[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK92W2RzbjE]Vietnam War ( Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix ) - YouTube[/ame] Just one of the greatest songs ever. My 2cents.
As a guy who plays the guitar, I have to love him. He originated innovation man. I can't say though that I wouldn't love to see him go head to head w/ SRV. Student becomes master.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4-r2MpRMs]Castles Made of Sand- Jimi Hendrix 1967 - YouTube[/ame] My favorite piece of his, by far. From the opening chords, to the verses, to the choruses, to the ending chords, and everything in between.
I have a question for you guys, and I swear I'm not trolling here, but what exactly is that makes Hendrix so influential? People discuss his innovative sounds, but people like Lou Reed, The Monks, and The Stooges all were making use of feedback,distortion, and wah around the same time. The 13 Floor Elevators, The Beatles, and Cream were using psychedelic effects and studio-as-instrument techniques around the same time. His use of sheer volume was shared with The Who, Blue Cheer, and the MC5. Unquestionably, he was a fiery live player, but so were guys like Clapton, BB King, Peter Green, Hubert Sumlin, and Muddy Waters. I guess what I'm asking is what is it that earns him placement as the best guitarist ever when much of what he did was in step with the era?
5[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRj0YEMwLkQ]Jimi Hendrix - Pali Gap - YouTube[/ame] One of the coolest pieces of music you will ever hear.. The coolest dude to ever walk the planet
I've got "Jimi" tattooed on my wrist in a classic groovy type font. I almost feel as if I personally know him. Obviously I do not, but that's the kind of power he has over being able to communicate human emotion to one's listening. The guitar was like an extension of his body. Like an arm or a leg. He was just one with it there was no separation between what he was feeling inside and what was coming out in his playing. The story behind the man is just as interesting. It's like the music gods looked down and said "your dedicated and your intentions are good not for evil. I see this and I am going to work through you to help better this world and bring reconcile to your fellow man" I could literally go on for days and post some really incredible things I have of him. I've got exactly 855 songs from albums ranging from his work on the chitlin circuit up until the last things he was recording before his death and that's not even all some of the files were corrupted. He almost lived in the studio. He recorded day and night. It's like he knew he was leaving behind a musical legacy and wanted every possible sound he could get out to be documented for future generations to come. Before he passed he had something like 30 albums worth of material. He had a tape recorder everywhere he went. They always equipped a tape recorder in his hotel rooms. This is similar to Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) but it's a different take on it from the album Midnight Lightning. "may I come aaallllonng" just a beautiful song. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie-x_jsKXJI&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie-x_jsKXJI&feature=related[/ame]
"eric clapton man, he was a damn good guitar player.. hendrix though, he was a force of nature." first time he played with clapton he blew him off the stage. clapton had trouble lighting a cig and asked jimi's manager.. "is he really that fucking good man"
I've heard that story before, too, the one about him pwning Clapton, and that is pretty cool. Now, I'll admit the only album I have by him is Electric Ladyland (money is short, and I wanted to get a taste before diving in), but I've listened to it a few times, and I keep feeling like I'm missing something about him and his music that would really make it click. He was clearly un-godly talented, and quite the song-writer, but I can't quite put a finger on why I'm having such a luke-warm reaction. I guess it's all the legend and hype that surrounds his work.
blues is my favorite album [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aODLdu8Zkq8]Jimi Hendrix - catfish blues - YouTube[/ame] but who knows is prob my favorite [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBiBKuNgur4]Who Knows - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DpmTQoUNdw]Jimi Hendrix Villanova Junction Woodstock,1969. - YouTube[/ame]
You do realize that you had to drop 14 different artists to sum him up, right? That's fucking legendary right there. Also, his lyrics are totally boss.
Well, keep in mind that a LOT of innovation and technology has come about since his time as well that perhaps overshadows what musicians had to do to create sounds back then (The Kinks razor slashing fuzz effect comes to mind). Also, one way I've found to truly appreciate any guitarist, but especially Hendrix, is to pick up the guitar. I'm self-taught and pretty much suck, but I can pull off enough physically to know what it takes to really get THAT good. I've found this is almost impossible to describe to anyone who has never picked up a guitar. Not saying you can't appreciate the music, but the appreciation goes to an entirely new level if you also play. And a final note, please go back and listen to Voodoo Chile(track #3) on Ladyland, preferably with some good cans...that is fucking sheer aural pleasure right there. Blues is another killer one.
I've played guitar and bass for five years apiece. I understand where he is on a technical level even if I'm not (nor will likely ever be) on that same level. I've listnened to Voodoo Chile (and Voodoo Child, for that matter) and it's impressive jamming and all, but... As for this nonsense, yeah, multiple artists that sound similar to him sound similar to him. Well spotted, eagle-eye.
Well, dunno man. To each his own I guess. When I first started getting into Satriani when Surfing first released, there was a time where I thought he was was THE guitar god. In many ways, I still do. But as my tastes evolved, I learned to respect them all and enjoy them all for different reasons. That's why I don't try and find a #1 anymore (it also pisses me off when I find some "top 100 guitarists of all time" list doesn't even acknowledge some of the best players in the world...yet another reason to give up trying to even list "the" best). Hendrix, Clapton, SRV, B.B. King, Satch, Vai, Zappa(both of them), Saraceno, Gilmour, Bonamassa...they've all had their influences (and I'm certain I'm overlooking plenty of others too). FYI, if you haven't heard of Joe Bonamassa, check him out...absolutely unreal player and story to boot...