The Experience’s second single “Purple Haze” b/w “51st Anniversary” was released by Track Records in the United Kingdom.
Track List: Purple Haze // 51st Anniversary
Looking to get something new to market following their debut “Hey Joe,” Chas Chandler brought The Experience to DeLane Lea Studios in London to commence work on their next songs. This session included the basic track for “Purple Haze,” which was recorded in merely four hours.
A 40-minute set by the Experience is performed at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas. Their set includes performances of “Purple Haze,” “Fire,” “Foxey Lady,” “Hey Joe,” “Red House,” and “Tax Free” among others. Hendrix closes the set with a destructive sequence has him destroying his Stratocaster and smashing several amps on stage.
The Experience fly to Paris for two shows with The Animals at the Olympia. Set 1: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Fire,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” “Catfish Blues,” “Little Wing,” and “Purple Haze.” Set 2: “Killin’ Floor,” “Catfish Blues,” “Foxy Lady,” “Red House,” “Drivin’ South,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Fire,” “Little Wing,” and “Purple Haze.”
Smash Hits is released in the United Kingdom (Track, 613 400). The album includes: “Purple Haze,” “Fire,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Can You See Me,” “51st Anniversary,” “Hey Joe,” “Stone Free,” “The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice,” “Manic Depression,” “Highway Chile,” “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp,” and “Foxy Lady.”
Supported by Soft Machine, The Experience play New York State University in Long Island, New York. Included in the evening’s performance are “Red House,” “I Don’t Live Today,” “Purple Haze,” and “Wild Thing.”
Hendrix makes a return visit back to hometown of Seattle, Washington where he is met at the airport by a large gathering of friends and family. Over the next couple of days Jimi spends considerable time with members of his family.
With support from Ballin’ Jack and Grin, The Experience perform “Machine Gun,” “Purple Haze,” and “Foxey Lady” at the outdoor venue. The show is reportedly cut short (roughly 45 minutes) due to dense fog that enveloped the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, CA.
Having just successfully completed two sold out performances at the Fillmore East, the previous night, the Band of Gypsys New Year’s Day performances were solidifying them as one of the most recognizable sounds in modern music. Just as with the two shows the preceding night Wally Heider and Eddie Kramer also recorded this performance.
