Jimi Hendrix Experience's, "Are You Experienced" 50th Anniversary

brianlux

(Thank you G.J. from Hoffman's web forums for pointing this out!)

Hard to believe it's been 50 years!  Jimi's "Are You Experienced" was released on 5/12/67. 

Shortly after AYE's release I was walking my bicycle across the Southern Pacific railway tracks in Mountain View, California and found a five dollar bill on the ground between the ties. Right away, I rode over to a place called Mayfield Mall and with that five bucks purchased, brand new, one copy each of "Are You Experienced" and Cream's "Fresh Cream". Best five bucks I ever spent!

kramer73

Do you prefer the mono AYE, or the stereo?

brianlux

kramer73 said:

Do you prefer the mono AYE, or the stereo?

I prefer all three Hendrix studio albums in stereo.  Most of us had the stereo LPs when they came out and that's what I was used to so that might be a part of my bias.  I bought Axis in mono when the Experience Ltd people released it with much fan fare and it's interesting but the stereo effects of Hendrix music has always been a fairly big part of it for me.  Jimi on headphones- oh man!

How about you?  Any preferences? 

kramer73

I've only listened to the stereo versions, always wondered what the hype of mono was all about.  I may pick up some Beatles mono at some point.

Wobbie

oh, damn...I'm old enough to have received that for either a birthday or xmas present.

I remember my dad examining the cover and commenting something about "interesting looking cats"

bflynn1

brianlux

bflynn1 said:

Great likeness!  Now just flex those muscles 'cause Jimi had big hands!  But seriously, that's the man!

F Me In The Brain

I was 15 years (or so) late to the game but wow I listened to those 3 albums a lot.  Partial to Axis myself, my older brother's favorite was AYE and I heard it much more as a youngster. 
Favorite songs from it?
So tough...I Don't Live Today or AYE.  (Last song before the flip in both instances.)  Fire was my favorite as a kid.

brianlux

F Me In The Brain said:

I was 15 years (or so) late to the game but wow I listened to those 3 albums a lot.  Partial to Axis myself, my older brother's favorite was AYE and I heard it much more as a youngster. 
Favorite songs from it?
So tough...I Don't Live Today or AYE.  (Last song before the flip in both instances.)  Fire was my favorite as a kid.

I'm partial to Axis as well.  It's my favorite Hendrix music.  Adding to my love of that record was having an experience years ago while in high school with synesthesia while listening to One Rainy Wish.  I saw/heard each of the three instruments as three different colored shimmering angular movements of light.  Still on of my favorite Hendrix songs.

F Me In The Brain

Awesome song, sounds like an awesome experience.
I remember tripping out with EXP starting the album off, headphones on, and just thinking Jimi was so amazing.

brianlux

F Me In The Brain said:

Awesome song, sounds like an awesome experience.
I remember tripping out with EXP starting the album off, headphones on, and just thinking Jimi was so amazing.

Headphones + Jimi, for sure!

Wobbie

uh? helloooooo? electric ladyland?

I actually loved band of gypsies, as well, for the whole vibe of a drugged out NYE show.

brianlux

Wobbie said:

uh? helloooooo? electric ladyland?

I actually loved band of gypsies, as well, for the whole vibe of a drugged out NYE show.

I can groove on a rainy day, for sure!

redraw

Amazing album!!!!
Any word on a special release to celebrate the anniversary???

Brian - I am SO jealous of the fact that u got to witness Jimi live!!!

bflynn1

Wobbie said:

uh? helloooooo? electric ladyland?

I actually loved band of gypsies, as well, for the whole vibe of a drugged out NYE show.

Voodoo Chile... Hell yeah

brianlux

redraw said:

Amazing album!!!!
Any word on a special release to celebrate the anniversary???

Brian - I am SO jealous of the fact that u got to witness Jimi live!!!

Just lucky to have been there, right time, right place- and thankful for it.  I've worked hard to describe the two shows I saw him at the best I could in the music/memoir I'm working on.  It's super hard to put into words something that visceral and exciting.