"Purple Haze" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
Dance song of the day - July 13, 2024
This song is a request from my friend Trevor in London who says it’s “perfect for all manner of gyratory acrobatics!!!”.
I know Trevor from an amateur improv comedy practice group my friend Ellie had joined and persuaded me to attend with her. Trevor was one of the regulars and cracked me up all the time. Hard to keep a straight face around the talented Trevor, who also does stand-up comedy in London pubs. What I wouldn’t give to see his gyratory acrobatics. I’m sure I would be doubled up on the floor.
Song of the day
You might have read that Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest and most influential electric guitarists of all time, but I don’t think you really ‘get it’ until you see and hear him play. To that end, here’s a live performance of “Purple Haze” at the Atlanta International Pop Festival in 1970 in which you are given an up close and personal view of Jimi’s guitar work. Not to mention, we get some glimpses of Jimi’s brilliant bandmates on The Cry of Love Tour, Billy Cox on bass guitar and Mitch Mitchell on drums.
Jimi and producer Chas Chandler pioneered a number of innovative guitar effects and sound recording techniques when making the studio version that appeared on the group’s debut album Are You Experienced. That version has the original Experience lineup of drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. I’d feel remiss if I didn’t include it here. After all, “Purple Haze” is considered one of the greatest guitar songs of all time, and I’m quite sure this is actually the version Trevor is keen to do his gyratory dance acrobatics to.
By the way, substacker Nic Briscoe worked with producer Chas Chandler back in 1983 as sound engineer doing overdubs and mixing for the Animals’ album Ark. Nic details that story in a post that’s just come out on Brad Kyle’s stack here. You can also find more of Nic’s fascinating and often humorous stories from the London recording scene at The Song's the Thing.
Song credits
Songwriter - Jimi Hendrix
Producer - Chas Chandler
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jimi Hendrix - lead vocals, guitar
Noel Redding - bass guitar, backing vocals
Mitch Mitchell - drums
The Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) mascot is officially the Wildcats, but the purple uniforms of team and marching band have become unofficially the "Purple Haze." And yes, the marching band does perform the Hendrix song at times. They do it well!
"Whatever it is, that girl put a spell on me."
And Mr. Hendrix still continues to put one on his admirers.