SONG: "Astro Man"
ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix
ALBUM: "First Rays Of The New Rising Sun"
YEAR: 1997
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Seattle, Washington
YEARS ACTIVE: 1962 - 1970
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"Astro Man" can be seen as a psychedelic exploration of the desire for transcendence, the breaking of societal boundaries, and the potential transformative powers of the human mind. Hendrix invites listeners to embrace the unknown and break free from limiting beliefs, encouraging them to venture into uncharted territories of thought and experience.
JIMI HENDRIX DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1967 - Are You Experienced (Reprise Records)
* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200
* certified 5X Platinum
1968 - Axis: Bold As Love (Reprise Records)
* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200
* certified Platinum
1968 - Electric Ladyland (Reprise Records)
* peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified 2X Platinum
1970 - Band Of Gypsys (Capitol Records)
* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200
* certified 2X Platinum
* There were several posthumous releases by the Jimi Hendrix estate. Most of these albums were demos or different takes of previously recorded material. There were two releases, however, 1971's "The Cry Of Love" and 1997's "First Rays Of The New Rising Sun", which are mostly considered to be close to what Jimi's never released fourth studio album would be.
MY THOUGHTS ON JIMI HENDRIX:
Jimi Hendrix got his start in the music industry as early as 1962. Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Hendrix got spots on backing bands of artists such as the Isley Brothers, Little Richard and Curtis Knight and the Squires. By 1966, Jimi wanted to carve his own path in music. With the help of Chas Chandler, former bassist of the band The Animals, Jimi was well on his way. Chas recruited Noel Redding to play bass and Mitch Mitchell to play drums and the Jimi Hendrix Experience was born. Early on, Jimi showed he had huge balls. He would ask Eric Clapton if he could jam on stage with Cream and they did a rendition of "Killing Floor" that changed the way Clapton saw music! There was also the infamous live show when Clapton, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Paul McCartney and John Lennon were in attendance and Hendrix left them all speechless! They had never seen anything like him. In 1967, the Experience dropped their debut full length album, "Are You Experienced". The album was like a sledgehammer! "Purple Haze", "Hey Joe", "Manic Depression" and "Fire" are some of the standout tracks. Tracks that stand the test of time some 57 years after they were released! Hendrix would follow that up with 1968's "Axis: Bold As Love". This album features "Little Wing", one of the greatest rock and roll ballads of all time! Also in 1968, Jimi recorded the legendary "Electric Ladyland". This album featured the Bob Dylan cover "All Along The Watchtower" which would be Jimi's most successful single of his career. The cover was so great that even Dylan himself would say that "Watchtower" was no longer his song, It belonged to Jimi! After "Electric Ladyland" was released there was a lot of turmoil within the Experience. Redding would leave the group and Mitchell would follow suit. Jimi began playing with Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums, the Band of Gypsys. This line-up released one live album, 1970's "Band Of Gypsys". This features the legendary song "Machine Gun". Eventually, Mitchell would return to play drums for Jimi and Cox would remain on bass. This would be the line-up of the band right up until Jimi's untimely death on September 18, 1970 when he was found unresponsive at a hotel in London by his then girlfriend. What could have been? It's very clear, Jimi Hendrix was one of the most innovative and creative musicians of all time. He was like a force, a tornado that just ransacked and rummaged the music world and left carnage in his wake! Most people see Jimi as the greatest guitarist of all time. But he could also be considered one of the great showmen of all time too. His performances at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and at the Woodstock Festival of 1969 are widely considered to be two of the greatest live performances of all time! He changed music. He changed the game! Anybody who picked up an electric guitar and wanted to be in a rock and roll band after Jimi Hendrix was almost certainly super influenced by Jimi's other worldly guitar chops and technique. Dude's a legend. What else is there to say?!
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Cream
Led Zeppelin
Stevie Ray Vaughan
The Doors
The Rolling Stones
TEN JIMI HENDRIX SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
2. Little Wing
3. Purple Haze
4. All Along The Watchtower
5. Fire
6. Castles Made Of Sand
7. Angel
8. Red House
9. Bold As Love
10. Hey Joe
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