Jimi Hendrix has yet another posthumous release , Both Sides Of The Sky (his 12th such studio album). This collection is dominated by studio cuts by The Band Of Gypsys, defined by the presence of Buddy Miles on drums. Buddy was a powerful, foot-to-floor, rock drummer. Mitch Mitchell, of The Experience, relied more on flexibility and feel. Buddy’s drumming drew a discipline from Jimi that restricted his natural firework displays somewhat but, definitely, made for a different sound.
Both Sides Of The Sky’s predecessor, People, Hell and Angels, Jimi’s best selling album ever, also features six tracks with Buddy and there are others scattered through his posthumous discography. The only official Band Of Gypsys album is a live one. These latest releases gives an opportunity to the avid Hendrix collector of putting a Band Of Gypsys studio album.
I’m willing to bet the Afterword can have a good stab at it. I’ll start with Jimi’s last single during his lifetime, Stepping Stone. It is a genuine Band Of Gypsys single but later versions were overdubbed, another recording was made with Mitch and additional drums were also added. To obtain Stepping Stone in its original band Of Gypsys glory, you have to buy Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection. The mix on the Kiss The Sky compilation is different but, at least it’s still a Band of Gypsys track with no additions to it.
Sadly, Youtube is lacking and we have to make do with its B side Izabella, which should also feature on the album.
The rules are simple: no Buddy, no way, studio takes only and a time limit of forty minutes. Let’s go!
Where’s Burt when you need him?
A few years ago, a thread on Jimi on The Afterword would attract a hundred comments overnight!
Because Burt and Jonny.
Ah well.
Stop it. I was afraid this thread might get maudlin.
I’m no Hendrix expert, but this sounds great! How about It’s Too Bad – recorded 11/2/69 it is on the purple box set. 8.52 though!
Message To Love, Earth Blues, Astro Man too?
I don’t think Astro Man has Buddy Miles on drums?
It’s Too Bad is an interesting choice. Basically, Jimi gatecrashed a Buddy Miles Express session, although, to be fair, he was the producer of that session.
The notes in the purple box say it was recorded with Buddy and Billy Cox on Jan 21st 1970. The version on First Rays is later and has Mitchell on drums….the catalogue is such a nightmare!
Great. That’s 4:11 accounted for.
Ezy Rider too.
On the West Coast Seattle Boy set there are also Burning Desire, Lonely Avenue, and a version of Message without the missing section on previous edits…hey, I want this album!
Roomful Of Mirrors!
I haven’t looked at West Coast Seattle Boy for years. I’ll remedy that tomorrow but I remember being impressed with All God’s Children, an instrumental but a fine one.
Roomful was given a disappointingly crap cover by the Pretenders. As with Stop Your Sobbing, kudos for the crate diggin’ though.
Scientists coming onto Radio 4 and spouting off about brain surgery or rocket science is all very well, but the intricacies of Jimi Hendrix’s posthumous discography is infinitely more convoluted.
I wouldn’t know where to begin (the Stepping Stone/Izabella 45, originally unreleased in the UK!, seems as good a place as any) but in the days of box sets costing hundreds of pounds, let me just say that the “Both Sides of the Sky” compilation is fantastic value at £10.
Less than the cost of three ales, I’ve listened to nothing else since Friday.
See deadhendrix.blogspot.com … written by some gnarled auld hippie.
Just checking out the Blues set….Born Under A Bad Sign, Mannish Boy, Once I Had A Woman, Bleeding Woman are all Cox/Miles cuts.
Oh yes. Born Under A Bad Sign is instrumental and over seven minutes but the other three are worthy of consideration.
Is that the 1994 CD? A very fine compo indeed. So glad I bought it when it came out.
Excellent ‘notes too.
Blues is actually still available, although mine is a 2014 Experience Hendrix issue.
You could almost have a covers album. There are Blue Suede Shoes and Hootchie Coochie Man on Loose Ends, plus Mannish Boy on Both sides Of The Sky and Bleeding Heart on People, Hell & Angels.
Jimi sounds so relaxed on Somewhere.
I’m fuzzy on this period. The live Gypsys album is all right but it’s a bit one dimensional (endless funky jams).
But wow those studio songs – Ezy Rider, Roomful of Mirrors, Stepping Stone – tight classics all. Once this track list is decided a Spotify playlist would be good!
Did he record a studio version of Machine Gun?
He started one but it was incomplete. Alan Douglas ‘adjusted’ it for Midnight Lightning, redoing the bass and drums and adding guitar. He also cut five minutes from its length to clock in at 7:30.
Buddy could also sing. I prefer BOG era Jimi.
You know those 5cd sets, housed in slim cardboard sleeves, which sell for about a tenner?
“War Heroes” / “Loose Ends” / “Crash Landing” / “Midnight Lightning” / “Nine to the Universe” would be nice, if only to complete the posthumous history … so far.
What about Cry Of Love and Rainbow Bridge?
They both got a CD release quite recently (2014?).
Of the five above, I think only “War Heroes” has ever been reissued and that’s long been deleted.
I see. In that case, good call. Why not write to his family and ask them?
Hendrix is dead??
Brezhnev never told us!!
What’s the version of Stepping Stone that starts with Jimi going ‘Oooo-weee! I SURE got the blues this morning!’
That’s the one I have and it ROCKS. Sounds like Mitch Mitchell to me?
That’s the one on First Rays of the New Rising Sun. After the Band Of Gypsys single release, Jimi added more guitar An Mitch Mitchell added drums. In all probability there is still some Buddy on the redone version first issued on War Heroes, then polished for First Rays.
Very informative, thanks! The massed guitar orchestra that builds up over the last minute or so is amazing – would have great to see Jimi do more of that kind of stuff had he lived on into the seventies.
Nice little review of Both Sides of the Sky on All Music.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/both-sides-of-the-sky-mw0003133643
Spotify is a little restricted with regard to Jimi. Here’s a starter for ten, lasting forty minutes.
This box is looking very cheap.
I wouldn’t call that cheap – it’s one of Sony’s repackaging sets (similar to the Miles Davis and Elvis sets) as digibook (DVD size). Regular price is 22 euros/19 £.
Great! We can get it even cheaper 🙂
I’m pleased with this one: