"Drifting" from First Rays of the New Rising Sun.

The song is poignant in the way that "Little Wing" is but rarely gets the same level of recognition.

Other underrated gems:

Electric Ladyland-1983
Axis-One Rainy Wish
Are You Experienced-Love or Confusion

Jimi fans: What would you consider the most underrated tracks from each Jimi album (studio releases only)

Electric Ladyland: House Burning Down
Are You Experienced: I Don't Live Today
Axis: Wait Until Tomorrow
First Rays of the New Rising Sun: In From The Storm

Night Bird Flying

Yeah,...I wrote a thread on here about the track "Drifting". It's one of my time faves from Jimi. But my choice for most underrated Hendrix track is "Have You Ever Been To Electric LadyLand". I also wrote a thread about this song on here. It's another one of my all time faves by Jimi. And my follow up behind that for most underrated Hendrix song is the title track "Axis; Bold As Love". Which again, is another all time fave Jimi track.

I thought I might have seen this before. I find that Hendrix ballads have a special meaning for me. Don't know why. With 1983 (Merman I should turn to be), it is just has that alien feeling to it like JImi was on another planet when composing it.

who knows
one of the funkiest bass lines ever

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Jimi WAS from another planet. That's where he's been since Sept, 1970.

blackguitaristz said:

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Before I even clicked your thread I immediately thought "Drifting."
That song is beautiful and definitely one of my favorites.

I would agree with BlackGuitaristZ as well about "Bold As Love." That song seems to me like it tends to be overlooked by the general public when it's one of his finest.

I would add "Angel" as another beautiful track, possibly underrated by some.

Jimi's ballads (and all his songs for that matter) are all very heartfelt and soulful, you can hear the pain and emotion in his music and that's what I love. His songs are not JUST songs, he's putting a piece of his soul to music.

emilio319 said:

Have you heard "Sweet Angel" on the 4 disc box set? I actually like the arrangement better than the studio version. "Angel" is great.

I thought there would be more Hendrix fans responding

May This Be Love

Fuck Your Momma in the Ass, w/Jim Morrison

That Blues cd is GREAT.

Another underrated thrack that again, I also wrote a thread about is the cut "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" which was released as a single in England.

Not sure if all these are truly 'under-rated', but they're rarely mentioned in the top league of Hendrix material when such things are discussed. So -


'Drifting' for sure, one of his best imo - Just beautiful 'drifting' radiance that does what it says on the tin.

'Hey Baby/New Rising Sun' - I love this unfinished one, especially the first minute or so, which is beautiful; a feeling that something of importance is about to happen. Such a shame he never got to complete it in the studio.

'Who Knows?' - For me, one of his coolest and funkiest tracks, and I concur with thebanishedone, this bassline drills itself into your skull for hours after - in a good, funky way. Only Buddy Miles (RIP) cooing later on mars the experience .

'1983' - Truly 'progressive' Jimi music imo - a real trip of a track, and one that reveals new things everytime I hear it.

'Ezy Rider' - Monster funmk rock, and what imo Lenny Kravitz tried to rip off on 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'. Some of the most amazing guitar overdubbing I've ever heard; a truly orchestral 'sonic sculpture'

'Third Stone From the Sun' - like ultimate space/jazz/surf/rock, man.

'Room Full of Mirrors' - I have a preference for the 'Voodoo Soup' version IIRC; I just prefer this mix to the various Eddie Kramer ones around. Some of Jimi's best lyrics right there.

'Stepping Stone' - Ah yes, the one when the guitars turn into mad country fiddles near the end . And I love the chaotic ending of the track on the 'master'.

'Izabella' - Yes, it's probably becoming clear that I play his late material more than most of his other stuff these days ; I always visualise the music to this as being over a epic car chase scene in some early '70s blaxploitation movie and finally, one of my all-time faves -

'Pali Gap' - Jimi (out)does Santana (maybe ). This is just divine, and I'm still stunned they never included it on Experience Hendrix's 'First Rays' collection. I mean, it could certainly kick out the tedious 'My Friend' on there for starters.

God, this man did so much in so little time. And imo he was starting to get even more focussed on his studio craft and songs, with some remarkable ideas in his overdubbing on his 1970 work.

His enthusiasm and humour; musical, sonic and verbal, often off-sets his virtuosity, which is why I find his stuff still refreshing. A shame so many of the musos who followed him forgot this. It's a hard trick to be a virtuoso and entertainer simultaneously imo, and Jimi pulls this off all through his career. And that's not even going into the tremendous risks he took when playing solos live, a bravery equalled only imo by Frank Zappa.

Miles said:

Amen! I agree with most points of this....(don't know anything about Zappa)

Long Hot Summer Night.

His tone was pristine.

I would have to say "Have You Ever been To Electric ladyland" - the musicianship and poetry is un-believable. In a similar way I also think "Are You Experienced" is under-rated. What a song and concept! Again the reverse guitar is incredible. Jimi Hendrix was just amazing.

MAY THIS BE LOVE
and
ONE RAINY WISH

"May This Be Love"
"Gypsy Eyes"
"Little Miss Lover"
"Wait Until Tommorow"
"Freedom"
"Power Of Soul"-(studio version)
"Izabella"
"Slow Blues" - (box set)
"This Is America"- (unreleased)

I also would include the entire "B.O.G" but you said studio releases only, not live stuff.

Have U Ever Been To Electric Ladyland
Angel

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Have U ever heard the Demo for this song? It's so raw & Beautiful. Just him singing & his guitar.

Bishop31 said:

Never have

There's quite a few, what I might consider, underrated tracks.
I'd have agree that the ballads get short-shrift in favor of the more raucous tunes.
And there's not really a bad ballad in the bunch.

My #1 pick without a doubt would be...



...Moon Turn The Tides
(actually the full 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be) / Moon Turn The Tides sequence).

For the same reason stated above, Voodoo Child (Slight Return) seems to get more attention than Voodoo Chile
(the definitive space-blues jam).

A few others that come to mind...

Crosstown Traffic
Message To Love
The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice
Burning of the Midnight Lamp
Little Miss Lover
Stone Free (should be in the Cowbell Hall of Fame)
Tax Free
Pali Gap
Woodstock Improvisation/Villanova Junction


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Sydney said:

I totally agree with you on "Electric Ladyland", but "Drifting" is the one for me. I just wish it was longer. Have you ever checked out Funkadelic`s "Alice in my Dreams"? They play a small snippet of "Izabella" that`s rockin. The whole Hendrix thing is such an amazing story. I miss him so much, even 38 years later. What a amazing person.

Posibly the most underrated track by Jimi has to be "Little Miss Strange." No-one ever gives this track a mention, but give a re-listen to the care and detail Jimi put into his guitar tracks for Noel's tune. He really crafted a part for the song rather than simply playing the song, if that makes sense. I think it is often overlooked because it's Noel's track, but the guitars on that tune deserve another listen

Bishop31 said:

Where can I find that song? Was that demo ever officially released? I have all pretty much all of Jimi's cd's and I don't have that demo.