Jimi Hendrix - The Eternal Fire of Jimi Hendrix with Curtis Knight 12" Vinyl LP Album

 This is the cream of Jimi Hendrix, when he was in his prime. Most of these titles were recorded in July and August of 1967. The unusual thing about this is the fact that Jimi recorded these in defiance of "The Establishment", because of problems in Court which are still going on at present, and are therefore "sub-judice". Jimi had already established himself as "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" prior to this date and the idea was that he would return to the way he originally wanted to record with Curtis Knight.

 Here he was, already a Superstar with a group called The Jimi Hendrix Experience" and we find him recording, in defiance of this group name, with Curtis Knight, with whom he originally started "The Jimi Hendrix Sound". "The Jimi Hendrix Sound" was originally created by Ed Chalpin, who produced Jimi Hendrix for the first time (Picture 1 shows the very first Jimi Hendrix recording session, showing Curtis Knight, Jimi Hendrix and Ed Chalpin, 1965).

 In 1967, although there were Court proceedings against him at the time, Jimi felt it important enough to go to Ed Chalpin's own studios in New York where he was originally created because the atmosphere was such that he felt he could create to the best of his ability and would receive constructive help and direction from Ed ChaIpin.

 If this represented an experiment on his part, it must have been fantastical ly successful as far as he was concerned because one month later he went to Ed Ch,lpin's apartment at 2.00 a.m. in the morning, with Curtis Knight, and insisted that they again record in Ed Chalpin's studio, Dimensional Sound, in New York .

  For those people who are interested in the supernatural and the occult, as Jimi was, one of the song,, which is not on this album, which was recorded at that session, was "The Ballad Of Jimi". This particular song predicts his death, five years from the first time he recorded it to the exact month and time of his death and the last three lines read as follows "five years, this he said, is not gone is just dead".

  For those who are sceptical about this, they may check the original recording released by Decca at that time. This song is currently issued as a single by Decca. Among the titles recorded are "Hush Now", "Love Love", "Flashing", "Day Tripper", "Level", "Love Love" (instrumental) which is very, very different to the vocal version as is "Hush Now" (instrumental) different to the vocal version and are of particular interest since this was one of the first times Jimi ever used the "wah wah" pedal on his guitar.

 If you listen closely you can hear how Jimi makes his guitar talk with Curtis Knight adding to it with his voice. Although Jimi does not appear as lead singer he can be heard as supporting voice to Curtis on some tracks.

 At this time we take special note of an extra feature of this album which is two titles called "How Would You Feel" and "You Don't Want Me", these were the origin of "The Jimi Hendrix Sound". These are his two very first commercial titles which were an introduction to the psychedelic, acid rock, hard rock, sound that Jimi and Ed Chalpin created and which is so popular today.

 Throughout these recordings, although there were other musicians present, Jimi re-recorded all parts himself, through the process of over-dubbing, thus eliminating all other performances with the exception of the drummer. Vie show pictures of Jimi when he did the 1967 recording session. You can readily and easily recognise his identity by his dress; more important.

 I have never seen pictures shot of Jimi Hendrix which have captured the happiness of this star and the reader will judge this for himself. For the collectors of Jimi Hendrix we enclose one further shot of Jimi playing the guitar with his teeth in 1966 - a gimmick which later proved to be immediately recognizeable as Jimi's trade mark.

 The fact that Curtis Knight does the lead singing on this album was by Jimi's own instruction as he believed in his guitar as a sound and in Curtis's voice to supplement the whole psychedelic picture. Today's fans know Jimi mostly as a guitarist and that was the way Jimi and Ed Chalpin originated the "New Era".

  It is rumoured that Jimi was unhappy with the way things were going after this session and in my opinion this album probably was, and is, the last of Jimi's recordings produced in the way he wanted. Other recordings from these very same sessions can be found on London Records.

 To Jimi's fans: Did you ever see Jimi looking as happy as he does in these photographs?

 Ed Chalpin, London 1971

Vinyl Records Discography:

•  Are You Experienced ( Barclay , France )
•  Axis: Bold as Love ( Barclay , France )
•  Band of Gypsys ( France , Polydor )
•  Band of Gypsys ( France , Barclay )
•  Birth of Success
•  Cry of Love
•  Electric Ladyland ( UK )
•  Electric Ladyland ( France , Barclay )
•  Eternal Fire
•  Experience Movie Soundtrack
•  Featuring Curtis Knight
•  Genius Original Sessions
•  Hendrix in the West
•  Hey Joe
•   Live at Woodstock ( 3LP )
•  Lonnie Youngblood
•  Moods
•  Otis Redding Monterey
•  Rainbow Bridge
•  Smash Hits ( UK )
•  Sound Track Recordings
•  Stone Free a Tribute
•  Voodoo Chile Live
•  War Heroes ( Barclay , France )
•  Jeff Cooper Tribute to
•  Purple Fox- Jimi Hendrix