Book Description
On the 35th anniversary of his death comes the definitive biography of rock 'n' roll legend Jimi Hendrix-by the New York Times bestselling author Charles R. Cross oinciding with the 35th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's tragic death in 1970, Room Full of Mirrors is the definitive biography of rock 'n' roll's greatest guitarist. Meticulously researched and based on more than 300 interviews with those who knew him best-more than half of whom have never spoken about him before-this landmark book recounts the entire arc of Hendrix's life, from his troubled childhood in Seattle's projects and the early loss of his mother to his struggles against racial prejudice as a young musician and his rapid ascent to the top amidst the swinging London scene, and finally to the apex of his career headlining Woodstock in 1969, with his death occurring a year later.
Customer Reviews:
Great on life. Music not so much. .......2007-08-16
I think for what this book set about to be it's easily "4" or "5." The author wanted to write about Hendrix's life -- almost half the book is before he becomes a rock star. I really enjoyed the scenes set in his early days -- stuff we don't know so much about, like touring the South with Little Richard. However, it seems to me if you write a biography about someone as God-like as Hendrix there should be moments of higher level of stylistic interpretation regarding what exactly his music is.
What Hendrix did was profound. He turned thew combination of Blues and psychedellic rock into something that simply did not exist until then. (Ok, there was Clapton, but. . . no time for qualifiers.) His sound was not just something people listened to. The Hendrix sound is the soul of a world in transformation.
If you read, for instance, "LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS" about Elivs's early years, a lot of what the book is about is how this magical swirl of cultural forces in Memphis in the early 50s transformed America. ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS is basically just about the very interesting life of one man who was a big rock star and a great guitarist.
The Premier Jimi Bio.......2007-08-12
If you take the time to read through all of the reader reviews on this book, you'll see a broad diversity of opinion. Charles Cross managed to ruffle more than a few feathers it seems. Without a doubt, Cross dug deeper into Jimi's early years and got closer to the people that were a part of Jimi's formative years than any other journalist.
The criticism that Cross failed to expose anything new about the fame years is valid but ultimately unimportant. The fame years were witnessed, glorified and documented by many and they are somewhat mythical in their presentation of the grandeur that collapsed into demise. But if one tries to understand what drove Jimi to be what he became, all other bios fall short. I remember wondering how this gifted kid could possibly know and breathe the blues as he did. The easy answer was that the lack of a stable childhood and his mother's early death were the source of Jimi's blues and no doubt they were part of the picture. But Cross spells it all out much more clearly and gives the story coherence and resonance. By elucidating the genesis of the genius, Cross manages to do what no other Jimi biographer has accomplished - and that is he brings the roots of Jimi's pain to life and in doing so shows the source of energy that provided his incredible drive. I thank Charles Cross for bringing closure to so many questions that had been swirling in my mind for well over thirty years.
Worthy effort, but misses a lot.......2007-07-14
Cross makes two important contributions: 1) As others have noted, there's a lot of new information about Jimi's early life and the first 100 pages or so give a a very moving picture of his childhood. 2) The book makes clear how important Jimi's Seattle background was to his multicultural outlook, which is what made him willing and able to cross established boundaries more easily than if he had been born in raised in say the South or Northeast.
The rest of the book is fairly perfunctory stuff and Jimi's music is pretty much absent. Cross presents music as something Hendrix only thought about when he tired of cavorting with groupies and assorted low-lifes.
I'm also docking the book a star for not having an adequate bibliograpy.
Amazing.......2007-05-25
This book gives you such a close glimpse at Jimi's upbringing and inner visions and stuggles that you feel one with him. I couldn't put this book down and hope to come across more like this. Mr. Cross does a fantastic job uncovering the life of the greatest guitarist in history.
purple haze.........2007-05-08
a hard hitting look at the legend of Jimi Hendrix..I haven't read a whole lot of biographies of Jimi so I couldn't really compare this to any other biography but I was mesmerized and totally engrossed in this story and the wonderful way it's written..from his hard childhood. to his army days and his breakout as a musical icon..highly recommended..
Average customer rating:
- Incomparable Analysis of Hendrix's Influence on Music and Society
- Superb Analysis
- An Excellent Book
- Life R&R and the whole damn thing
- The Most Insightful On Jimi Thus Far
|
Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix & The Post-War Rock 'N' Roll Revolution
Charles S. Murray
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
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Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy
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ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS: A BIOGRAPHY OF JIMI HENDRIX
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Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix
ASIN: 0312063245 |
Book Description
Called by "Entertainment Weekly" "The best book on Hendrix", "Crosstown Traffic" rode their A-list for over two months and won the prestigious Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award. Roots-savvy British critic Charles Shaar Murray assesses the lifework of guitarist Jimi Hendrix in the context of black musical tradition, social history, and the upheaval of the 1960s. of photos. (Music)
Customer Reviews:
Incomparable Analysis of Hendrix's Influence on Music and Society .......2005-08-04
This is not your typical chronological biography of an influential figure. In this outstanding piece of literary work, Charles Murray delves far beyond the superficial facts into far more profound terrritory. The author sets the standard by which all books dealing with the subject matter of Hendrix and era surrounding his meteorical ascension to the pinnacle of the fledging American rock culture should be judged. Thoroughly researched, the book is annotated with richly descriptive language that sheds new light on the role the cultural, social and political dynamics played in shaping Hendrix's life and the opposing impact he had on these dynamics. Paraphrasing an observation made by a prior reviewer, Murray transcends the almost inexplicable emotion evoked by Hendrix's art into eloquent, thought provoking prose. I found myself rereading many of the passages because I was so struck by the author's incisive and beautifully written statements.
The chapter's are as follows (possibly out of order and an omission or two as I recently lent my copy to a friend):
Chapter 1: The 60's, or the "We Decade". Murray delves into factors that engender the policitical, social, and musical climate of the late 60's within Britain and the United States. He astutely examines the contradictions, successes, failures, and outcomes from one of the most compelling eras of the last century. Hendrix's role as an iconic figure is also discussed in detail. The themes established here reemerge at various stages throughout the remaining chapters of the book.
Chapter 2: The Facts about Hendrix. The author reviews all the pubically known facts in a very straight forward fashion.
Chapter 3: Hendrix and women. Murray explores the background of women as the subject matter in rock and blues music and Jimi's volatile relationship with the female form. He analyzes how the influence of Jimi's "muse" manifested herself in various forms within his lyrics.
Chapter 4: Hendrix's role as a racial figure. Murray closely investigates all the elements encompassing the paradox of Jimi's cultural status: A black man playing to a white audience playing music popularized by whites rooted in the black musical tradition of blues.
Chapter 5: A critical comparison of his career with Robert Johnson's and Charlie Christian's; two fellow African American guitarists who similarily rose quickly to prominence, gained legendary status, and left a profound impact on Western Musical tradition.
Chapter 6: Hendrix and the Blues. An inciteful history (although brief by comparison since their are entire books on the subject) of the blues within the context of American and British culture as well as an exploration into how the african american muscial form influenced Hendrix and his place in history as one of its most important purveyor of the blues.
Chapter 7: Hendrix and Soul music. Describes the birth and growth of soul music, its influence on Henrdrix, and his corresponding influence upon the genre.
Chapter 8: Hendrix and Jazz music. Similiar to the previous chapter in its framework, it also explores what Hendrix might have done had been granted an opportunity to fulfill his musical potential and desires. Murray also establishes Hendrix as a seminal influence to the fusion movement.
Chapter 9: Categorizing Hendrix. A short but necessary acknowledgement using Hendrix as the definitive example of how it is impossible to categorize music without performing somewhat of a disservice to the artist.
Each chapter is carefully interwoven with quotes from Hendrix's comtemporary musicians, modern day artists (at the time of publication), other seminal literary works on music, as well as Hendrix's own lyrics and interview quotes. They provide an effective framework to buttress Murray's analysis and to serve as a transitional device between tangential arguements.
The size and depth of Murray's bibliography is as impressive as writing. It is another example of the level of scholarship at which he operates at. Also included is an exhaustive list of albums by other artists seperated by genre that either had an influence on Hendrix or were influenced by Hendrix.
Echoeing Robert Palmer's comments on the book jacket, "The artistry of this book is equal to that of its subject matter". If you want a traditional biography, this might not be exactly what you are searching for. However, if you seek to go beneath the surface of the iconoclastic Hendrix, his music, and the times he lived in, there is no better source. A truly illuminating experience and arguably the greatest book on rock'n'roll ever written.
Superb Analysis.......2004-05-03
Although most fans will be content with the 'Electric Gypsy' bio (which is equally good), "Crosstown Traffic" is more than a mere biography, and as such, invaluable for all Jimi fanatics.
The book is 1/4 bio, 1/4 Jimi's influences (as well as those subsequently influenced by him), 1/4 comparisons between peers and other black artists, and 1/4 conjecture based on his final days.
They've included a list of bootlegs (obviously out of date, but still pretty comprehensive) as well as all legitimate Hendrix material, and a guide to Jimiphiles on what artists to check out that might catch their interest.
An Excellent Book.......2003-03-01
This is my favorite book about not only Jimi Hendrix, but Robert Johnson and Charlie Christian too. Occasionally Charles Shaar Murray gets a little carried away during his wordy descriptions, but it doesn't matter. If you want to learn about the evolution of African American guitarists, this is the place to start.
Life R&R and the whole damn thing.......2000-06-13
Perhaps the best book written on rock music.
The Most Insightful On Jimi Thus Far.......2000-04-28
Unlike the usual gossip-laden rock bios (which I sometimes relish too, I'll admit), Murray's book is a serious piece of work. I've yet to come across a rock author as capable as Murray in analyzing the most important aspect of our Jimi-worship-- the MUSIC. Murray's book delves into the sociocultural groundwork of Jimi's musical style, and makes very astute leaps in connecting Jimi's music to various influences. Murray is perhaps the most intelligent rock biographer I've ever read (and I've read most of the major ones). At certain times, it's as though Murray's descriptive skill nearly matches his subject's musical genius. In any event, this book certainly does Jimi justice. Murray's descriptions of some of Jimi's well-known material are awesome. He describes an instance of Jimi's tight playing as (sorry if I slightly misquote) a "propulsive ball of rhythm, densely packed with ideas," and so forth. Murray is singularly able to verbally express what we deeply feel about Jimi's music, but have a hard time explaining to others. You know how tough it is to convince non-believers why you KNOW that Jimi is a genius, when they think that he was merely a hyped-up, noisy, wildman-clown, right? Well, read Charles Murray's book. I think it'll sooth your soul, and you'll come away with a deeper knowledge and appreciation of his subject. Hats off to Murray!
Average customer rating:
- Superb
- Recommended ONLY for the neophyte
- Examines Hendrix's unique talent using the album
- An opinion on Hendrix - far from anything new
- A guitar fan's wet dream
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Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland (Thirty Three and a Third series)
John Perry
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
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ASIN: 0826415717 |
Book Description
"Thirty Three and a Third" is a new series of short books about critically acclaimed and much-loved albums of the last 40 years. The authors provide fresh, original perspectives - often through their access to and relationships with the key figures involved in the recording of these albums. By turns obsessive, passionate, creative, and informed, the books in this series demonstrate many different ways of writing about music. What binds the series together, and what brings it to life, is that all of the authors - musicians, broadcasters, scholars, and writers - are huge fans of the album they have chosen.
Electric Ladyland is one of the greatest guitar albums ever made. During the recording process, Jimi Hendrix at last had time and creative freedom to pursue the sounds he was looking for. In this remarkable and entertaining book, John Perry gets to the heart of Hendrix's unique talent - guiding the reader through each song on the album, writing vividly about Hendrix's live performances, and talking to several of Hendrix's peers and contemporaries.
Customer Reviews:
Superb.......2007-09-18
Very interesting, as usual for the 33 1/3 series. Found out many details about the record and Jimi I did not know about.
Recommended ONLY for the neophyte.......2004-09-10
If you've read anything about Hendrix beyond the liner notes you will find little new here beyond the author's personal memories of seeing Jimi in concert. The actual analysis of the album is spotty at best, shedding very little light (or anything of real interest for that matter) on this masterpeice of rock music.
Considering the cost of this tiny book, there is very little bang for your buck.
Examines Hendrix's unique talent using the album.......2004-09-09
Jimi Hendrix's rock pinnacle Electric Ladyland was one of the best guitar albums ever made for the genre, affording Hendrix the creative expression and freedom he needed for the first time. John Perry examines Hendrix's unique talent using the album as a foundation for his analysis. Electric Ladyland's short stature may make it a difficult library loan, but any fan of the Hendrix sound will consider it an essential guide.
An opinion on Hendrix - far from anything new.......2004-07-26
If your into Hendrix enough to want to find out more about Electric Ladyland, your probably already going to know everything in this book. If you've read such great Hendrix books such as 'Electric Gypsy' then you won't get much from this book other than information obtained that you've read before from 'Electric Gypsy' coloured in this authors opinion on Jimi's music.
The author lays down his opinion that reads like someone either not overly impressed by Jimi Hendrix, or someone that has trouble laying praise where it's due. The author makes big calls in this book which fall flat, for example expressing his view on how Jimi could of edited and recorded certain songs better in his opinion (not unlike like Alan Douglas made true) or ego trips like footnotes after mentioning 'Like A Rolling Stone' at Monterey can only be outdone by the rare hard to find Flamingo Club version in 1968 - where does he get that from? The Flamingo club version is near inaudiable for most of the recording with its vocals and the guitar very distorted at the very least and is no way a superior rendition than Monterey but the book has many little comments by the author like that which only makes you think, is this guy trying to brag about his Hendrix collection? Or does he just have to have a different opinion on everything to try and make his book, which really has nothing new, stand out from the pack? His opinions would be valid if he didn't try to go against the grain to just go against the grain! If you've ever heard or seen Jimi at Monterey you don't need to be told how so many people thought he played crap that night - the evidence that this is one of his greatest performances is right there on CD or on the screen as you watch it which just makes bringing up that negative side without balancing it with the many rave reviews he also got seem targeted. Why point out the bad things and not mention the good?
If you want to learn the technical side of the recording or the technical side of Hendrix, you won't learn it from this book. You'll get the classic Hendrix bio for most of it with this Authors strange comments, some bad reviews for Electric Ladyland to show Hendrix was human after all i guess and an author bringing up all his 'friends' and 'visits' to people that are well documented in knowing Jimi.
All in all, if you have no opinion on Hendrix and read this you probably won't think he's that great and get a distorted opinion on him, if you love Hendrix and read this you'll wonder why this Author bothered to write a book about Jimi in the first place other than to let us know he has so many friends that knew Jimi, was lucky enough to see him play a few times and the funniest of all, could of done some things better in his opinion.
Two stars because there's many books out there with much more information about Electric Ladyland, let alone Hendrix, that aren't trying to re-write Jimi's history from one person's perspective and critique thou it's cheap and quite funny if you have a big Hendrix library anyway.
A guitar fan's wet dream.......2004-07-24
Jimi Hendrix after 30 years from his death is still revered as a guitar hero and innovator in the way the instrument was played and recorded, and Electric Ladyland was a major benchmark in his too short studio recording career in letting him stretch out and play compared with his prior 2 LPs and hit singles.
That this book is written by a guitar afficionado should thus come as no surprise, and the author was clearly influenced by Hendrix at an early age having seen him live in the UK and in his own subsequent career as a guitarist. The content (especially on the individual tracks and their recording) is very guitar playing orientated, explaining a lot of chords, tuning and playing techiques that made Hendrix sound so different and while a fascinating insight into exactly how unique Hendix was in his playing, I suspect it will potentially grate with many non-musicians (of which I am one) though as a long time Hendrix afficionado I must admit I found it all fascinating.
The book also picks up on many side issues that help one understand Hendrix and his times better esp. his position as a black American who in the heated anti Vietnam war and US domestic race riots happening at that time remained politically indifferent and his treatment at the outset and afterwards by white rock critics.
A captivating book especially for Hendrix fans and in the end piece that speculates that Hendrix at the time of his death shortly afterwards had already potentially delivered his best recorded work.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of Input for Sources Close to the Man Himself.......2006-12-06
I've read three different Hendrix biographies and each came at the subject of Jimi Hendrix from a different direction. Setting the Record Straight is good because there is a lot of input from people who were close to Hendrix, especially people who were part of his organization, but who were not particularly well known. Like all of the Hendrix biographies, this book does have its faults, I mean, how many times should an author state that Jimi was growing wary of Michael Jeffries, Jimi was trying to keep his distance from Michael Jeffries, Jimi was avoiding Michael Jeffries. I found one spot where there were at least 4 references in a 2 page span about how Jimi as getting tired of Michael Jeffries. Ok. We get it. Yawn.
The book is very good in explaining how the Hendrix "image" was deliberately created to be controversial (most of us grown-ups had already figured that one out). It tells us how the "real" Jimi started to emerge after the release of Electric Ladyland. It tells us the story of the Electric Lady studio and how it came about from the initial idea of creating a club much like Steve Paul's Scene club. It also tells us about when and why Chas Chandler excused himself from the organization. Actually Chas turns out to be one of the few really classy people in the Hendrix organization.
You also learn about a host of disasterous gigs and shows where Jimi just didn't want to play. In some ways you feel sorry for him and in other ways you begin to understand that the guy's work ethic really sucked. If you lived through the era I guarantee you will end up feeling pretty embarrassed about your generation's behavior.
Unfortunately, this book doesn't tell some of the stories that I am interested in. I wanted to read about the jam session in the studio that produced Voodoo Chile for example. There really isn't much emphasis about how the music was made. In my opinion, when it comes to Hendrix, that's a no-brainer; that's what people want to read about.
From a musical perspective, I would have to say that Crosstown Traffic is a much better biography as it does much to show Jimi's importance within the context of American art and culture. Really, I don't care about Jimi's business and I don't care about his depraved social life either. I just love his music. Setting the Record Straight is really more about the business side of Jimi Hendrix and the Hendrix "product". Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky is probably the least interesting of the three I've read, it's more about Jimi's social life than anything. That particular book tries to be sensational by asserting that Jimi was murdered and then downplaying that idea in the same paragraph. That was rather like when a lawyer coaches a client witness to blurt something out on the stand that they know the judge is going to strike down, but the jury is going to hear it anyway. Shabby.
I would pick up both Setting the Record Straight and Crosstown Traffic if you really want to get to know Jimi and his signficance with respect to American art and culture.
Oh yeah, one little factual nugget I finally learned after years and years and years (decades really) of wondering... It was Jimi who played the freaked out recorder solo at the end of If Six Was Nine. Hooray! Mystery solved! That was driving me nuts!
The Exploitation of Jimi Hendrix.......2006-05-29
Many half-truths and inaccuracies exist about the life and music of Jimi Hendrix. In trying to "set the record straight", the authors attempted to offset decades of lies and manipulation of the Hendrix estate. To some degree, they succeeded.
The authors do not devote nearly enough space to the life and music of Hendrix. Instead, the book seems to focus on the cast of characters that surrounded his life. It seems that any of the managers or promoters that worked with Hendrix sought to take credit for his success. It was as though the presentation were more important than the talent of Hendrix. Perhaps this is a fitting way to remember his life since his lack of friendship and the constant manipulation of those around him factored into his drug use and eventual death. The circumstances surrounding Hendrix's fatal oversdose suggest that a friend rather than a business associate would have phoned for the help that he needed to save Hendrix's life.
The book does not devote nearly enough time to Hendrix's pre-fame days (approximately 20 pages), and focuses more on the business aspects of the music industry rather than Hendrix music itself. There is no doubt that Hendrix made some bad business deals. Yet this should never overshadow all of the great music made by Hendrix. Pages could be spent discussing the making and meaning of songs. Once the author mentions a song, the reader may not see it mentioned until dozens of pages later.
Hendrix's premature death left his estate in debt. For this reason, unfinished recordings of his music were released that Hendrix would have never wanted released. We never got to see the full potential of Hendrix's genius. Those that exploited him in life, exploited him in death.
The real Jimi Hendrix was not the same person as the flamboyant guitar player people saw on stage. Much of his stage act, including setting his guitar on fire, was coaxed. This book gives real insight into the real Jimi Hendrix. Yet, I can not help but think we are far away from knowing the real legend.
3 1/2 stars not bad, but not as good as Electric Gypsy.......2005-01-29
The first time I read this book was back in 1997. I was already a huge Hendrix fan and this book opened up many things about him and his music that I was unaware of, for the most part. At that time I would have given this book 5 stars. But after recently picking up Electric Gypsy by Harry Shapiro and Caesar Glebbeek, which blew me away, I reread this book and I give it 3 1/2 stars.
My main gripe is that it focuses too much on the business side of Hendrix. Sure that stuff is interesting and informative, but it makes for a slow read, in my opinion. And it takes away from the flow and the excitement of his music and touring. I think that they could have made a couple of chapters exclusively for the business side of things and kept the other chapters more musically focused and it would be a much better read. My next biggest beef, is that they continually refer to Voodoo Child (Slight Return) as Voodoo Chile. Those songs are very different, any knowledgeable Hendrix fan knows that and would be bugged by the 15 mentions of it, instead of the correct Voodoo Child (Slight Return.) Minor yes, but if Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's long time famed producer and friend, helped write this book, then why didn't they catch that glaring error?
Still it is a good book, but if you know a lot about Hendrix, it will not fill your needs and I would suggest the afore-mentioned Electric Gypsy. For one thing Electric Gypsy has FAR more interviews from Hendrix, which are always entertaining and revealing. And it has far more about the music and what went into it as far as inspiration and song meanings. For those two reasons alone that book blows away Setting the Record Straight. Also Electric Gypsy has many of Hendrix's song lyrics in the book, which is truly great. Also Electric Gypsy has a part in the back where it shows a list of every guitar Hendrix ever played and all the effects he ever used, all the bands he was in, a discography and much, much more.
Don't get me wrong Setting the Record Straight is a good book, but I would suggest to all Hendrix fans new and old, get Electric Gypsy first, then if you still want more, get Setting the Record Straight.
An interesting and engaging read.......2003-03-01
This is a pretty interesting book about a very interesting virtuso musician. There a lot of good information provided in a somewhat dry and detached delivery that somehow remains engaging somewhat like a Wall Street journal article.
My only issue with the book, the absolutely horrid photo on the cover aside, is the business orientation of the book which leaves questions about other issues, all of which interelate to each other.
As one example, the issue of drug use is treated in a very shallow fashion. While I am not looking for sensationalism, it seems clear that but for his drug use Hendrix would never have gotten behind the contractual eight ball so far - which the book implies the monetary impact of which had some effect on his eventual death.
On the other hand, I have learned quite a bit about Hendrix, his business deals, and perhaps most importantly, about his music. I was never aware of some his side projects including the Gypsys Suns & Rainbows or his all too brief session work with John McLauglin. There are also some interesting photos included in the book.
Cover photo aside, this book is probably the best $ I've spent in a long time.
At last, The Real Story of Jimi Hendrix's Life!!!.......2003-01-30
This book takes an inside look at the life and legend of the man that was James Marshall(Jimi) Hendrix. His troubled youth and how he had to suffer tremendous hardships just to be noticed. His love affair with blues music and his affinity for the guitar are also well intact. What puzzles me is why so many people would want to drag Jimi's name through the mud and desecrate his legacy and good fortune with lies and deceit. Why couldn't people have respect enough for Jimi and his music to take it seriosuly and treat it like gold, instead of commercializing for their own personal gain and profit? Jimi was a serious artist and this book certainly attests to that. He wasn't in it for the money or fame or recognition. He was simply in it for the music.
He deserved to be treated better by people who called themselves "His Friends." Jimi was a incredible man and amazing guitar player as well, but he was also very human. He had a very vulnerable side to him as well. He had enough problems without people wanting him to be everything to them. He couldn't do that.
He needed someone to love him and someone to respect him and take him at face value instead of having him always be Mr. Rock guitar god. he wanted people to listen to his music and be taken seriously. He was sick and tired of doing the same theatrical tricks that he had done with the guitar night after night, and now he just wanted people to listen to him, and not look at what he was doing with his guitar. he didn't need to prove anything anymore. he'd already done it. it was time for him to move into a new direction. Unfortunately, that new direction was never fully realized during hendrix's lifetime. Only now, after his death do we fully know just exactly what he was trying to achieve. Some things we'll never know. That was the genius of Hendrix. To keep people guessing. He'll never know how much of an impact he has had and continues to have on people's lives even to this day. God Bless You, Jimi. We Love You, Man!!!
Customer Reviews:
Simply Amazing Hendrix Tribute !!!.......2007-03-16
i feel compelled to add my endorsement of this truly beauty-full tribute to Jimi Hendrix's artistry as the other reviews do not emphasize enough how wonder-full the CD of Jimi's home recordings are... as beauty-full as the book's cover & contents are to the eye- it is the CD that leaves me in awe of Jimi Hendrix as a creative composer !!! the simple, naked portrait of a genius at work creating the foundations of some of his finest music & poetry is tremendously educational as well as inspiringly wonder-full for any other guitarist & songwriter to listen to as well as experience... it reminds any admiring artist how much simple, hard work is involved in the labore of Love that is the basis a genius's legacy... one is able to observe the creative process of Hendrix's genius as you can hear him attempting to evolve his creations before going into the studio to extrapolate them into "Electric Church" anthems... it is simply amazing to experience Jimi so nakedly raw & working soul-lovingly on music that would later become his legend !!! i love the artwork in the book & i adore the book's cover portrait BUT it is the CD that makes this exquisite package "essentially vital" to anyone who truly adores this genius's exceptional talents & treasures... "Fly On, My Sweet Angel"
Jimi Hendrix and Bill Sienkiewicz .......2004-11-06
...are a great match. The paint is everywhere. It goes out in every direction, it folds back in on itself, it darts from realism to quick cartoon. It's alive and insane. It is, of course, everything you'd expect from Bill. I should have been LISTENING to Hendrix while reading it, but I didn't have to. It was in the painting.
Not to mention the text. Martin Green chronicles the major events of Jimi's life, to the detail of which order the songs came, where were the major concert appearances, what was Jimi trying to accomplish with each album. For me, not being that familiar with the facts, but loving the songs, it was really interesting. You empathize with Jimi. He may have been a rock god, but you get the sense that his short life was never particularly easy.
As insanely abstract as Sinz. can get, the likeness he nails of Jimi is uncanny. It's obvious the artist really enjoyed painting him. There's about 1,000 beautiful paintings of Hendrix in this book. Some realistic, some hallucinogenic, some celebratory, and some sad.
Rarely is this kind of comment said about a book...but the typesetting is great. Many comics don't even experiment with the lettering, it's just functional. But reality is, that it's too big a part of the experience to not inject some art into it. That's why movies spend millions on sound. Anyway, in this book, the lettering's just really intelligent. Hats off to letterer Bobbi Bongard with (I would imagine) much help from Sienkiewicz.
One last touch I really like is the use of Hendrix's lyrics to accent the story. Every few pages, a scene from Jimi's life is accompanied by song lyrics. Often these were lyrics I was familiar with (Bold As Love, Freedom, Foxy Lady, Angel), but they're in a whole new light when set against the major events in his life. I can only suppose that Martin Green "guessed" at what many of the connections between Jimi's lyrics and his experiences, but I quite sure he often guessed right.
A great read. I look forward to reading it again. This would be a great gift for someone who might not read a lot of comics, but loves rock. In another few passes, it may be my favorite work by Bill.
Comics are for the Sunday Paper, not Jimi Hendrix.......2003-03-27
This one left me a bit short. I actually saw Jimi Hendrix perform at the Cafe Wa in Greenwich Village, NY. Also saw his 1968 Experience concerts in Hartford at the Bushnell Memorial concert hall and outdoors at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA and he was amazing! This comic depiction is not completely accurate and since I was there it does not hit home for me since the information is off and not overly complete. Nice try, collectable, but not for the purist Hendrix fan. The CD which comes inside rear cover is a nice touch and bonus almost worth the price of the book. I even found a mint copy of this book missing the CD, pouch there unopened, but missing the CD in error!
Bill Sienkiewicz at his best.......2002-08-03
Even if comics are not your thing, the art of Bill Sienkiewicz should win you over to buy this book. About 140 pages of fully painted and truly outstanding art, make this book a landmark even in Sienkiewicz' oeuvre. It is a special delight to see him experimenting with mixed media and the computer and break out of the traditional constraints of the comics medium.
As far as the quality of the biographical facts is concerned, let's suffice to say that a more than fair amount of research has been done, but that the presentation of the material is pretty biased. Of course Hendrix was always a saintly and lovable guy. He never had a serious drugs problem and when he was busted for drugs possession he was obviously framed. What did him in finally were certainly not his drug habits but the Big Bad Suits of the record companies and his fiendish Agent, who conspired to impose an inhuman touring scheme on the poor artist, who finally died of sheer exhaustion (helped along maybe by a sleeping pill or two...). You get the picture...
where is it?.......2002-02-11
Well i would if it was ever delivered to me but is has not yet been and it was ordered about 3 weeks ago
Download Description
"
The Jimi Hendrix legend has lived on longer than the man, who died in 1970 at the age of twenty-seven. More than thirty years later, what the world knows about him has become deeply distorted. Now Sharon Lawrence, a trusted friend of Jimi's in the final years of his astonishing life, has written a serious exploration of his life, death, and enduring legacy, based partly on the author's never-before-heard recorded interviews with the late musician.
Jimi Hendrix: The Man, The Magic, The Truth contains new and rare material about Hendrix, with major insights from sources who have previously kept their silence -- from childhood neighbors to rock stars and musicians, to music-industry insiders. This book corrects years of false information, reveals key truths, and supplies facts previously known to only a precious few. It also chronicles the years of mind-boggling legal battles over his estate and legacy.
This is the definitive account of Jimi Hendrix, the young man from a pathetic poverty-stricken childhood who invented himself into something rare and special, the man who radiated genius and a bold yet charming personality when he picked up a guitar. It revisits the glory of Hendrix's talent, giving new insight into his sensitive persona, imagination, musical standards, and far-reaching impact.
Iluminating, honest, and bracing,
Jimi Hendrix will forever change how we view one of rock and roll's greatest icons.
"
Customer Reviews:
Another Jimi Book.......2007-10-03
Well I know she doesn't like Janie and a few things she said about Jimi's dad I personally didn't care for, but it's an interesting read.
30page bio in 300 page book.......2007-04-30
I totally agree with the former reviewer in the rough facts that he states. However, I regard this book as an incredibly valuable addition to the many books out there on my Hero.
The concept of "THE ULTIMATE BIOGRAPHY/ANALYSIS" is a flawed one: in my opinion if you wish to read further on any subject, you cannot gather your information from one book/source. And of COURSE the author must believe in what he/she writes.
The book is a great read. Indeed Jimi's youth is examined at length (but not as deeply as in Charles Cross' book) but then we go into wonderful new territory: that of someone who was There.
So, the 270 "extra" pages are indeed that: a great extra!
Of course there is no guarantee to the 100% accuracy of Sharon's memories (who has that?). Yet this book is a moving, insightful glimpse into the lonely world of the man who still reigns as the best thing that ever happened to the electric guitar, and a musical genius.
The last part, about the bickering between Jimi's "heirs", about how Noel Redding was MADE TO PAY for his copy of the Box Set of long lost tapes.... It certainly opened my eyes. Whereas I so far had thought with every purchase of a "new" Jimi CD: "Well I'll be supporting his family", now I know better...
I think this is a great book, and really enjoyed reading it.
Well Done Sharon.......2006-10-18
At last !...a book about Jimi by someone who knew him, cared about him and understood his music. I have been a Hendrix fan for many years and have read just about everything there is to read about Jimi and I still learned a few new things...but more importantly this isn't a book obsessed with nerdish facts and figures (and in fact sometimes the facts are slightly out)...but it is a book about Jimi and what he was all about-and shockingly about the horrific exploitation of the man during his life and particularly after he died.
I note that some other reviewers have criticised Sharon's view on Jimi's death, but from everything I have read, heard about and spoke to people (who know) about, I think she may be pretty close to the truth. It isn't true that Jimi was in 'good spirits' in the final weeks before his death (as one reviewer wrote)...you only have to read the late Tony Brown's detailed and well researched book on Jimi's final weeks to understand that Jimi was in poor health and his mental state was not good. This of course doesn't necessarily mean that he committed suicide, but I don't think Sharon actually says that he committed suicide...although I am pretty sure he took a large number of sleeping pills to 'escape' from all the hassles and pressures and the upcoming legal hassles with PPX (Chalpin) and a potential wrangling with Michael Jeffery over his future and management.
Sharon is also 100% correct about Monika Danneman who lied for many years about the fateful morning of 18.09.70. It does really appear that she failed to properly help/assist Jimi when he was dying (the large number of sleeping pills probably effectively disabled his coughing reflex and as he was probably lying on his back in bed he choked). If Danneman was awake, she could have laid Jimi on his side in a recovery position (she had lied over the years that she had accompanied Jimi in an ambulance and the ambulance men had failed to lie Jimi in a recovery position)...and there is the mystery of the large quantities of red wine which were all over Jimi and the bed (but there was very little alcohol in his bloodstream)..the inference being that the wine had been pured down his throat/over him as he was dying or after he had died. Given that it is assumed that only Danneman was in the flat with him that morning-she must have poured the wine down Jimi's throat. Why she did this we may never know, but as suggested in Sharon's book, maybe Danneman in some weird misguided way thought this might help clear Jimi's airways. It is unlikely that Danneman murdered Jimi, but she clearly didn't help him adequately and this may explain the nonsense that she spoke and published over the years. Tony Brown's book also confirmed (via interviews with ambulance men and police men) that Danneman was not at the flat when they arrived and Jimi's body was lying in a ghastly state on the bed alone. Danneman killed herself a few years ago when she was 'rumbled' by Cathy Etchingham and Tony Brown and apparently Sharon Lawrence....and I think the final straw was the law suit she lost to Etchingham. Danneman had I think been dating Uli Jon Roth (ex Scorpions guitarist and Hendrix devotee) for a number of years and Uli described her as one of the sweetest people he had ever met, so there is always another side of the story.....and whatever happened that morning it is still sad to see someone take their own life. Monika was of course not the only ex-girlfriend to apparently commit suicide...Devon Wilson jumped off the Chelsea Hotel in the early 70's...although the conspiracy theorists think she was pushed....most likely she was just stoned and depressed.
Anyway, the circumstances of Jimi's death is only a small part of Ms Lawrence's book, and although I enjoyed her accounts of the 60's and meetings with Jimi and the band, the best part of the book is her clear and perceptive account of what Jimi mean't to music and what music mean't to Jimi and his real legacy of influence and inspiration....rather than the tacky legacy of the various subsequent controllers of his legal musical legacy. I've always disliked the 'snakes' and cockroaches' who exploited Jimi in life and death and Sharon has managed in this book to name and shame most of them; starting with Chalpin and Curtis Knight and routing through Mike Jeffery, Branton, Douglas and most recently Janie 'Hendrix' and Bob Hendrix. She rightly identifies Jimi's allies in life and death and unfortunately this is not a story about the good guys triumphing-with Noel Redding dying relatively young and quite impoverished, Chas Chandler dying relatively young, and Leon Hendrix and a lot of the true blood family and relatives not recieving a penny after Al Hendrix died. The only bad guy to get his come uppance was Jeffery who died in a plane crash in 1973. Let's just hope that the horrific 'Janie' Hendrix and 'cousin' Bob eventually lose control of Experience Hendrix and the blood family get some benefits from Jimi's legacy. It is also time that Jimi's children are finally recognised - and although 'Little Swedish Jimi' has received a settlement, Tamara born to Diane Carpenter has not.
In summary a beautiful book that really gets to the heart of the truth about the Hendrix legend - buy it !
30 page biography in 300+ page book.......2006-08-14
30+ years after Jimi's death this author jumps to the head of the (very long) line of Hendrix biographers who claim to have the "true" story behind/about the man and the musician . . . and like so many previous biographies this one falls woefully short. What you will find in this book - an interesting narrative on Hendrix's childhood, a perspective on Hendrix's heroin possession trial in Canada, a brief chronology of The Experience's 1966-67 rise to stardom, a "theory" on his death and A LOT of the stereotypical tortured artist trapped in a web of managers, lawyers, promoters and hangers-on. What you won't find in this book - any serious discussion, analysis, description or even a glimpse of Hendrix's music - a fairly extraordinary feat for a Hendrix biography. Quotation marks are used very liberally throughout this book and I'll leave it to someone else to discuss/verify the authenticity of the remarks and sources - I'll simply say the "conversations" proved incredibly uninteresting to this reader - again somewhat remarkable when you consider the subject matter. The last section of the book concerns all the financial/legal issues concerning Hendrix's music since his death. As a long time fan I've "experienced" the re-issues, bootlegs, dub-overs etc.,(and long ago realized that these releases had more to do with money than with the music), and I guess I've been peripherally aware of the legal battles, but at this point in time as long as the Hendrix audio library stays available with an occasional addition here and there I'm happy, so the in-fighting chronicled here, (as pathetic and petty as it was/is), was of somewhat less interest to me... and also paints the author in a similar light. Unfortunately, as it was 40 years ago, Jimi has many admirers/fans but very few if any friends.
The one, the only, Jimi Hendrix........2006-04-11
This is a great read and for all the Jimi Hendrix P.H.D's out there, at least give this dear woman some credit for telling the truth and sharing her experience.
This book lets us peek into Jimi's soul a little closer and we can see how strong willed Jimi had to be to turn tragedy into triumph- the tragedy of a rough upbringing as well as a total uphill battle to play his music from the start of his career until the end. An amazing book about an amazing man.
Jimi Hendrix forever.
Customer Reviews:
Great Bio of Hendrix.......2007-08-15
I've read several books about the life of Jimi Hendrix and this is by far the best. Well written and researched, it is engaging and engrossing. Even the reference materials are facsinating. A great book about a very interesting life.
The research is there, but there is no insight........2006-04-30
Beware of a 'definitive' biography written by two fellows who never knew Hendrix. The 'facts' are there, but it's the approach taken to them that is lacking. Eddie Kramer condemns this book (see his seminars now posted on You Tube), and it's clear that the laundry list of tour dates, gig anecdotes and groupie/management tales don't provide any insight into Hendrix.
Ignore this book and purchase McDermott's biography 'Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight' (which, whilst heavy on Hendrix's legal woes, is grounded in the recollections of Chandler and Kramer). If you're after more, the best analysis of Hendrix as artist, musician and rock culture symbol is Charles Shaar Murray's 'Crosstown Traffic', which finally approaches Hendrix's art with the respect and insight it deserves.
Fantastic, yet strangely empty.......2005-11-29
The research is wonderful, the prose style is just fine, the detail is remarkable - I finished the book knowing more than I ever felt I needed to know about Jimi (and being grateful for the knowledge) yet no closer to any understanding as to what made the man tick. Any serious Hendrix fan must own this book, but it is, in an odd way - emotionally incomplete.
Excellent-best source book available on Hendrix........2005-10-18
This is probably the best book that has been written about Hendrix. I think it is co-written by the editor of the excellent Jimi Hendrix fanizine "Univibes", it's an excellent source book, with list and lists of guitars, equpiment, gigs, photographs anything you would wish to know really about Hendrix's career.
The large biography section is brillant and cannot be faulted-although I personaly don't ascribe to the writers theories about Monica Dannneman. I personaly don't think Hendrix wanted to marry Monica- or anyone in particular for that matter-or that she knew Jimi as well as she let on. Cathy Etchingham, Hendrix's London girlfriend for a number of years, dismisses her as stalker in her book. Coupled with the strange and often contradictory statements she made about his death in her hotel room-it raises a lot of questions about her place in Hendrix's life which are hard to guess at.
Awesome book!.......2005-08-27
This is an excellent book , if you like Jimi's music :buy it!
Remember that Caesar Glebbeek is the editor of 'Univibes' an excellent Jimi Hendrix-magazine .
Book Description
Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix is the first comprehensive biography to authenticate the lost sessions, previously unknown recorded collaborations, and rare film/video documents of one of the most innovative and influential rock guitarists in music history. Hendrix's life is celebrated through exclusive interviews with people who knew him well, including his father, Al Hendrix, musicians Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin, his lover and close companion Kathy Etchingham, and many others. Author Steven Roby sifts through a wealth of unreleased and commercially unavailable studio, live, and home recordings to chronicle every stage of Jimi Hendrix's legendary career. In each instance, he tells the reader whether the event was documented and if it is available. In several tragic instances, the recordings are lost forever. Black Gold is the first book to offer a comprehensive analysis of Hendrix's unfinished album, First Ray of the New Rising Sun. Three attempts have been made so far to "finish" it, and the author explains why none have succeeded. The book also explores Hendrix's journeys into jazz with Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk; his excursions into blues with B. B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy; and his backing of early rap pioneers The Last Poets. Black Gold features a foreword by Noel Redding, Hendrix's bass player from 1966 to 1969, as well as 45 photos, including several rare and never-before-published shots.
Customer Reviews:
For Hendrix Completists.......2007-06-07
Hendrix left behind thousands of reels of tape containing hundreds of hours of music, much of it never made widely available. This book details all that mass of material and exposes just how much more Hendrix exists than his handful of commercial releases. Little, it appears, ever went unrecorded, though the author chronicles those lost items with great regret. Hendrix is now mythological, and this book only increases his legend by whetting the appetite for more 'new' Jimi that will surely come sooner or later, now that the estate of Hendrix is in charge of his music. Had he lived, it seems likely that Hendrix would have entered a jazz period. If he were alive today, who knows what he'd be playing? Most likely, he'd be more like the drug addled Sly Stone than the lifelong creative artist that Miles Davis was until he died. Still, in his brief 27 years, Hendrix changed music, as this book makes clear.
Excellent balance of facts and history.......2006-12-20
Admittedly, this book will appeal to the Hendrix-ophile more than the casual reader. However, Roby weaves a good thread of history and minutiae that will capture the interest of the casual Hendrix listener as well. Since the book was published, a lot of the "lost" material has been officially released. However, there is a wealth of video and audio that even the most ardent collectors have not seen or heard. (Experience Hendrix possesses some but not all of this un-bootlegged material and will probably release it in dribs and drabs for the next decade or so, consider this: a large armored truck was used in the 70's to transport all of the hundreds of reels of Hendrix material) Roby does neglect covering the Douglas/Hendrix period with the same level of archivists detail. What about all the sessions set up with Tony Williams, Mother Hen/Dave Holland, the apartment jam w/Miles Davis? There is still much entombed in vaults and will be for decades to come. Roby's book scratches the surface but I think as time passes more and more evidence will confirm the importance of Hendrix to pop music and music in general.
Excellent for the music-lover.......2005-09-24
Maybe 'Electric Gypsy' from Glebbeek is the ultimate biography , this however is more into Jimi's MUSICAL legacy.Full of detail and if you pick this up , you won't regret it...
Getting to the Heart of the Matter.......2003-09-08
Steven Roby has written a masterful account of Jimi Hendrix's recorded legacy. Black Gold is an essential resource for the dedicated Hendrix collector, and is also a great read that would interest anyone who loves Jimi's music. It is the difinitive history of one of rock's leading legends, delving deeply into the recordings he made, and into the man himself. By including quotes made by Jimi and his peers, Roby's unique perspective has illuminated aspects of Jimi's musical life that had previously been shrouded in darkness and shadow.
Roby presented himself with a nearly impossible task, which required talking to musicians, associates, friends and family about the past, then attempting to separate myth from fact when discrepancies arose. It may not be possible to uncover the whole truth, but Black Gold cuts two or three layers deeper into Hendrix's recordings and claims about it, than any previous account.
an essential Jimi read.......2002-10-03
Ever wonder who jammed with who? This book helps you to find out. This book both a comprehensive list of all recordings of Jimi and his band, as well as an intimate look at the lifestyle of one of America's greatest musicians. I skipped over a lot of the lists and dove into the narratives that told stories of Jimi jamming with Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton (Jimi is supposedly the only guitarist to ever play Clapton off-stage), The Who and many other greats. What I enjoyed most about the book was the details about Jimi learning to play the guitar and his first gigs. Jimi is a musician that stayed true to his roots and his own unique style.
I only gave this book 3 stars because, unless you know absolutely nothing about Jimi Hendrix or some of the other musicians in the book, much of what you read you are likely to already know. Redding included many well known anecdotes as filler for his archival list, which is admirably constructed and researched. The only problem is, is that much of what is on the list is unavailable to the public.
Still, if you're a Jimi fan, you have to read it. After all, it's a book about Jimi.
Book Description
Jimi Hendrix is universally recognized as the greatest rock 'n' roll guitar player of all time. But until now, the story of how he made his amazing music has never been told. Jimi Hendrix: Sessions is the first book to take us inside the studio and reveal, album by album and track by track, how his songs were born and shaped into the classics they would become. Hendrix biographer John McDermott, working with Hendrix's producer Eddie Kramer and bass player Billy Cox, recreates in extraordinary day-by-day detail the making of every one of Hendrix's songs. Based on firsthand accounts by people who were there and on hundreds of hours of unreleased tapes, this book reveals what went into the creation of "Purple Haze", "Foxey Lady", "All Along the Watchtower", and Hendrix's many other masterpieces. It explains how Hendrix manipulated the primitive studio technology of his time to achieve his unprecedented sounds, and it shows the new heights toward which he was reaching at the time of his death. Beginning with Hendrix's legendary journeyman sessions for the Isley Brothers and other soul greats, and continuing through his last work, this is the authoritative treatment of Hendrix as musician that admirers have long awaited. Illustrated with over one hundred photographs, handwritten lyrics, and studio memorabilia, Jimi Hendrix: Sessions is a loving and timeless tribute to the electric guitar's greatest master.
Customer Reviews:
Serviceable Resource.......2004-04-22
I'm stretchiiingg here to make it to 4 stars. 3 to 3.5 is probably more accurate. I found the 2 stars of the previous review to be excessively harsh, so I poured on a little bit of extra love for the authors. I simply don't find this book to be all that bad - it's a decent resource. Had it been combined with Steven Roby's Black Gold, it would have become a bonafide winner. Alas, instead I fear that much of the intimate details the previous reviewer yearns for has been lost into the purple haze of time - and perhaps that aspect should have been captured more clearly. I remember reading elsewhere (Guitar Player? Guitar?) an interview with a player on Electric Ladyland, maybe Jack Cassady. Anyway, he mentioned that during an all-night session, the engineer fell asleep twice at the console and of the tape reel ran out while the band played on. Apparently Jimi gave him a real chewing out the second time. It would be nice to have more of that history, but as mobile as Jimi was on tour, he was equally mobile as a recording artist. For the shortness of his career, he certainly recorded at a huge assortment of studios. When you think of that, it makes it all the more reasonable to dredge up the history, with so many people involved, many of them transient and some now passed on.
So the bottom line is that I find this to be a pretty good book. Not necessarly the be-all and end-all tome it might have been, but considering the time period and the circumstances, really, a decent quality, well written book.
Nothing to get excited about..........2002-01-16
Most fans of Hendrix will be aware of John McDermott, and his involvement in recent years with 'Experience Hendrix', the company created to direct Hendrix's releases following the legal battle with Alan Douglas. Whilst McDermott has contributed liner notes to the re-released Hendrix albums, his major work on Hendrix (Hendrix: 'Setting the Record Straight') is an excellent examination of the man's life - although heavy on legal details and the contractual binds Hendrix suffered throughout his career. Along with 'Crosstown Traffic' by Charles Murray, it's the best book available on the man ('Electric Gypsy' has its moments, but stands as the 'No-One Here Gets Out Alive' take on Hendrix).
'The Complete Studio Recording Sessions' should be a monumental work - and the supreme testimonial - to Hendrix, but it is not. Unlike the similar, yet incomparably superior Mark Lewison book on 'The Beatles' recording sessions, which is packed with information, photographs and exceptional anecdotes, McDermott's book has little information other than what song Hendrix recorded - when, where and with whom. There is very little information on studio techniques, recording equipment, gear setups, Hendrix techniques or style, songwriting, etc. The book labours to account for every Hendrix recording session (a difficult task, given Hendrix's love of jamming and recording with other artists), but does not provide any in-depth information on the sessions themselves (and most of what is supplied was published in 'Setting the Record Straight' - disgraceful). For these reasons the book is a totally disappointing purchase. With the wealth of information (and speculation) on Hendrix out there, McDermott owed it to the man (and to the fans) to provide the definitive examination of Hendrix in the studio. He failed pretty spectacularly.
If you want to hear about Hendrix in the studio, find the 'Classic Albums' episode on 'Electric Ladyland'. Whilst far too short and simple, it is a much more enjoyable look at one of the greatest, and still misunderstood, American artists of the 20th century than this book.
Worth having, but slightly disappointing.......1998-07-20
I was excited about getting this book, because I'd read Lewisohn's similar book on the Beatles. I love chronological order, and I tried to put a date to each song on Hendrix's first three albums. But what was disappointing was that McDermott seemed to forget to mention several song and their recording dates. But the text is otherwise great reading, and the photos are wonderful. I just wish it truly was "Complete" as the Lewisohn book seems to be.
nice book!.......1997-12-14
It's a great book for those who like jimi hendrix.It explains how, where and when jimi has ever recorded his songs. Although, it's an overdetailed book that will annoy who's not a loyal fan...
Book Description
In the decades since Jimi Hendrix's untimely death, much has been written about his life, loves, drugs, money and hassles. In the meantime, the reputation of his music has been quietly growing. This book concentrates firmly on his work, examining what makes Hendrix's music so extraordinary. Author Keith Shadwick offers a unique slant on the man as musician, following Hendrix from his 1960s beginnings, through the years of his intense listening and learning, to the full flowering of his Experience. This insightful, coffee table-quality book concludes with a bold new anaysis of how Hendrix, like so many artists of genius before him, lost control through his determination to assert it. Includes an appendix on Hendrix's gear by music journalist and guitarist Douglas J. Noble. Full color, filled with fantastic photos throughout.
Customer Reviews:
The 'bookest' book on Hendrix.......2005-08-22
I would like to recommend Keith Shadwick's "The Musician" because IMHO it tops everything that was written so far on Jimi.(I'm not bribed by the publishers,by the way). It's very informative, very objective with lots of eyecatching photos. Plus the designer layout ( which makes it look beautiful either on your bookshelf or on a coffee table even if not read :) ;)
What makes it more interesting is the fact,that the final section - devoted to analysis of Jimi's gadgets, guitars, amplifiers, etc is written by High'n'Mighty Mr Douglas J.Noble - the man behind Univibes. And although I'm regrettably a non-musician, I didn't feel like sleeping at this final section
because it was written in a "mentally digestible" way for a layman. What is also worth underlining is that author doesn't dwell on sensationalistic or shady circumstances around Hendrix's life leaving them to over-excited screeming teenagers (or to representants of a yellow journalism). Contrary to the author of this year's Hendrix bio - Cross, Shadvick isn't a sensationalist. Moreover he can turn on a pretty sentence many a time, an ability Cross is devoid of. (Well, these two reasons alone make "The Musican" a perfect companion to "Room Full of Mirrors").The only point to pick on, is huuuge size and tiny, tiny print.
Miros S. "Tytus" / Poland
Spelling Errors?.......2004-02-28
I'm with you folks at Backbeat Books...where are the "redundant" spelling mistakes in this superb tome????.....I thought it was an outstandingly well written book looking at Jimi the musician...Keith Shadwick is a brilliant author....I can also relate to that fateful day in '67 when we both got our ears & hearts around Are You Experienced?.....seems it changed both our lives....and no doubt continues to do so....thanx for this super book Backbeat folks......and thanx to Jimi too....may the Axis bless you both!
ps....I'm an English teacher, so I can usually spot spelling errors!
Spelling mistakes?.......2004-02-19
All of us at Backbeat Books were disturbed to read that 'A reader from Marietta, Ga United States' has spotted all sorts of 'misspellings' in Jimi Hendrix:Musician.
Could he/she please point them out? We can't see any, and no other readers or reviewers have mentioned any to us either.
Spell check.......2004-02-18
This is my first review I just thought my opinions should be shared for those considering buying this book. Anyway here goes. I thought this was an excellent book on the history of the great Jimi Hendrix. I wish someone would have spell checked this book before it was published. Other than the redundant misspellings I loved the book.
I would have given the book more stars however I believe to do so would be misleading.
I hope this was some help.
Jimi Hendrix: Musician.......2004-01-27
This book is the best you will ever get. This book covers hendrix from the seattle years to his final years. This includes many rare photographs. This book is hardcovered and is the best on the market this is a must have for a hendrix fan.
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