The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland

If it’s true that songwriters have a vision in their head of what their dream album would be, Electric Ladyland was the project Jimi Hendrix hoped would be as close to perfection as possible. No longer content with the rush-recorded psychedelic pop-rock of Experienced and Axis, Ladyland was an exploration of what could be achieved with time, money and experience. Jimi’s soul roots from his session days shine through for the first time with the laid-back groove of the title track and the doo-woppy “Long Hot Summer Night” showing a vocal style reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield. It’s hard to pick a standout piece as the quality of the album is so high, but the four-part dream segue of “Rainy Day”, “1983”, “Moon Turn the Tides” and “Still Raining” is a monumental piece of early prog rock continuing the acid-soaked ideal of extraterrestrials, love, peace and war that he started earlier on with “Third Stone from the Sun”. However, it’s not all spectacular drawn-out blues jams and sublime soundscapes, Electric Ladyland managed to produce Jimi’s only UK No. 1 single, “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” plus the timeless classics “Crosstown Traffic” and “All Along the Watchtower” making it arguably the best studio album the Experience produced in their brief career together.—David Trueman

1. …And The Gods Made Love
2. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
3. Crosstown Traffic
4. Voodoo Chile
5. Little Miss Strange
6. Long Hot Summer Night
7. Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
8. Gypsy Eyes
9. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
10. Rainy Day Dream Away
11. 1983…(A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
12. Moon Turn The Tides…Gently Gently Away
13. Still Raining Still Dreaming
14. House Burning Down
15. All Along The Watchtower
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Hendrix, Jimi Experience