Hendrix-Band of Gypsys (1970)


 

Artist: Hendrix

Title: Band of Gypsys

Label: Capitol

Format:  LP

Cat  STAO-472

Year of Release: 1970

Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1971 gatefold with Gold Record logo on cover

Listed Condition: VG/VG

Sell Date: 5/26/22

Sell Price: $11.99

Discogs Last Sold: 5/28/22 VG/VG $9.50

Low: $5.99 G/Not Graded

Median: $11.99

Average: $15.69

High:$34.00 VG+/VG

Current low price:$8.00 VG/generic, $10.00 VG/VG

Current Number on Sale at Discogs:8

Have/Want: 1142/383

Where Sold: Stoney Beach, MD

Time it took to sell: 7 years

Where and When Bought: That's Entertainment used $3.99 early 80's

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A

Sad To See It Go: No

Originally intended as a contract fulfillment release for a pre-Experience contract, Band of Gypsys became the final album Jimi released in his lifetime.  This live band replaced the Experience with Buddy Miles on drums and busy co-vocals along Billy Cox on bass.  This was from a turn of the decade January 1970 performance at the esteemed Fillmore East in NYC.

The centerpiece of course is "Machine Gun," the classic instrumental epic that closes the first side after the call-and-response "Who Knows."   While it's a great side of music, and many people swear by the format, to me the rest of this album is isn't Experience level.  Why?  With Jimi Hendrix, he is the focus of his band for two reasons.  Number one is guitar, and two his vocals that are delivered in such a way that it allows the guitar to stand out.  What people deem to be more "soulful" singing by Miles sounds a little to me like a drummer over-singing his way out of his lane and steamrolling over Jimi in the process even if "Changes" was good enough to open the second side.  I think this is why Jimi wanted Mitch Mitchell back.  Mitchell knew his place in Jimi's unit.  It's been sniffed that he didn't have the talent someone like Buddy Miles had, but sometimes the star has to shine alone.  Miles had led his own successful band coming out of the Electric Flag, but this was billed HENDRIX not HENDRIX/MILES/COX even if Jimi called it alternating names Gypsy Sun and Rainbows as well as this albums namesake.  That said, the single original album without expansion works conceptually, and Side Two, which I somehow never new stone cold grew on me after listening to the orginal vinyl a day after hearing an expanded version on my computer and a stream of the original tracks.

I can see how the Band of Gypsys format could drive Jimi nuts in the long run, though it was a fine way to shake things up for a contractual obligation.  Beats rehashing Curtis Knight recordings.

He was the star for a reason.

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