Bruce gets his 60s Groove on with “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” album, “Are you Experienced” from May of 1967. (Foxy Lady / Manic Depression / Third Stone from the Sun / Purple Haze ). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “A Guide for the Married Man” by the Turtles. STAFF PICKS: “At the Zoo” by Simon and Garfunkel — Rob. “Mirage” by Tommy James and The Shondells — Brian. “Ain't Nothing But a House Party” by The Showstoppers — Wayne. “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You” by The Monkees — Friend of the Show, Vann Mathis. “Friday on My Mind” by The Easybeats — Bruce.
Undoubtedly the most influential electric guitarist of the rock era, Jimi Hendrix burst on the scene in the form of “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” with his debut album, “Are You Experienced.” The band was formed by Mitch Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding on bass, but the centerpiece was Jimi Hendrix on lead and lead guitar. Creative with the distortion, fuzz, and other guitar effects, Hendrix played left-handed, played a light string, and tuned his guitar down a half step, giving him even more power and range with his playing. Hendrix would sadly live only a little over 3 years after the release of this album, but his influence echoes through the decades of rock music.
Friend of the show Vann Mathis joins us for this podcast.
Foxy Lady
The third single issued in the U.S. only peaked a number 67 on the Billboard hot 100, and is now a well known staple of the Hendrix repertoire. This song contains "the Hendrix chord," a dominant 7th sharp 9th.
Manic Depression
This jazzy track with a triplet beat describes a challenging romantic experience.
Third Stone from the Sun
This longer and deeper cut has a science fiction motif. It chronicles an alien encounter with the planet Earth. The aliens determine that the only intelligent life on the planet are the chickens.
Purple Haze
The second single from the album was the first single written by Hendrix. Rolling Stone ranks this song as number 2 on "the greatest guitar songs of all time," behind only Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode"
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
“A Guide for the Married Man” by the Turtles
This is the title track from the comedy film "A Guide for the Married Man."
STAFF PICKS:
“At the Zoo” by Simon and Garfunkel
Rob's staff pick was originally written for "The Graduate" but was cut from the movie, and it was subsequently used on a studio album. Multiple zoos have used this song in their advertising.
“Mirage” by Tommy James and The Shondells
Brian shares that the producer of the track "I think we're alone now," accidentally played it backwards, and the band decided to make the resulting melody into a song in its own right.
“Ain't Nothing But a House Party” by The Showstoppers
Wayne's staff pick highlights the sound known as the “Philadelphia Soul.”
“A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You” by The Monkees
Vann Mathis makes a staff pick written by Neil Diamond. This is the first Monkees release featuring Davy Jones on lead, which was controversial...because the rest of the band wasn't consulted about it.
“Friday on My Mind” by The Easybeats
Bruce's staff pick was a part of the 96 Rock “5 o'clock whistle.” Who remembers that? Interestingly, the song takes a minor key when referencing the weekday, and turns to a major key when it gets to Friday.