
There was a time, a long time ago, when you would have found some 40+ records in my record collection from Jimi Hendrix, my first music love.
I basically bought every Hendrix record I could get my hands on and seeing as these were the days before the internet, the process of getting one’s hands on anything required effort instead of clicks. Of all those Hendrix records, the four released during his lifetime as The Jimi Hendrix Experience—Are You Experienced (1967), Axis: Bold as Love (1967), Electric Ladyland (1968)—and the live Band of Gypsys (1970) with its soul funk fusion remain my favorites. Even though I came to these records late, in 1975 or so, I bought them over time and in order of release date because I wanted to, you know, get experienced.
Some, many?, of the bootlegs are not worth owning like the live to two-track recording from the Scene nightclub in New York City circa 1968 released under a number of names including High, Live ‘n Dirty (ick) featuring among others a sloppy repulsive Jim Morrison I wish I’d never heard. The posthumous compilation album Loose Ends, on the other hand, is among the most fun.
But this 12″ two song Maxi Single featuring “Gloria” on side A and “Hey Joe” on side B is a favorite little slice of Hendrix & Co. released by Polydor in Germany, first in 1978 and again in 1980. This is the 1980 version.
This 12” is a favorite slab of vinyl because it’s Hendrix at his relaxed joyful best. I have to share that I find the later cobbled together posthumous studio records including the The Cry of Love kinda depressing as Hendrix was clearly struggling toward a new sound that his death in 1970 at the age of 27 didn’t allow him to fully find. Just my opinion of course and I can hear a similar sadness creep into some of his later live performances where his apparent boredom with ‘the blues’ made his playing sound average at best.
But when Hendrix was on his game, as he is here, he had no equal. And my favorite side, by far, is his take on “Gloria” where he pulls out a mind blowing serving of his unique sounds and styles, making what I assume to be his Strat scream, laugh, growl, and cry. Hendrix coaxed an amazing array of voices from his guitar making many other players, like Eric Clapton, sound one dimensional. Kinda superficial. And as far as I’m concerned, Hendrix was also the king of the wah pedal, an effect that in many other payer’s hand (and foot) had the result sounding like an audition tape for a 1970s porno flick. Bow chicka wow wow.
In any event, Hendrix goes off Van Morrison’s script throughout, telling his own Gloria stories including a jovial jab at Mitch Mitchell while his guitar tells a much deeper tale with its fluid unbridled inventive power. Hendrix’s singing is at its relaxed best which is a joy to hear as he could be uncomfortably and obviously self conscious about his voice.
Gloria / Hey Joe also sounds great on the hifi and greater still the louder you play it. I’ve shared this record a number of times over the years and when people hear it for the first time head-shaking and big smiles always ensue. I understand you can stream these songs but as far I’m concerned this is one of those records whose joy is best found on vinyl.
Speaking of smiles, you can find Gloria / Hey Joe for under $20 any day of the week wherever favorite old Hendrix records are sold. Just a click away.