People, Hell And Angels

Jimi Hendrix

Experience Hendrix/Legacy, 2013

http://www.jimihendrix.com

REVIEW BY: David Bowling

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 02/20/2013

More Hendrix from the vault will be released March 5th. People, Hell and Angels gathers a dozen previously unreleased performances that focus on Jimi’s work outside of the Experience. Sidemen Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Stephen Stills, Lonnie Youngblood, Larry Lee, and a host of others including Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell are present to lend a hand on this disparate collection of material.

While many of these tracks were never meant for public release, they feature some fine guitar playing as they find Hendrix experimenting with new styles and sounds. Some tracks are stripped to basics, but others add a second guitarist and other instruments to give them a fuller sound.

During December of 1969, Hendrix, bassist Billy Cox, and drummer Buddy Miles returned to the studio to record four tracks. One of the songs was “Earth Blues,” which was released on the my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250 Rainbow Bridge album after his death. It featured backing vocals by the Ronettes, guitar overdubbing, and Mitch Mitchell re-recording the drum parts. The song returns as a raw funky version featuring only the original three primary musicians.

“Somewhere” is another song that has been released in a number of forms, all of which underwent studio tinkering after Hendrix’s death. This is a very precise rendition powered by Stephen Stills’ bass playing, which forms an underpinning for Hendrix’s wah-wah guitar sound.

Hendrix always had an affinity for the blues. He takes the old Elmore James tune, “Bleeding Heart,” and changes the tempo. It is Hendrix at his guitar-slinging best, with only a basic rhythm section in support.

An interesting track is the nearly seven-minute “Let Me Move You,” recorded during March of 1969. During the mid-1960s, Hendrix had been a session musician for Lonnie Youngblood and now the roles were reversed. Youngblood provided the vocal and his sax runs are the perfect foil for Hendrix and his guitar. The song also was one of the first times Hendrix used a 16-track recording process.

“Crash Landing” is another track that has undergone a number of transitions, the most famous being on the posthumous 1975 album that bears its name. That version featured overdubbing by studio musicians. This track has now been taken from the original master with drummer Rocky Isaac, bassist Billy Cox, and an organist whose name has unfortunately been lost to history. It has a stark and simpler feel from the versions that have preceded it.

Albert and Arthur Allen were friends with Hendrix and members of first The International G.T.O.’s, and then the Ghetto Fighters. Hendrix invited them to sing background on “Freedom” and “Dolly Dagger.” They brought a third song with them, “Mojo Man.” Albert Allen provided the vocal and Hendrix both guitar parts, which were spliced together by his long time engineer Eddie Kramer.

People, Hell and Angels may not be a cohesive album, but it provides insight into the mind of Jimi Hendrix as his time with The Experience was coming to an end. The liner notes give an excellent overview of each track and the sound is excellent given the technology of the day. This album should please any fan of Hendrix.

Rating: B+

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