1. The Star Spangled Banner (Woodstock- 1969)
2. Machine Gun (Band Of Gypsies- 1969)
3. I Don't Live Today (San Diego- 1968)
4. Sunshine Of Your Love (Winterland- 1967)
2. Machine Gun (Band Of Gypsies- 1969)
3. I Don't Live Today (San Diego- 1968)
4. Sunshine Of Your Love (Winterland- 1967)
5. Hear My Train A Coming (Atlanta- 1970)
6. Voodoo Chile (Electric Ladyland)
7. Manic Depression (Winterland-1967)
8. Gypsy Eyes (Electric Ladyland)
9. Driving South (Radio One)
10. All Along The Watchtower (Electric Ladyland)
11. Midnight (studio track-unreleased)
I know I know... this is silly but I had to do it for those who aren't aware of some of these versions.
Let's break it down.
1. Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock:
This gets the top spot because never has a musician created such a political statement as Hendrix did with just some distortion. Truly breathtaking, and even though the Woodstock performance doesn't rate highly as an over-all concert for him, this certainly was a game changer for guitarists and music in general.
2. Machine Gun at the Fillmore January 1st 1969:
The Star Spangled Banner was Jimi's take on another composers work, but Machine Gun is Jimi's own statement. No one will ever come close to this performance at least in terms of the electric guitar. Every note is superb and if you aren't moved by the end of this, you have no soul.
3. I Don't Live Today- San Diego 1969:
Before Machine Gun and Star Spangled Banner, there was I Don't Live Today, Jimi's first political statement and again he makes it with his guitar. This is one of the absolute most vicious guitar solos ever performed and sets the stage for his later master strokes. He even plays a line from the Star Spangled Banner in this, alluding to things to come. Oh, and the drum intro is one of the best drum intros of all time.
4. Sunshine of Your Love- Winterland, 1969:
Jimi loved covering other peoples stuff and whenever he did, it was with masterful results, most of the time exceeding the quality of the original songs. In this case, he made a statement early on, that he can cover Clapton and take it to levels Clapton would've never thought possible much less executable. I'm sure people in the audience were in shock after hearing something like this. No one had ever heard anything like this before and the Cream version seems tame in comparison. And I love the Cream version!
5. Hear My Train A Coming- Atlanta, 1970 (available on the Stages boxed set):
Jimi's blues masterpiece. Not only is Jimi the greatest ROCK guitarist of all time, he is also the best blues guitarist ever. Problem is, his grand blues opus was never recorded officially and there are so many live versions going around, it' s hard to choose, but this one may be the best one I've heard. He seems to just rip into this one and some of the softer moments are just beautiful. He also has his full effects package in tow. Stevie Ray Vaughn built an entire career on copying some of the licks from this tune.
6. Voodoo Chile- Electric Ladyland:
Jimi's other blues opus, which he recorded for Electric Ladyland. Jimi, soaring to new, sexy heights on this one- You can hear the ground breaking. Of course, Slight Return should get honorable mention, as that too, is Jimi's defining solo.
6. Voodoo Chile (Electric Ladyland)
7. Manic Depression (Winterland-1967)
8. Gypsy Eyes (Electric Ladyland)
9. Driving South (Radio One)
10. All Along The Watchtower (Electric Ladyland)
11. Midnight (studio track-unreleased)
I know I know... this is silly but I had to do it for those who aren't aware of some of these versions.
Let's break it down.
1. Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock:
This gets the top spot because never has a musician created such a political statement as Hendrix did with just some distortion. Truly breathtaking, and even though the Woodstock performance doesn't rate highly as an over-all concert for him, this certainly was a game changer for guitarists and music in general.
2. Machine Gun at the Fillmore January 1st 1969:
The Star Spangled Banner was Jimi's take on another composers work, but Machine Gun is Jimi's own statement. No one will ever come close to this performance at least in terms of the electric guitar. Every note is superb and if you aren't moved by the end of this, you have no soul.
3. I Don't Live Today- San Diego 1969:
Before Machine Gun and Star Spangled Banner, there was I Don't Live Today, Jimi's first political statement and again he makes it with his guitar. This is one of the absolute most vicious guitar solos ever performed and sets the stage for his later master strokes. He even plays a line from the Star Spangled Banner in this, alluding to things to come. Oh, and the drum intro is one of the best drum intros of all time.
4. Sunshine of Your Love- Winterland, 1969:
Jimi loved covering other peoples stuff and whenever he did, it was with masterful results, most of the time exceeding the quality of the original songs. In this case, he made a statement early on, that he can cover Clapton and take it to levels Clapton would've never thought possible much less executable. I'm sure people in the audience were in shock after hearing something like this. No one had ever heard anything like this before and the Cream version seems tame in comparison. And I love the Cream version!
5. Hear My Train A Coming- Atlanta, 1970 (available on the Stages boxed set):
Jimi's blues masterpiece. Not only is Jimi the greatest ROCK guitarist of all time, he is also the best blues guitarist ever. Problem is, his grand blues opus was never recorded officially and there are so many live versions going around, it' s hard to choose, but this one may be the best one I've heard. He seems to just rip into this one and some of the softer moments are just beautiful. He also has his full effects package in tow. Stevie Ray Vaughn built an entire career on copying some of the licks from this tune.
6. Voodoo Chile- Electric Ladyland:
Jimi's other blues opus, which he recorded for Electric Ladyland. Jimi, soaring to new, sexy heights on this one- You can hear the ground breaking. Of course, Slight Return should get honorable mention, as that too, is Jimi's defining solo.
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