[AX7221]

I've often wondered about this, i think he's the best, but where's the pop culture credit for guitarists like duane allman or eric clapton and so on?

There a few ideas i've had. One is Hendix's sound was more abbrasive than others, which tradionally appealed more to younger folks, who more often will champion a bar none greatest guitarist. Or was it his onstage performances? playing with his teeth, setting his guitar on fire and so forth.

Any ideas?

[allthumbs]

All of the above. Plus he was the first to really use feedback in a deliberate way. He was in the right place at the right time. He also died at just past the height of his popularity. When rap started to show up at festivals, hendrix was starting to being booed if you can believe that! The rappers considered him an uncle tom playing white boys music.

[daytrpr]

He was a very "on the edge" black guitarist with a white band in the love generation, first & foremost. He was also a very dynamic performer. He played the guitar every way but the traditional way. He played a right handed giutar, left handed, I'm suprised he didn't play it strung right handed, & he probably could. But then it comes down to music. It was very good & new & adventurous, all the things that that generation craved.

[Rockerbob]

He had Mojo!

[Andy S]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

He also died at just past the height of his popularity. When rap started to show up at festivals, hendrix was starting to being booed if you can believe that! The rappers considered him an uncle tom playing white boys music.

Allthumbs.....He died in September of 1970. I had tickets to see him in Band of Gypsies in Columbus. 2nd row seats, dead center. Buddy Miles got sick and they cancelled several shows. Hendrix died before rescheduling. I graduated high school in 1970. I don't recall any rap being done that far back (geez, I'm making myself sound almost ancient ) Motown was just starting to fade a bit around then but I'm pretty sure rap was not around until later. Just my recollection anyway. FWIW.

[krissovo]

He was a pioneer and opened the door to even more posibilities of what the electric guitar could do, he also did some great work on 12 string acoustics that were never truly appreciated. I also think Allthumbs hit the nail on the head with the timing of his death and that will always make you a martyr if you go before your time. Kurt Kobain also falls into this catagory even though not in the same class as a guitarist he will always be loved.

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by Andy S

Allthumbs.....He died in September of 1970. I had tickets to see him in Band of Gypsies in Columbus. 2nd row seats, dead center. Buddy Miles got sick and they cancelled several shows. Hendrix died before rescheduling. I graduated high school in 1970. I don't recall any rap being done that far back (geez, I'm making myself sound almost ancient ) Motown was just starting to fade a bit around then but I'm pretty sure rap was not around until later. Just my recollection anyway. FWIW.

You may be right. I got that from a documentary about Hendrix. I may have got it wrong. He was getting boos in England at festivals in his last year. I wonder what style of music came in around that time. Maybe punk. The rapper quote was probably years later. It all starts to blend together at my age.

[Andy S]

I did a quick search for music in the 70s. Here is a list that is supposed to be the top 40 for the year 1970. As you can see, music was changing and going more toward "pop" and the sweet sound. With a few exceptions that is.

Had he stayed around, he probably would have been one of the pioneers with the sounds of the harder rockers that followed.

Or, as some articles have said, he had been writing stuff that was quite different from what he had previously done, he would have been on the cutting edge yet again, but of the new music of the day. I have yet to hear any of these supposed songs or "home recordings" so that is just hear say, unfortunately.

Here is the list, as you can see, it was very diverse in style and content:

1 - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
2 - Close To You - The Carpenters
3 - American Woman - The Guess Who
4 - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B.J. Thomas
5 - War - Edwin Starr
6 - Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
7 - I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
8 - Get Ready - Rare Earth
9 - Let It Be - The Beatles
10 - Band Of Gold - Freda Payne
11 - Mama Told Me (Not To Come) - Three Dog Night
12 - Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens
13 - Make It With You - Bread
14 - Hitchin' A Ride - Vanity Fair
15 - ABC - The Jackson 5
16 - The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
17 - Cracklin' Rose - Neil Diamond
18 - Candida - Dawn
19 - Everybody Is A Star - Sly & The Family Stone
20 - Spill The Wine - Eric Burdon & War
21 - O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps
22 - Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum
23 - Lay Down - Melanie & The Edwin Hawkins Singers
24 - Ball Of Confusion - The Temptations
25 - Love On A Two Way Street - Moments
26 - I Want You Back The Jackson 5
27 - Which Way You Goin' Billy? - The Poppy Family
28 - All Right Now - Free
29 - Julie, Do Ya Love Me - Bobby Sherman
30 - Green-eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
31 - Signed Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) - Stevie Wonder
32 - Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image
33 - Venus - Shocking Blue
34 - Instant Karma (We All Shine On) - John Ono Lennon
35 - Patches - Clarence Carter
36 - Lookin' Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival
37 - Rainy Night In Georgia - Brook Benton
38 - Something's Burning - Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
39 - Give Me Just A Little More Time - Chairmen Of The Board
40 - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse




Pretty scary what we listened to back then!

[bluesguy]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

All of the above. Plus he was the first to really use feedback in a deliberate way.

Not quite accurate. Hendrix would go to see Buddy Guy. Buddy Guy was using feedback during his live shows for years before other folks. Buddy Guy wanted to record some stuff with Chess like what he was doing on his live shows but the Chess brother's said "Now Way". When the British Invasion happened, especially groups like Cream and Hendrix Experience the Chess brother's told Buddy Guy "opps" ... For more check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Guy

IMO: Hendrix brought together his years of working the Chitlin' circuit doing blues & soul music (read about that hear http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/jh_chitlin.htm ) with rock-n-roll to create something really new. He also used effects in new and interesting ways.

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by bluesguy

Not quite accurate. Hendrix would go to see Buddy Guy. Buddy Guy was using feedback during his live shows for years before other folks. Buddy Guy wanted to record some stuff with Chess like what he was doing on his live shows but the Chess brother's said "Now Way". When the British Invasion happened, especially groups like Cream and Hendrix Experience the Chess brother's told Buddy Guy "opps" ... For more check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Guy

IMO: Hendrix brought together his years of working the Chitlin' circuit doing blues & soul music (read about that hear http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/jh_chitlin.htm ) with rock-n-roll to create something really new. He also used effects in new and interesting ways.

I'm batting zero today. I'm going to shut up now.

[bluesguy]

Originally Posted by Andy S

...Here is the list, as you can see, it was very diverse in style and content: ... Pretty scary what we listened to back then!

Really. That list is . I . I think a diverse list of music like the one from the 70's is much better than the factory produced that is on the radio today....

[WernHalen]

BLues guy i appreciate what you are saying... what can we do about it though? Maybe we should buy a stationa and play any good music, without the sales pitch... That is probably what soundclick is for.

Lucky us we have the internet.

[krissovo]

He was almost booed of stage in the Isle of White (UK), I think it had more to do with he was off his face and did not give the best performance.

[cshude]

Interesting- I was born in 1971 and I could sing 3/4 of the songs on that list (at least the chorus). I would not be able to do the same for any years from 1990 onward.

[Andy S]

Originally Posted by krissovo

He was almost booed of stage in the Isle of White (UK), I think it had more to do with he was off his face and did not give the best performance.

Krissovo,

I agree. Last year I visited the Rock n Roll hall of fame in Cleveland, OH (weird place for it if you ask me...) They had a special section on Hendrix that month. A video of one of his concerts was playing. My son was with me (14 1/2 at the time) He has some musical knowledge and understands from what I listen to & try to play what guitar playing is about (at least I get that impression) We both stood there watching & listening and were stunned with how poorly Hendrix seemed to be playing & singing.

The footage of him in the Film Woodstock showed him playing quite well and in control. The footage of him from the Hall of Fame was almost scary. Seemed reckless and almost out of control. Very sloppy playing, in my eyes. Seemed very much to me under the influence & out of control.

My son had heard recordings of him but had never seen any video or film. He asked me, quite puzzled, something to the effect, 'Is he supposed to be good? Why would people like that?' So, perhaps, he was losing himself too much in the drug scene at that time and people going to the shows were NOT. It showed and they responded.

Well, these are just my observations and thoughts..... I could be wrong by a mile. Maybe he was wearing new shoes and they were to tight..