The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
Author: Marvin J Markus

The third and final studio album by The Jimi Hendrix
Experience was the 1968 double album Electric Ladyland.
It's the album that many Jimi Hendrix fans (including
myself) believe to be his true masterpiece. While his first
two albums were excellent as well, Electric Ladyland is a
truly mind blowing trip and that's exactly what Hendrix
intended it to be.

The album begins with some other-worldly voices in "...And
the Gods Made Love." This lets you know exactly what kind
of tripped out experience you are in for. This is certainly
not just music mean to be merely listened to, it's music to
be truly experienced (as the band's name makes reference
to.) The music does it's part, it's up to the listener to
open up their minds and really "take the trip."

The album showcases many different styles in it's 16 tracks
(two of which are at least 13 minutes.) One example of
those different styles is the British rock inspired "Little
Miss Strange" (which features bassist Noel Redding on
vocals, Redding also wrote the song.) This is a cool song
as it gives you an idea of what a British rock band (like
The Beatles) would have sounded like with Jimi Hendrix on
lead guitar. Another example is the blues rock of "Voodoo
Chile" (which is a different song than the much more well
known "Slight Return.")

"Voodoo Chile" is 15 minutes long and starts off reasonably
conventionally as a heavy blues song but it eventually
breaks down into full on psychedelic rock (go about 9
minutes into the song to get an idea of what I'm talking
about.) For those that really love the bluesier side of
Hendrix this is a great, great track.

Then there's the medley that makes up side three of the
album beginning with "Rainy Day, Dream Away" and ending
with "Still Raining Still Dreaming." This is probably the
most "far out" part of the album and considering what else
is on the album, that is definitely saying quite a bit.

Included in this medley is the 13 minute 39 second
psychedelic epic "1983 (A Mermaid I Should Turn To Be)"
which includes the albums most adventurous studio
production.

The album also includes some well known Hendrix classics
like "Crosstown Traffic," "Gypsy Eyes," "Burning of the
Midnight Lamp," "All Along the Watchtower," and the
previously mentioned "Voodoo Child (Slight Return.)" If you
are unfamiliar with this album, these will probably be the
songs you'll already recognize from somewhere else (from
the radio or a "greatest hits" type album.)

While I definitely recommend getting all three of his
albums, I do think that Electric Ladyland is the ultimate
Hendrix album. If you have yet to hear then I beg of you to
give it a good listen.


About the Author:

Marvin J. Markus recommends reading
http://www.MusicByDay.com daily for music trivia, album
reviews, music news, and more.