Band of Gypsys

A touchstone for blues, funk, fusion and rock, Band of Gypsy's captured Hendrix's transition from pop phenomenon to new unchartered territories. Upon it's release in 1970, Band of Gypsy's earned the guitarist his 5th consecutive Billboard Top 10 album; 2nd only in sales to Are You Experienced, the LP peaked at #5. This release (the 1st fully authorized Hendrix family edition) features all new remastering from the original tapes and new 24-page full-color booklet with added liner notes. Tired of the showboating image that his early live performances had saddled him with--and that his black audience viewed as demeaning and degrading to his musical talent--Hendrix dissolved his Experience in 1969 in search of a more terra-firma-grounded, blues-oriented persona. On New Year's Eve, Hendrix, his old Army buddy bassist Billy Cox, and ex-Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles performed a loose, jam-filled set at New York's Fillmore East (completists will want the panoramic though uneven Live at the Fillmore East). Released a few months after his New Year's Eve 1970 concert, Band of Gypsys underscored Hendrix's desired return to basics--even if his basic was at a level most guitarists could never attain in a lifetime of playing. --Billy Altman