This is an exhaustive collection of Experience alternate takes, outtakes, alternate mixes and live performances. For the Hendrix completist, it’s probably more essential than any of the other studio rarities collections that have come out, just because it shows off more facets of his playing and his experimentation – unlike those studio rarities collections which are mostly demos, or those live sets which show him in an altogether different light – than any other set. This is as complete a picture you’ll get of the Experience (and Hendrix himself) outside of the original studio albums plus Band of Gypsies.
But this thing is exhaustive. And it serves no purpose to the casual fan, as these are just alternatives to the numerous other collections out there. If you’re a casual fan, I could absolutely recommend better stuff to listen to than this 4 disc set. And so that’s why I can’t give it full marks. Though the music is good (obviously), and though you get to hear Hendrix’s process in the studio and his ability live at the same time (which you can’t elsewhere), you also are hearing versions and mixes that Hendrix himself didn’t like as much, and a scattershot assortment of live performances, rather than any full set. It’s just not necessary, unless you are obsessed with the guy.
8/10
All songs are written by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted.
- “Purple Haze”– 3:26
- “Killing Floor (Live)” (Chester Arthur Burnett) – 3:05
- “Hey Joe (Live)” (Billy Roberts) – 2:52
- “Foxy Lady” – 3:27
- “Highway Chile” – 3:40
- “Hey Joe” (Roberts) – 3:06
- “Title #3” – 2:12
- “Third Stone from the Sun” – 9:18
- “Taking Care of No Business” – 3:42
- “Here He Comes (Lover Man)” – 3:02
- “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” – 1:30
- “If 6 Was 9” – 5:57
- “Rock Me Baby (Live)” (Josea, B.B. King) – 3:20
- “Like a Rolling Stone (Live)” (Bob Dylan) – 6:52
- “Burning of the Midnight Lamp (Live)” (2013 re-issue bonus track)
- “The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice” (2013 re-issue bonus track)
- “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Live)” (Lennon–McCartney) – 1:51
- “Burning of the Midnight Lamp (Live)” – 4:06
- “Little Wing” – 3:23
- “Little Miss Lover” – 2:21
- “The Wind Cries Mary (Live)” – 4:11
- “Catfish Blues (Live)” (Robert Petway) – 5:26
- “Bold as Love” – 7:09
- “Sweet Angel” – 4:12
- “Fire (Live)” – 2:43
- “Somewhere” – 3:48
- “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)” – 1:28
- “Gypsy Eyes” – 3:43
- “Room Full of Mirrors” – 1:26
- “Gloria” (Van Morrison) – 8:53
- “Peace in Mississippi” (2013 re-issue bonus track)
- “It’s Too Bad” – 8:52
- “Star Spangled Banner” (Francis Scott Key, John Stafford Smith, arr. Hendrix) (Studio version featuring Silver Apples) – 4:12
- “Stone Free” – 3:43
- “Like a Rolling Stone (Live)” (Bob Dylan) (2013 re-issue bonus track)
- “Spanish Castle Magic” – 5:50
- “Hear My Train A Comin'” – 6:58
- “Room Full of Mirrors” – 7:56
- “I Don’t Live Today (Live)” – 6:33
- “Little Wing (Live)” – 3:16
- “Red House (Live)” – 13:07
- “Purple Haze (Live)” – 4:03
- “Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live)” – 7:53
- “Izabella” – 3:40
- “Message to Love” – 3:35
- “Earth Blues” – 4:08
- “Astro Man” – 4:11
- “Country Blues” – 8:27
- “Freedom” – 3:52
- “Johnny B. Goode (Live)” (Chuck Berry) – 4:46
- “Lover Man” – 2:57
- “Blue Suede Shoes (Live)” (Carl Perkins) – 4:28
- “Cherokee Mist” – 6:02
- “Come Down Hard on Me” – 3:18
- “Hey Baby/In from the Storm (Live)” – 8:56
- “Ezy Ryder” – 3:43
- “Night Bird Flying” – 4:24
- “All Along the Watchtower (Live)” (Bob Dylan) – 4:22
- “In from the Storm (Live)” – 4:21
- “Slow Blues” – 1:46