Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) was an American musician who recorded over 170 different songs during his career from 1966 to 1970. Often considered one of the most accomplished and influential electric guitarists, Hendrix wrote most of his own material in a variety of styles.[1] Some show his blues and R&B roots and others incorporate jazz and early funk influences. Some songs, such as "Purple Haze", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", and "Machine Gun", feature his guitar-dominated hard and psychedelic rock sound, while others including "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Little Wing" take a slower, more melodic approach. Two of his best-known single releases were written by others: "Hey Joe" by Billy Roberts and "All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan. Hendrix supplied his own interpretations, however, which gave them a much different character than the originals.
Hendrix was known for his live performances. While he often played the numbers from his studio albums, several released songs exist only in live recordings. His radical interpretation of "The Star-Spangled Banner", which he performed at the 1969 Woodstock music festival, was a highlight of the event's 1970 documentary film, becoming "part of the sixties Zeitgeist." The live "Machine Gun" is often lauded as Hendrix's greatest achievement, in which he used the guitar to create sounds of a battlefield and noises similar to explosions, bombs dropping, and machine guns. Other songs only performed in concert show his interest in different styles of music. These include interpretations of blues songs by artists such as Howlin' Wolf ("Killing Floor"), B.B. King ("Rock Me Baby"), and Muddy Waters ("Catfish Blues"); the early rock and roll numbers "Johnny B. Goode" and "Blue Suede Shoes"; as well as the more contemporary rock "Sunshine of Your Love" and "Dear Mr. Fantasy".
At the time of his death, Hendrix was writing and recording for a planned fourth studio album. Songs such as "Freedom" and "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" signaled a new direction in Hendrix's music, which included a more integrated mix of hard rock with elements of R&B and multiple guitar parts. He also left behind a large number of partially completed songs, demos, and jams in a variety of styles, which continue to be issued.[1] Although he toured and mostly recorded as a three-piece, several Hendrix songs featured additional musicians, such as background vocalists, percussionists, and keyboardists. The long studio jam "Voodoo Chile", which Hendrix developed into "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", was recorded with organist Steve Winwood and bassist Jack Casady. Jamming was integral to his songwriting process and several posthumous post-1980 albums contain songs that are largely studio jams with various players. How much of this material Hendrix would have completed or released is unknown, but nonetheless has become part of his recording legacy.
In his writings, performances, and in the recording studio, Hendrix often referred to songs using alternate titles. Record companies in the US and UK sometimes issued his songs with differences in the spelling; Track Records (UK) used "Foxy Lady", while Reprise Records (US) spelled it "Foxey Lady". Later album producers changed some titles or supplied their own, when a formal name had not been identified.
Sixty songs were issued during Hendrix's lifetime, principally on the first three studio albums, a compilation, and a split live album under the Jimi Hendrix Experience name:
Additional songs recorded live were issued on Band of Gypsys (1970) and the various artists release (1970). Two songs recorded with the Band of Gypsys lineup were issued as a single in 1970.
| Indicates song released on a single | |
| Indicates song released as a live recording | |
| Writer(s) | Original album release | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "3rd Stone from the Sun" | Are You Experienced | 1967 | ||
| "51st Anniversary" | Hendrix | Smash Hits (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Ain't No Telling" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "All Along the Watchtower" | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | ||
| "" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Are You Experienced?" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "Bold as Love" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" | Hendrix | Smash Hits (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "Can You See Me" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "Castles Made of Sand" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Changes" | Band of Gypsys | 1970 | ||
| "Come On (Part I)" | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | ||
| "Crosstown Traffic" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
"Electric Ladyland"
| ||||
| "EXP" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Fire" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "Foxy Lady" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "Gypsy Eyes" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Hey Joe" | Are You Experienced (US edition) | 1966 | ||
| "Highway Chile" | Hendrix | Smash Hits (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "House Burning Down" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "I Don't Live Today" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "If Six Was Nine" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
"Instrumental Solo"
| ||||
| "Izabella" | Hendrix | War Heroes | 1970 | |
| "Like a Rolling Stone" | Historic Performances | 1970 | ||
| "Little Miss Lover" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Little Miss Strange" | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | ||
| "Little Wing" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Long Hot Summer Night" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Love or Confusion" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "Machine Gun" | Hendrix | Band of Gypsys | 1970 | |
| "Manic Depression" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "May This Be Love" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced | 1967 | |
| "Message of Love" | Hendrix | Band of Gypsys | 1970 | |
| "Moon, Turn the Tides...Gently Gently Away" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "One Rainy Wish" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Power to Love" | Hendrix | Band of Gypsys | 1970 | |
| "Purple Haze" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced (US edition) | 1967 | |
| "Rainy Day, Dream Away" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Red House" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "Remember" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "Rock Me Baby" | Historic Performances | 1970 | ||
| "She's So Fine" | 1967 | |||
| "Spanish Castle Magic" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Star Spangled Banner" | Traditional (by Hendrix) | 1970 | ||
| "" | Hendrix | Smash Hits (UK edition) | 1967 | |
| "Stepping Stone" | Hendrix | War Heroes | 1970 | |
| "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Stone Free" | Hendrix | Smash Hits | 1966 | |
"Third Stone from the Sun"
| ||||
| "Up from the Skies" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "Villanova Junction" | Hendrix | 1970 | ||
| "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Voodoo Chile" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland | 1968 | |
| "Wait Until Tomorrow" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
| "We Gotta Live Together" | Band of Gypsys | 1970 | ||
| "Who Knows" | Hendrix | Band of Gypsys | 1970 | |
| "Wild Thing" | Historic Performances | 1970 | ||
| "" | Hendrix | Are You Experienced (US edition) | 1967 | |
| "You've Got Me Floating" | Hendrix | 1967 | ||
At the time of his death, Hendrix had a large number of songs in various stages of recording. Some were for a planned fourth studio album; 15 songs from his proposed track listings were released on the first three posthumous Hendrix albums produced by longtime associates recording engineer Eddie Kramer and drummer Mitch Mitchell:
Beginning in 1975, more unfinished songs were released on albums produced by Alan Douglas.[1] Most of the original recordings were edited and often had overdubs by musicians who had never played with Hendrix.[1] In 1997, Experience Hendrix, a family company, took control of his recording legacy. Its first release, First Rays of the New Rising Sun (1997), combined songs from the 1971–1972 albums in the most complete attempt at presenting his unfinished fourth studio album.[1] Experience Hendrix continues to issue additional unfinished songs, alternate takes, demos, and jams (including restored recordings from the Douglas era). All songs listed are from official releases.[2]
| Indicates song released on a single | |
| Indicates song released as a live recording | |
| Writer(s) | Original album release | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "3 Little Bears" | War Heroes | 1972 | ||
| "12 Bar with Horns" | Hendrix | Non-album single B-side of "Love or Confusion" | 2010 | [3] |
| "" | Both Sides of the Sky | 2018 | [4] | |
| "Acoustic Demo" | Hendrix | Morning Symphony Ideas | 2000 | [5] |
| "All God's Children" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | [6] |
| "Angel" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
"Angel Caterina"
| ||||
| "Astro Man" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Auld Lang Syne" | Traditional (adapted by Hendrix) | (EP) | 1974 | |
| "Baggy's Jam" | Hendrix | 2002 | [7] | |
| "Beginning" | Woodstock Two | 1971 | ||
| "Belly Button Window" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Bleeding Heart" | Experience | 1971 | ||
| "Blue Suede Shoes" | Hendrix in the West | 1972 | ||
| "Blue Window" | Hendrix | Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues | 2003 | [8] |
| "Blues Jam at Olympic" | Hendrix | Hear My Music | 2004 | [9] |
| "Bolero" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Born Under a Bad Sign" | William Bell | Blues | 1994 | [10] |
| "Burning Desire" | Hendrix | Loose Ends | 1974 | |
| "Calling All the Devil's Children" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" | BBC Sessions | 1998 | [11] | |
"Captain Coconut"
| ||||
| "Cat Talking to Me" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Catfish Blues" | (Muddy Waters) | Radio One | 1988 | |
| "Cherokee Mist" | Hendrix | 2000 | [12] | |
| "Come Down Hard on Me Baby" | Hendrix | Loose Ends | 1974 | |
| "Country Blues" | Hendrix | 2000 | ||
| "Crash Landing" | Hendrix | People, Hell and Angels | 2013 | |
| "Crying Blue Rain" | Hendrix | Valleys of Neptune | 2010 | [13] |
| "Day Tripper" | John Lennon Paul McCartney | Radio One | 1988 | |
| "Dear Mr. Fantasy" | Steve Winwood Chris Wood | Paris 1967/San Francisco 1968 | 2003 | [14] |
| "Dolly Dagger" | Hendrix | Rainbow Bridge | 1971 | |
| "Drifter's Escape" | Loose Ends | 1974 | ||
| "Drifting" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Drivin' South" | (Curtis Knight) | Radio One | 1988 | |
| "Drone Blues" | Hendrix | Hear My Music | 2004 | |
| "Earth Blues" | Hendrix | Rainbow Bridge | 1971 | |
| "Easy Blues" | Hendrix | People, Hell and Angels | 2013 | |
| "Electric Church Red House" | Hendrix | Blues | 1994 | |
| "Ezy Ryder" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Freedom" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Georgia Blues" | Hendrix | Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues | 2003 | |
"Getting My Heart Back Together Again"
| ||||
| "Gloria" | Gloria (EP UK) | 1978 | ||
| "Gypsy Blood" | Hendrix | Hear My Music | 2004 | |
"Gypsy Boy"
| ||||
| "Hear My Freedom" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Hear My Train A Comin'" | Hendrix | Woodstock Two | 1971 | |
"Here He Comes"
| ||||
| "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" | Hendrix | Rainbow Bridge | 1971 | |
| "Hound Dog" | Jerry Leiber Mike Stoller | Radio One | 1988 | |
| "Hound Dog Blues" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "I Was Made to Love Her" | Lula Mae Hardaway Henry Cosby Sylvia Moy | BBC Sessions | 1998 | |
| "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" | Loose Ends | 1974 | ||
| "In from the Storm" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Inside Out" | Hendrix | People, Hell and Angels | 2013 | [15] |
| "It's Too Bad" | Hendrix | 2000 | ||
| "Jam 292" | Hendrix | Loose Ends | 1974 | |
"Jam Back at the House"
| ||||
| "Jammin'" | Hendrix | BBC Sessions | 1998 | |
| "Jimi/Jimmy Jam" | Hendrix | Hear My Music | 2004 | |
| "Johnny B. Goode" | Hendrix in the West | 1972 | ||
| "Jungle" | Hendrix | Morning Symphony Ideas | 2000 | |
| "Keep On Grooving" | Hendrix | Morning Symphony Ideas | 2000 | |
| "Killing Floor" | (Howlin' Wolf) | Kiss the Sky | 1984 | |
| "Let Me Move You" | Hendrix | People, Hell and Angels | 2013 | |
| "" / "Silent Night" (medley) | Henry Onorati Harry Simeone Josef Mohr Franz Gruber (adapted by Hendrix) | (EP) | 1974 | |
| "Little One" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Lonely Avenue" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Look Over Yonder" | Hendrix | Rainbow Bridge | 1971 | |
| "Lover Man" | Hendrix | Isle of Wight | 1971 | |
| "Lullaby for the Summer" | Hendrix | Valleys of Neptune | 2010 | |
| "Mannish Boy" | (Muddy Waters) Mel London Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley) | Both Sides of the Sky | 2018 | |
| "Mastermind" | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | ||
| "Messenger" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Midnight" | Hendrix | War Heroes | 1972 | |
| "Midnight Lightning" | Hendrix | Isle of Wight | 1971 | |
| "MLK" | Hendrix | Burning Desire | 2006 | |
"Mr. Bad Luck"
| ||||
| "My Friend" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "New Rising Sun" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Night Bird Flying" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Once I Had a Woman" | Hendrix | Blues | 1994 | |
| "Pali Gap" | Hendrix | Rainbow Bridge | 1971 | |
"Pass It On (Straight Ahead)"
| ||||
| "Peace in Mississippi" | Hendrix | (2013 reissue) | 2010 | [16] |
| "Peter Gunn" / "Catastrophe" (medley) | (by Hendrix) | War Heroes | 1972 | |
| "Play That Riff (Thank You)" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "" | Traditional (by Hendrix) | Hendrix in the West | 1972 | |
| "Radio One Theme" | Hendrix | Radio One | 1988 | |
| "Record Plant 2X" | Hendrix | Burning Desire | 2006 | [17] |
| "Room Full of Mirrors" | Hendrix | Experience | 1971 | |
| "Scorpio Woman" | Hendrix | Morning Symphony Ideas | 2000 | |
| "Send My Love to Linda" | Hendrix | Both Sides of the Sky | 2018 | |
| "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" | John Lennon Paul McCartney | Hendrix in the West | 1972 | |
| "Shame, Shame, Shame" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Ships Passing Through the Night" | Hendrix | Valleys of Neptune | 2010 | |
| "Slow Blues" | Hendrix | 2000 | ||
| "Slow Time Blues" | Hendrix | Burning Desire | 2006 | |
| "Slow Version" | Hendrix | Hear My Music | 2004 | |
| "Smashing of Amps" | Hendrix | Experience | 1971 | |
| "Snowballs at My Window" | Hendrix | Electric Ladyland (50th Anniversary Edition) | 2018 | [18] |
| "Somewhere" | Hendrix | 2000 | ||
| "South Saturn Delta" | Hendrix | South Saturn Delta | 1997 | [19] |
| "Steal Away" | 2019 | [20] | ||
| "Stop" | Mort Shuman | Band of Gypsys 2 | 1986 | |
| "Straight Ahead" | Hendrix | 1971 | ||
| "Strato Strut" | Hendrix | Morning Symphony Ideas | 2000 | |
| "Suddenly November Morning" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "" | Jack Bruce Eric Clapton | Experience | 1971 | |
"Sweet Angel"
| ||||
| "Taking Care of No Business" | Hendrix | 2000 | ||
| "Tax Free" | Janne Carlsson | War Heroes | 1972 | |
| "Tears of Rage" | Richard Manuel | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Things I Used to Do" | (Guitar Slim) | Both Sides of the Sky | 2018 | |
| "Title #3" | Hendrix | 2000 | ||
"Trash Man"
| ||||
| "Untitled Basic Track" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |
| "Valleys of Neptune" | Hendrix | Valleys of Neptune | 2010 | |
| "Woodstock" | Both Sides of the Sky | 2018 | ||
| "Woodstock Improvisation" | Hendrix | Woodstock | 1994 | [21] |
| "Young/Hendrix" | Hendrix | West Coast Seattle Boy | 2010 | |