Song of the Week #42
What can be said about Jimi Hendrix, that hasn’t already been said?
Its been over 50 years, yet people still write stories and release recordings from the greatest ever to pick up the instrument. Jimi single handedly changed the musical landscape forever in the short time he was alive and recording music .
Forget Clapton, forget Santana, forget Jeff Beck, forget Joe Walsh, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, and Joe Perry. I am telling you now, once and for all, there has never been and will never be a better guitarist than James Marshall Hendrix. He had everything you could ever ask for, and I honestly will struggle to put into words how much of an influence he was on me personally and anybody else who’s ever plugged themselves into an amplifier. You can ask the question of where he drew his influence from other than the standard blues influence prevalent in the early 60s, and was there a lot of style that came with the substance, but if you start playing the American national anthem with your teeth, from your great grandma to your best mate, there’s only one guitarist they’re going to say you look like.
His talent for songwriting often gets left at the wayside however. For all the bravado, wah-wah solos and flamboyant 60s style, there was actually within him, a phenomenal creator of enjoyable music. You need only listen to the Wind Cries Mary and Castles Made of Sand to experience what I mean.
But what song could I pick for this Song of the Week at Sinner’s Gin, and my ultimate tribute to the ultimate guitar hero? With such a vast expanse of a back catalogue to pick from, it was a hard and drawn out choice. So much so that it actually got to Friday morning for me to pick one (metaphorical gun to the head). I debated everything in my mind before settling on one phenomenal classic.
What kind of tribute would I be giving to my axe-slinging idol if I didn’t pick the song that contained his best (and arguably the greatest ever) guitar solo? Not his song originally, but I’ll bet you’ve never listened to the Bob Dylan version more than once. The incredible and irreplaceable All Along The Watchtower. Grab a gin, sit back and enjoy the sunshine all. Have a great weekend.
For those of you in Liverpool, come jam with us at the Gin to my Tonic show this evening and tomorrow - see you there!