A few years ago, it was mentioned somewhere official (Love4oneanother? I don't remember) that Prince had recorded an album of Jimi Hendrix covers. With Purple House being released on the Jimi Hendrix tribute album Power Of Soul on May 4th, I was thinking about this project.

Which tracks do you think would be on it? Which Jimi tracks would you like Prince to record? What would be a good title?

Personally, I'd love to hear Prince play Little Wing, a studio version of Villanova Junction, The Wind Cries Mary, Voodoo Chile, Castles Made Of Sand, Angel... I think Purple House would be a very fitting title for the album too.

I would love to see this released by Experience Hendrix/NPG Records, but if not in stores, maybe Prince could put the tracks up for download in the Musicology room when the Power Of Soul album is released in May. That would be a treat for both us and the people who buy Power Of Soul.

What do you all think?

If 6 was 9

possibly Jimi's finest "fuck you, I don't care" statement

Releasing such a thing would be the unwisest thing anyone could do. Cover albums CAN work out, if you make the new versions radically different from the originals. But with Hendrix, it's all about competition on the same grounds.

However if Prince wants to cover Hendrix, something like "Dolly Dagger" would be a much more interesting choice. "Castles Made Of Sand" could admittably work too - it'd probably fit his vocal style much better than many other Hendrix tunes that sound just so utterly wrong when someone else is performing them.

little wing

I've always totally, totally loved Jimi's cover of (i think Earl King's) "Come on (let the good times roll)" and i think Prince could kick some serious ass on that track.

When I'm saaaad, she comeees to meee
With a thousand smileeees, she gives to me freee

DaIllest said:

That sounds enough horrible in written text already. I wouldn't want to actually hear you singing that.

Novabreaker said:

I think I may agree if released in stores, but the great thing about the 79c downloads at NPGMC's Musicology room is that it will allow for many non-definitive tracks/albums to be released, if Prince chooses to do that (only time will tell).

If he was to do some kind of "Prince Salutes Hendrix" album he'd probably do best with these tunes, most of which are not normally covered:

Stone Free
Fire
May this be Love
Up from the skies
Spanish Castle Magic
Little Miss Lover
Cross Town Traffic
Freedom
Drifting

booyah said:

Okay, that's fair. Though it would be far more interesting would he choose to cover someone more unobvious (no not Cheryl Crow).

Haujobb?

I gotta hear Prince play Third Stone From The Sun. C'mon P...