Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight

I encourage all those interested in Hendrix to find and listen to as much "rare" recording as possible, despite sometimes terrible sound quality. The official recordings are mostly great, but to develop an appreciation for the direction he was going and the awesome development of his talent into 1970, when he died, you must hear things like "Captain Coconuts" from the vinyl "Crash Landing", a timeless studio instrumental posthumously mixed, "Hear My Train" on the commercially produced "Jimi Plays Berkeley", and even "Come On: Part 2" from Gothenberg, Sweden, late 1970, after which Jimi satirically says, "Thank you anyway". Send me a note if you need further recommendations. [email protected]

This book takes an inside look at the life and legend of the man that was James Marshall(Jimi) Hendrix. His troubled youth and how he had to suffer tremendous hardships just to be noticed. His love affair with blues music and his affinity for the guitar are also well intact. What puzzles me is why so many people would want to drag Jimi's name through the mud and desecrate his legacy and good fortune with lies and deceit. Why couldn't people have respect enough for Jimi and his music to take it seriosuly and treat it like gold, instead of commercializing for their own personal gain and profit? Jimi was a serious artist and this book certainly attests to that. He wasn't in it for the money or fame or recognition. He was simply in it for the music.He deserved to be treated better by people who called themselves "His Friends." Jimi was a incredible man and amazing guitar player as well, but he was also very human. He had a very vulnerable side to him as well. He had enough problems without people wanting him to be everything to them. He couldn't do that.He needed someone to love him and someone to respect him and take him at face value instead of having him always be Mr. Rock guitar god. he wanted people to listen to his music and be taken seriously. He was sick and tired of doing the same theatrical tricks that he had done with the guitar night after night, and now he just wanted people to listen to him, and not look at what he was doing with his guitar. he didn't need to prove anything anymore. he'd already done it. it was time for him to move into a new direction. Unfortunately, that new direction was never fully realized during hendrix's lifetime. Only now, after his death do we fully know just exactly what he was trying to achieve. Some things we'll never know. That was the genius of Hendrix. To keep people guessing. He'll never know how much of an impact he has had and continues to have on people's lives even to this day. God Bless You, Jimi. We Love You, Man!!!

I've read all of the Jimi bios over the years and to me, this one is the best. Maybe the act of helping Jimi get the sounds he envisioned helped Eddie to get into his head just a little bit. Reading the book, I found myself sucked into the making of the music and my appreciation of the music has grown as a result.Let's give this one 6 stars.

This biography was written to, as the title states , set the record straight. After Jimi Hendrix's 6-year career wasw cut short by a drug overdose he was viewed as an anti-establishment, sex and drug addict. However, no one ever focused on his serious vision and path of his music. He started his career as a backup musician for such artists as Curtis Knight and the Squires, the Iskey Brothers, and Little Richard. After that he was signed by Chas Chandler ( formally of the Animals0 signed him and moved to England. There the Experience began. The book shows that Jimi spent hours and hours in the studio to get a song right and kept to himself alot. Totally unlike his stage personallity. I would recommend this book to any music lover. The other musicians' insight into Hendrix's talent and personality makes the book especially interesting. It provides an interestingperspective into the most unique period in music History

This is the first and only hendrix book that is the most factual, it describes the actual life and times and troubles of jimi. The research give a reader a closer look inside the music and the complex side of his life. Paul Mc Cartney was right ,this book is Hendrix