Original Release Date: 1970 Band of Gypsys was the only live recording authorized by Jimi Hendrix before his death. Helping him out were longtime friends Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on the drums. This rhythm section was vastly different from the Experience. Buddy Miles was an earthy, funky drummer in direct contrast to the busy, jazzy leanings of Mitch Mitchell. These new surroundings pushed Hendrix to new creative heights. Along with this new rhythm section, Hendrix took these shows as an opportunity to showcase much of the new material he had been working on. The music was a seamless melding of rock, funk, and R&B, and tunes like "Message to Love" and "Power to Love" showed a new lyrical direction as well. Although he could be an erratic live performer, for these shows, Hendrix was ON, perhaps his finest performances. His playing was focused and precise. In fact, for most of the set, Hendrix stood motionless, a far cry from the stage antics that helped establish his reputation as a performer. The solo on "Machine Gun" totally rewrote the book on what a man could do with an electric guitar and is arguably the most groundbreaking and devastating guitar solo ever. Band of Gypsys is not only an important part of the Hendrix legacy, but one of the greatest live albums ever. Sean Westergaard |
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| Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys Regular price: $11.95 Sale price: $8.95 | |
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