Product Description

Right around the same time the Hendrix juggernaut started snowballing in England, the BBC was in the midst of setting up Radio 1, an entity dedicated to broadcasting pop music. Spearheaded by adventurous DJs such as John Peel and Alexis Korner, Radio 1 provided an outlet for the creative outpouringof the newly arrived Hendrix along with countless others. Since many BBC sessions fell halfway between being a studio recording and a live performance, BBC SESSIONS shows off someof Hendrix's most spontaneous and creative outbursts. Alongwith the core of his catalogue being showcased ("Purple Haze", "Fire"), Hendrix's fun-loving side shines through. Some of these moments include his wreaking havoc on Lulu's show by changing gears from a drastically reworked "Hey Joe" and dedicating "Sunshine Of Your Love" to the recently split up Cream before getting the plug pulled on him. Among the other covers included in this two-disc set is a notable instrumental jam on "I Was Made To Love Her", featuring Stevie Wonder on drums. More than any other recording up to this point, BBC SESSIONS shows the Jimi Hendrix Experience at its most bright-eyed and vibrant.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Foxey Lady
2. Alexis Korner Introduction - Alexis Korner
3. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?
4. Rhythm And Blues World Service - Alexis Korner
5. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man - Jimi Hendrix Experience, Alexis Korner
6. Traveling With The Experience
7. Driving South
8. Fire
9. Little Miss Lover
10. Introducing The Experience - Jimi Hendrix Experience, Alexis Korner
11. The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
12. Catfish Blues
13. Stone Free
14. Love Or Confusion
15. Hey Joe
16. Hound Dog
17. Driving South
18. Hear My Train A Comin'

Disc 2:

1. Purple Haze
2. Killing Floor
3. Radio One
4. Wait Until Tomorrow
5. Day Tripper
6. Spanish Castle Magic
7. Jammin'
8. I Was Made To Love Her
9. Foxey Lady
10. A Brand New Sound
11. Hey Joe
12. Manic Depression
13. Driving South
14. Hear My Train A Comin'
15. A Happening For Lulu - Lulu
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
17. Lulu Introduction - Lulu
18. Hey Joe
19. Sunshine Of Your Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9803 in Music
• Released on: 1999-06-18
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Jimi Hendrix Experience only recorded for the BBC over a two-year period, and from the tracks assembled on this two-disc set, it sounds like their on-air appearances were a constant struggle between what the Beeb wanted--for them to play their songs and be done--and what Jimi wanted, which was to mess with whatever it was the Beeb wanted. Sometimes, that took the form of jamming (as on two tracks with Stevie Wonder improbably playing drums); sometimes, it was peculiar covers (like "Day Tripper" and "Sunshine of Your Love"). Jimi's playing is, of course, impeccable, though the sonics of the set leave something to be desired, and it gets a bit repetitive--three versions of "Hey Joe"? --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

BBC Sessions
The 'BBC sessions' are a good place to go to hear lots of short live examples of Jimi's early music. I wouldn't say it's the best place to go for a live experience, for that I'd suggest 'Live at Berkley', but it does have some great playing and a good feel when Jimi was just starting out and was fresh. There are a lot of repeat tracks on this double album and not many extended Jams which he was carried off so well live, but there is a good selection of his music here (although it is mainly from his first two albums). The jingle he wrote for Radio 1 is excellent and the various spoken word introductions are good at recreating the feel of the time, very cheesy and very sixties. As usual with experience Hendrix releases there is a comprehensive booklet with some decent photos and the packaging is great. This is definitely one to add to your collection, but maybe after you've got a few others first.

Essential Hendrix
This collection of BBC Experience is terrific, and if it gets a bit repetitious in parts, with several versions of the same song, that's OK because the set as a whole is magic.

The energy and inspiration level is evident and the set contains one of the band's all time greatest efforts, Drivin' South. One of the band's few instrumentals, this track (3 versions to choose from) has the propulsive power of a jet engine.

The sound, mastered by Eddie Kramer, is superior to that of the single CD set released many years ago, which avoided duplication but also left out many great takes.

The set finishes with the great Lulu show rebellion, where the band decided to abort Hey Joe and do Sunshine of Your Love instead, on live TV. Apparently the producers had kittens because the show ran over time.

Other gems include Hoochie Coochie Man with Alexis Korner and a jam with Stevie Wonder on drums. The band is firing and the often under-rated support from Mitchell and Redding is first class: one reason this was such a great band.

Indispensible.

Captured live by radio 1
It has often been said that ` any band can sound good in the studio` and I think its true especially if the material is good. The Jimi Hendrix Experience are just cooking! and all the takes sound so fresh and warm the band have been captured in the raw and bloody incredible it is, even covers come to life, try Hound dog when Jimi says fetch daddys slippers! woofs and barking noises also in the background, this recording proves to the public that there are three very special musicians in this band, not just Hendrix and two backers! If you own their 1st four studio albums then this is the only other disc you`ll ever really need.. Brilliant..Some might say a live album could be added to a collection . Band of gypsies for instance different personell but Jimi on full throttle!