Blues(Jimi Hendrix album)

Blues
Compilation albumby Jimi Hendrix
Released	April 26, 1994(1994-04-26)
Recorded	1966–1970
Genre	Blues,blues rock
Length	72:17
Label	MCA-Polydor
Compiler	Alan Douglas,Bruce Gary
Jimi Hendrixchronology
The Ultimate Experience (1992) Blues (1994) Woodstock (1994)

Bluesis a compilation album ofbluessongs recorded by American singer/songwriter/musicianJimi Hendrix.Compiled by interim Hendrix producerAlan Douglas,it was released April 26, 1994, byMCA Records.The album contains eleven songs recorded by Hendrix between 1966 and 1970, six of which were previously unreleased. Hendrix wrote seven of the pieces; other writers includeMuddy Waters,Booker T. Jones,andElmore James.Most are demos, jams, and live recordings, which Hendrix may or may not have completed for release.

Upon its release,Blueswas met with favorable reviews and chart successes, selling over 500,000 copies in its first two years of release. On February 6, 2001,Blueswas certifiedplatinumin sales by theRecording Industry Association of America.The album was re-released by Experience Hendrix Records in 1998, following the Hendrix family's acquisition of the musician's recordings, and again in October 2010, as part of the project to remaster Hendrix's discography.

Music

The opening song "Hear My Train A Comin'"(frequently referred to by Hendrix as" Getting My Heart Back Together Again ") was recorded atBruce FlemingPhotography Studio, London, on December 19, 1967. A Hendrix original, it was from a long lostmaster tapeof Hendrix alone playing a 12-string acoustic right-hand guitar, strung for left hand and singing in aDelta bluesmanner. This live studio performance was filmed for, and included in, the filmSee My Music Talking,and later included in the 1973 documentaryJimi Hendrixand accompanying soundtrack LP. Hendrix often played an electric version in concert. The last song onBluesis a live version of "Hear My Train A Comin'", recorded on May 30, 1970, at theBerkeley Community Theatre,that had previously been released on the posthumousRainbow Bridgealbum in 1971.

"Born Under a Bad Sign"is an instrumental jam of theAlbert Kingnumber written byBooker T. Jonesand William Bell (performed byBand of Gypsys). "Red House"is the original,monotake from the European version ofAre You Experienced,but without some of the outro chat (previously unavailable in US and Canada).Another take, in stereo, from a different session was released on the US version of the 1969 compilation albumSmash Hits.On this version, Redding plays electric guitar tuned down to resemble a bass. "Catfish Blues" is from the Dutch TV showHoepla,recorded in November 1967.Hendrix uses the first two verses from Muddy Waters'"Rollin’ Stone"(which is based on older versions usually with "Catfish" in the title) and the last verse is from Muddy's "Still a Fool" itself based on "Roll and Tumble Blues"byHambone Willie Newbern.

"Voodoo Chile Blues" is another creation of Alan Douglas, recorded during the sessions that produced the finished track, "Voodoo Chile",for the critically acclaimedElectric Ladylandalbum. This track is made from two different takes of the song that were edited and joined together to make one consistent track. "Mannish Boy"is actually a hybrid ofMuddy Waters' "Mannish Boy" andBo Diddley's "I'm a Man".It is also an edited studio creation that combines several takes." Once I Had a Woman "is a slightly longer edited version of a song recorded at theRecord Plantin New York City on January 23, 1970, withBuddy Mileson drums andBilly Coxon bass guitar. The band starts to jam during the second half of the long song and then a fade out follows. "Bleeding Heart"is a cover of theElmore Jamesnumber, performed here by Band of Gypsys. "Jelly 292" is actually take 2 of the song "Jam 292" (the name on the tape box) which appeared on the 1974 European-only LPLoose Ends.It is an uptempojambased onDuke Ellington's "Dooji Wooji"."Electric Church Red House" is a jam fromTTG Studiosin Los Angeles featuring a group introduction by Hendrix (lifted from another, different jam at TTG) andLee Michaelson organ.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Blender
Entertainment Weekly	A
NME	8/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Tom Hull – on the Web	A−
The Village Voice	A−

In a 1994 review,Rolling Stonemagazine was impressed by howBluesshowcased Hendrix's ability to pay homage to his influences but also transcend them,whileNMEsaid the compilation of lengthy blues jams was distinguished by his "definitive" style ofelectric bluesand thedigital remasteringquality.

Writing forAllMusic,Richie Unterbergersaid the songs showed "the master guitarist stretching the boundaries of electric blues in both live and studio settings."Village VoicecriticRobert Christgaubelieved the ordinary blues concept and track selection were conducive to Hendrix's unique and eclectic style.He later wrote of Hendrix's blues legacy inBlender:

Though it's reductionist to define Hendrix as a bluesman just because he was black, he meldedChicago bluesandcountry bluesand interplanetary blues and bent blues like a supernatural. His sound was even thicker than mentor Albert King's, yet it could get as fanciful as primeSkip James.

Track listing

Details taken from the original MCA CD notes;other sources may show different information.

All tracks are written by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted

Blues

No.	Title	Recorded	Length
1.	"Hear My Train A Comin'"(live solo acoustic from 1968Experiencedocumentary)	12/19/67 atBruce FlemingPhoto Studio, London	3:05
2.	"Born Under a Bad Sign"(Booker T. Jones,William Bell)	12/15/69 atRecord Plant,New York City	7:37
3.	"Red House"(original UKAre You Experiencedversion)	12/13/66 atCBS Studios,London	3:41
4.	"Catfish Blues" (live,trad.arr.Hendrix)	11/10/67 at Vitus Studios, Bussum, Netherlands	7:46
5.	"Voodoo ChileBlues "(outtake)	5/2/68 at Record Plant, New York City	8:47
6.	"Mannish Boy"(Muddy Waters,Mel London,Ellas McDaniel)	4/22/69 at Record Plant, New York City	5:21
7.	"Once I Had a Woman"	1/23/70 at Record Plant, New York City	7:49
8.	"Bleeding Heart"(Elmore James,arr. Hendrix;War Heroescontains a different version)	3/18/69 at Record Plant, New York City	3:26
9.	"Jelly 292" (credited as "Jam 292" onLoose Ends)	5/14/69 at Record Plant, New York City	6:25
10.	"Electric Church Red House" (composite of two jams)	10/29/68 atTTG Studios,Hollywood	6:12
11.	"Hear My Train A Comin'"(live from 1971Rainbow Bridgealbum)	5/30/70 atBerkeley Community Theatre,California	12:08

Chart history

• Billboard(United States) –Blues
  • 1994:Billboard200– No. 45
  • 1994:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums– No. 38
  • 1995: Top Blues Albums – No. 4
• UK Albums Chart
  • 1994: No. 10

Personnel

Musicians

• Jimi Hendrix– guitars, vocals
• Billy Cox– bass guitar on "Born Under a Bad Sign", "Mannish Boy", "Once I Had a Woman", "Bleeding Heart", "Jelly 292" and "Hear My Train a Comin'" (Berkeley)
• Noel Redding– bass on "Red House", "Catfish Blues" and "Electric Church Red House"
• Mitch Mitchell– drums on "Red House", "Catfish Blues", "Voodoo Chile Blues", "Jelly 292", "Electric Church Red House" and "Hear My Train a Comin'" (Berkeley)
• Buddy Miles– drums on "Born Under a Bad Sign", "Mannish Boy", "Once I Had a Woman", "Bleeding Heart"
• Jack Casady– bass on "Voodoo Chile Blues"
• Steve Winwood– organ on "Voodoo Chile Blues"
• Sharon Layne – piano on "Jelly 292"
• Lee Michaels– organ on "Electric Church Red House"

Additional personnel

• Alan Douglas–production
• Bruce Gary– production
• Mark Linett –engineering
• Joe Gastwirt –mastering
• Rob O'Connor –artwork,design
• Richard Bull – artwork, design
• Michael J. Fairchild – liner notes

External links

• BluesatDiscogs(list of releases)