Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia

The Experience record “Long Hot Summer Night” at The Record Plant (321 West 44th Street) in New York. Al Kooper later overdubs piano on the track. It was during this session that Hendrix gave Kooper his Stratocaster, (See Issue #5, page 6, ‘None Take Hendrix Strat’ for details on recent Auction featuring this guitar).

Al Kooper Long Hot Summer Night new york Recording the experience the Record Plant

For three days, the band rehearses and records “Little Miss Strange” at The Record Plant. The track is first recorded under the title, “Lilacs For Captain Curry’s Coffin” (or “Little Miss Strange Test Session”). On the second day of recordings, the song takes it’s final naming incarnation, “Little Miss Strange.”

Lilacs For Captain Curry’s Coffin Little Miss Strange Recording the Record Plant

Redding’s four-hour sessions at The Record Plant resulted in the addition of additional acoustic guitars to “Little Miss Strange.”

Little Miss Strange Recording Redding the Record Plant

Back at The Record Plant, this emotionally trying session for the group resulted in several takes of “Gypsy Eyes” for which little progress was seen.

Gypsy Eyes Recording the Record Plant

Hendrix and Mitchell record 41 takes of “Gypsys Eyes” at The Record Plant. Later that night Redding prepares a rough mix of “Little Miss Strange” and also additional rhythm parts onto the April 20th master tape of “Little Miss Strange.”

Gypsys Eyes Little Miss Strange Recording Redding the Record Plant

Hendrix returned to the Record Plant (321 West 44th Street, New York City) for a studio session that resulted in three takes of “I’m A Man,” (AKA “Stepping Stone”) and one take of “Cherokee Mist” being put to tape. Take three of “I’m A Man” resulted in the basic track that would be revisited again during the session on January 20.

1970 Cherokee Mist hendrix records I’m A Man January 20 january 7 New York City Recording tepping Stone the Record Plant

Revisiting the December 19 recording of “Message To Love,” during an evening session back at the Record Plant, the group completed the final overdubs for this track while Hendrix added a new lead guitar part to the master. The group also revisited “Earth Blues” (Take 11) from the same December 19 session – adding a series of overdubs and a new lead guitar track.

In revisiting take three of “I’m A Man” (January 7), Hendrix retitled the track “Sky Blues Today” while adding new guitar overdubs to the recording. Hendrix also revisited the December 18 recording of “Ezy Ryder.” Rough mixes for each of the session’s recordings were also completed, which would later be revisited at Electric Lady Studios later that summer.

1970 December 19 Earth Blues Electric Lady Studios Ezy Ryder I’m A Man January 20 Message To Love overdubslead guitar track Recording Sky Blues Today Take 11 the Record Plant

Another marathon session at the Record Plant took place on this night with fourteen takes of “Power Of Soul” (still referred under the working title of “Crash Landing”) put to tape, and although takes 2, 4, and 6 were complete, no master track was flagged. Hendrix the introduced six takes of “Astro Man” before closing the session with one uneventful take of “Valleys Of Neptune.”

In 1974, Alan Douglas pulled the fourth (and complete) take of “Power Of Soul” and included it on the dismal collection Crash Landing (Reprise Records, MS 2204) albeit remixed and overdubbed with percussion by Jimmy Maeulen and subsequently retitled as “With The Power.”

The January 21 issue of Variety magazine announces the upcoming Isle Of Wight Festival of Music – a five-day musical extravaganza slated for August 30 on the small island off the south coast of England. Of the event, Variety explains, “the first two days will be a film fest. It is hoped to premier a couple of films of the Easy Rider genre. The remainder will be a conventional progressive pop bash with about 30 acts taking part. Policy is to not book more than two big names as crowd pullers as they tend to overshadow other acts. No bookings have yet been made.”

1970 1974 Alan Douglas Astro Man Crash Landing January 21 Jimmy Maeulen overdubbed Power Of Soul Recording the Record Plant Valleys Of Neptune Variety magazine With The Power

Back at the Record Plant, rough mixes of “Sky Blues Today” and “Izabella” were prepared but later scrapped in favor of new ones.

1970 Izabella January 22 Recording rough mixes Sky Blues Today the Record Plant

Although Jimi was not present at the Record Plant’s Los Angeles studio, engineers Stan Agol and Dan Turbeville mixed a four-track recording of “Star Spangled Banner” for the upcoming Woodstock soundtrack (Cotillion, SD 3500) was completed

Dan Turbeville oodstock soundtrack record plant LA studio Recording Stan Agol Star Spangled Banner the Record Plant

During a mixing session for Band Of Gypsys at the Record Plant, Dave Ragno and Bob Hughes joined Hendrix for the completion of a rough mix of “Izabella.”

1970 Band of Gypsys Bob Hughes Dave Ragno february 11 Izabella Recording the Record Plant

Back at the Record Plant, additional rough mixes of “Izabella” plus “Sky Blues Today” were completed. The mix of “Izabella” was considered the master.

1970 february 12 Izabella Recording rough mixes Sky Blues Today the Record Plant

Buddy Miles and Juma Sultan join Hendrix at the Record Plant where two recordings of “Blue Suede Shoes” were put to tape. Later, Hendrix sung live, giving a beautiful flamenco-styled flavor to “Hey Baby (Land Of The New Rising Sun).” Afterwards Hendrix breaks into a jam playing “Summertime Blues” which is then followed by “Day Tripper.”

1970 Blue Suede Shoes Buddy Miles Day Tripper February 16 Hey Baby Juma Sultan Land Of The New Rising Sun Releases Summertime Blues the Record Plant