"All Along The Watchtower" is one of his three biggest hits of Hendrix's career, as it peaked at #5 on the UK charts. Yes, this was a cover of a Dylan song from John Wesley Harding, but Dylan complimented Hendrix by adopting Jimi's version in future concerts.

"Excuse me, while I kiss the sky!" The second of the big three, the UK #3 "Purple Haze", was the followup single to "Hey Joe" and features the classic fuzz distortion that causes Jimi's guitar to be somewhat muddled. During the solo before the final verse, the blues influence is apparent.

The dark "Hey Joe" is one of my favourites, and it was after all, Hendrix's first hit single, as it hit the #4 in the UK. The story is a simple song about a man who shoots his woman because he caught her with another man. "And that ain't too cool." Oh, this was a cover song, originally done by the Leaves.

"The Wind Cries Mary" was inspired by a fight Jimi and his girlfriend had, where the latter left in a rage. The song was written after she returned.

Then, two songs with eerily foreshadowing lyrics. The sweet ballad "Angel", originally part of the posthumous Cry Of Love, is a portrait of a celestial and ideal woman. "Fly on my sweet angel fly on through the sky/fly on my sweet angel/tomorrow I'm gonna be by your side." Given his untimely death...wow!

"If I don't meet you no more in this world/Then I'll see you in the next one. Don't be late." That's one of the last lyrics in "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" a heavily electrified Delta blues tune with mythological and superhero overtones that has been covered by Stevie Ray Vaughn. The third of the big three songs.

"Foxy Lady" is supposed to have been inspired by Heather Taylor, who later became Mrs. Roger Daltrey, whom he dubs a "cute little heartbreaker" and "sweet little lovemaker."

Another favourite is the bitter and ironic "Castles Made Of Sand", about the cruel tricks fate plays, such as a war-ready Indian who's killed in his sleep at night, and the crippled girl whose "heart was a frown" and dies after seeing something worth living for. Sigh, how "castles made of sand melt into the sea, eventually."

"Red House" is a blues purist's dream come true, 12-bar blues tune about sensual love and how when he gets there, he gets a nasty surprise, "but that's ok, I still got my guitar." Thank goodness he does, as this is the one reason why Hendrix's middle name is virtuoso.

Other songs like "Fire" and "Little Wing" have been covered, the Chili Peppers on the former, the Corrs and Sting on the latter.

The two live songs here demonstrate Jimi's virtuoso guitar playing, the psychedelic and wildly done Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock, which was the debut of the Band of Gypsies, and his cover of the Troggs' "Wild Thing", where he set his guitar on fire at Monterey, smashed it, and entered immortal legendhood.


Probably the best Hendrix compilation around   March 13, 2004
Itamar Katz (Ramat-Gan, Israel)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Like most Hendrix compilations, The Ultimate Experience actually only covers songs from Jimi's three albums with the Experience - `Are You Experienced', `Axis: Bold As Love' and `Electric Ladyland'. As such, though, it does an excellent job of putting together the Experience's hits and landmark tracks, and does well in also including two classic live tracks - `Star Spangled Banner' is Jimi's groundbreaking interpretation of the national anthem from his Woodstock performance, and his performance of the Troggs' `Wild Thing' from `Jimi plays Monterey' is the unforgettable concert in which he set his guitar on fire with lighter fluid. My only complaint about the song selection is as for certain misrepresentation of `Axis', which, to me, is his best album. Classic tracks like `If 6 Was 9', `Bold As Love', `Spanish Castle Magic' and `One Rainy Wish' are missing. That's quite all right, though, because once you have The Ultimate Experience, `Axis' is the next album to get.

At any rate, The Ultimate Experience includes all the classic tracks from `Are You Experienced' and `Electric Ladyland', that showcase his terrific singing and songwriting and of course his brilliant and groundbreaking guitar playing, be it a beautiful ballad (`The Wind Cries Mary), a heavy rocker (`Foxy Lady') or a ragged blues track (`Red House'). Many of the songs in the collection are by now timeless classics, and some of them, like `Little Wing' (my all time favorite Hendrix song) were covered time and time again. These songs influenced generations of musicians, but no other rock n' roller who imitated Jimi had his passion and his innovation. The songs on this collection are all, one by one, essential listening for music lovers, and it's the perfect introduction to the music of this one of a kind artist. But next you must get `Axis: Bold As Love' and also `Band Of Gypsys' to truly understand the genius of the man.


JIMI HENDRIX IS AMAZING!!!!!!!   May 20, 2004
music/moviefan03 (Warner Robins, GA USA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

If you have seen any of my other reviews, this is the only album that I have reviewed that is not a hip hop album. I had always heard a couple of Jimi Hendrix's songs, like American Woman, Voodoo Child, Purple Haze, and others, but I never gave any of his albums a listen until I just had some urge to hear his music. I guess I wanted to see why people thought so highly of him.

Well, I got a hold of this CD which was in my dad's collection and I gave it a good listen. And I am now a Jimi Hendrix fan. I can't stop listening to this CD and I have so much respect for this man and the music he has made.

If you are a rock music or blues fan you need this or your not a real fan. If you dont listen to this type of music, I suggest when your tired of hearing the same old crap on the radio and in your collection I suggest you pick up a Jimi Hendrix album and listen to it with an open mind, you will be surprised how much you like it.

And if you dont like it, im sure there wont be a problem finding someone to cop that CD from you!!! Give this CD a listen, its amazing.