Jimi Hendrix — 434, 433, 432, 431, 430, 429

ALBUMS: The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold as Love (1967); Electric Ladyland (1968); Band of Gypsies (1970);  Smash Hits (1968); Midnight Lightning (1975);  Odds and Ends (1973);

MVC Ratings:  Axis 5.0/$$$$$; Gypsies 4.5/$$$$$; Ladyland 4.5/$$$$$; Smash Hits; 5.0/$$$$$; Midnight Lightning 4.0/$$$$; Odds and Ends 3.5/$$$$

People fall into two camps with Jimi Hendrix — and maybe a third if you don’t call it a cop-out.

Group 1: Loves Hendrix. Thinks he’s the best guitarist ever in the world.

Group 2: Pretty much can’t tolerate Hendrix, says music sounds like so much noise.

Group 3: Admires his ability and innovations but just can’t listen to a lot of the psychedelic, feedback sound he created .

True Hendrix, who was the definition of counterculture at the time, could make some noise. He could do things with distortion and feedback that people had never heard.

At Woodstock, he played the National Anthem on guitar, a scorching version in which he actually made the sound of whistling bombs exploding during the ‘Rockets red glare … and bombs bursting in air’  part.

Another song, Machine Gun, he created the sound of the rapid fire gun with his guitar.

I believe I would be correct if I  said  Hendrix is probably listed as the top guitarist most best-of lists.

That’s not to say there’s not some good argument.

Above link at Debate.org, there’s lots of rational arguments on both sides of this subjective debate. One naysayer wrote:  “There is no denying how innovative the man was. Saying he was the best is just too final of a statement to me. The best guitar players are typically jazz players or metal heads. The former using scales rock and blues dudes never touched; the latter using micro scales like Robert Johnson used to.”

Kind of amazing. Hendrix came out of session music for up and comers at the time like Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, B.B. King, and the Isely Brothers.

These session guys and gals were some of the top players in the game. Hendrix, self-taught, came out blazing.  He was an African – American super hippie from Seattle with a guitar ability no one had seen.

For those on the fence, that third group, maybe even some of the second group, I’m going to link to five songs that will attempt to  change your mind about Hendrix and his ability. I  grew up with the idea that Hendrix was the best and untouchable at No. 1 guitarist that I’m hard pressed to move off of that stand. Hendrix died of Asphyxia due to aspiration of vomit in 1970 at 27 years old. If  you are going to get one album with the big hits, get ‘Smash Hits’ or the first album, Are You Experienced. They have Purple Haze and Foxy Lady.

 5. Castles Made of Sand

4. The Wind Cries Mary

3; All Along the Watch Tower

2. Crosstown Traffic

  1.  Little Wing

Memo to Rick Bragg: Let’s sit down, reminisce and laugh (blog version)

 

Note: This story appears in slightly different version on AL.com here

Dear Rick

Great seeing you last night at your book signing.

If I forgot to say it: Congratulations on your cookbook/memoir ‘The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table.’

How many were there at the Alabama Booksmith in Homewood to get a book signed? Looked to be about 200. Amazing.

Sorry I couldn’t stay. Greg Garrison, his son Wes, and I were on the way to a debate sponsored by AL.com, and we would have slowed your two-hour signing process way down.

You and me made note of not seeing each other in a long time. Last I remember was lunch at Niki’s West, your favorite Birmingham dining spot. But that was a few years ago.

Oliver Bragg.JPG Mike Oliver, Rick Bragg at Alabama Booksmith in Homewood

We talked about getting together and having a sit-down talk to catch up. I joked we could spend two hours alone talking about our ailments. And, hell, we’re only 58.

This writing thing, or more specifically, the living thing, hasn’t always been easy but I want to compare your memories to mine over a cup of something, probably coffee.

The goal: Find lots of stuff to laugh about.

I want to reminisce about when we went on tour of West Jefferson Correctional Institution and had lunch with the inmates. Yeast rolls and butterbeans. There was Juicy and the Captain.

Walking out in the yard, the inmates shouted at us: “And the walls came tumbling down.” This was in the wake of the St. Clair prison riot in 1985 and the reason you and I went on this tour of West Jefferson. It led to a story on how the riot went down and prison conditions, which alas, haven’t changed much.

By the way, that Biblical quote (and John Cougar-Mellencamp song) shouted by the prisoners: You turned that into the opening of the story – another Rick Bragg special.

I remember when we got in some pretty big trouble for publishing the inmate’s list of demands.

I remember when we wrote together you’d tap something on the keyboards of our old VDT’s, look at me with a smile, stand up and say: I’ve got to walk that one off.

We can reminisce about the series of stories on foster children lost in the system which won some awards and a big luncheon thank-you from the National Social Workers Association.

We can talk about going to see Tom Petty in Atlanta. Road trip with several other Birmingham News folks, Dennis Love maybe? We’ll remember it.

We can talk about the big party after your first book signing for “All Over But the Shoutin’.” It was Atlanta and several of us ended up crashing on your floor. Or maybe it was you crashing on the floor. We’ll remember it. Luckily you lived right across the street from one of the oldest if not THE oldest Krispy Kreme establishment in America.

Rick Bragg and his mother.jpgRick Bragg goes for a walk with his mother, Margaret Bragg, who is the inspiration for his new book, “The Best Cook in the World.” (Photo by Terry Manier)

I remember you, me and Howard joining up and navigating the streets of San Francisco. We  were looking for fine dining and wound up in a burger joint. It was a good burger joint though.

I can remind you of how my wife, Catherine, pointed out with semi-feigned indignation because my name was in the “Shoutin”’ book (page 158)  but NOT her name.

You grabbed a book and wrote on the title page: ‘Dear Catherine, You’re in the book now, Sunshine.’

She loved it.

We got plenty to talk about, my time in California, your wedding in Memphis, Randy, families and friends. I mainly just want to follow up and make sure we do make a plan.

So, Niki’s?

I’ll tell Greg. (I’ll need a ride).