Mary is a hip cut, showing how a guitar god can mellow down while retaining a notable chord progression. This is also a personal favorite. The cut Foxy Lady is mainly highlighted by weird guitar feedbacks and effects, which can be compared to other songs where Hendrix played a lot with pedals and other effects.Hendrix tend to outshine his two allies who seemed to live their stardom in the backseat, but, let us give them the credit for the harmony and intensity that they provided to inspire Hendrix’s excellent fret control in this album.Are You Experienced? had been overwhelmingly successful in mainly in UK during its release.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience competed with The Beatles, whose baby project St. Pepper and The Lonely Hearts Club was also at its peak, Pink Floyd with The Pipers at the Gates of Dawn, The Rolling Stones with Flowers, and even Bee Gees with Bee Gees First. Despite these rock magnates active participation in the rock market, Are You Experienced managed to rate high in album charts.Rock is alive then, and still alive now because of both the living and dead rock stars who constructed a perpetual empire from which artists today of any genres refer to. Jimi Hendrix is among the frontliners who left us a gem in the form of Are You Experienced? and this is a classic, monumental pick for every rock fanatic.
