Introduction
Electric Ladyland is the third and final studio album released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was released on October 16, 1968. The album was produced and distributed by Reprise Records (US) and Track Records (UK). Its genre is “rock” music.
The album features many songs written and composed by Hendrix and include some guest collaborators along the way.
First Impressions
I’ve been listening to this album fairly frequently over the past couple decades. My initial impression from my very first listen would be that the album features a lot of improvisation with the guitar. However, after studying the music it becomes apparent that there is a method to the madness.
When developing music criticism on any project that features Jimi Hendrix, it is easy to assume that every song includes spontaneous guitar playing. However, by the time that the band released this project, it is safe to assert that they had it down to a science.
Everything from the songwriting to the other elements of music composition is so deliberate on Electric Ladyland; every song is well crafted.
This album also shows that one of Hendrix’s biggest inspirations is blues music. Some of the songs are written and sung as blues. There is also some blues guitar throughout the album. It’s like you can hear the birth of rock n’ roll evolving from blues music on certain tracks.
Track Listing
- “…And the Gods Made Love”: A montage of electric sounds create an ambiance and sets the tone for the album.
- “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)”: The sound of the first song on the album is both psychedelic and bluesy at the same time. You can hear the inspiration of blues music in the composition of this song. It is more of a relaxed track; Hendrix’s guitar is played with a riff that corresponds to the melody created by the other instruments. The band is very much in the pocket on this song; one of the aspects that I enjoy the most about this track is the vocals. Hendrix has the perfect voice for blues/rock music, especially the songs that have a mid—tempo or slower. The lyrics match the instrumentation perfectly. This song also sets the tone for the rest of the album, it’s almost like a second introduction.
- “Crosstown Traffic”: This song was released as a single. The drums and the guitar riff are mixed perfectly in this song. The lyrics tell the story of a guy who needs to be on the other side of town, but is delayed when a potential love interest is found. This song is a deviation from the previous bluesy track. “Crosstown Traffic” is a great rock song that is similar to contemporary music within the genre.
- “Voodoo Chile”: This is one of my favorite songs ever. The band switches back to the blues, this time with a new musical direction throughout the piece. The song starts out with a very pronounced blues style instrumentation that even includes organ notes and chords to build the musical foundation. The lyrics are also written and sung as a blues song. Hendrix’s guitar plays along with the melody, but in between verses he strategically places guitar solos that takes listeners in a new direction. This is the first time on the album where the audience gets to hear the more creative sounds of his guitar playing.
- “Little Miss Strange”: The song was composed by Noel Redding. The band members are harmonizing as they are performing the song. The composition features a collaboration between drums and guitar.
- “Long Hot Summer Night”: There is a captivating simplicity to this song. It’s another track that has a psychedelic vibe. It’s an all-around, well-composed song. The lyrics, instrumentation and performance are stellar.
- “Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)”: This song was composed by Earl King. It is a masterpiece. Every aspect of the song functions well. The guitar solo after verse two is one of the best on the album. It is an up-tempo song that is fun to sing and listen to.
- “Gypsy Eyes”: This song is unique for its collaboration between electric guitar and kick drum. The sound proceeds for several measures and then the instrumentation produces a more up-tempo sound. The changes in direction make the song interesting to hear.
- “Burning of the Midnight Lamp”: The composition is simple, but it produces a unique sound. The instrumentation sounds like it was performed live, more so than the other tracks (with the exception of “Voodoo Chile”). After listening to this track, it’s clear why the band is called the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The band produces incredibly creative sounds.
- “Rainy Day, Dream Away”: This is a mid-tempo blues song. The majority of the track is instrumental. In the beginning there is emphasis placed on the drums and saxophone. There is a verse that is performed three-quarters of the way through the instrumental; the lyrics and sound of Hendrix’s voice matches the instrumentation. The instrumentation on the last-quarter of the song changes in a unique musical direction.
- “1983…(A Merman I Should Turn to Be)”: This song is about Armageddon. A future in which machines dominate the planet, forcing human beings to adapt or evolve in order to escape destruction by living under water. The lyrics seem to be what is highlighted in this song. After the lyrics are sung, the song goes on for several minutes, functioning as an instrumental. With all the instruments, there are more lower notes played in this song than any other on the album. It is a good change to hear this side of the band’s work as it is completely different than the other tracks.
- “Moon Turn the Tides…Gently Gently Away”: This one is a collection of electric sounds and wind. It’s a brief instrumental that accompanies the previous song.
- “Still Raining, Still Dreaming”: This song is a continuation of track 10. The lyrics are identical between the two songs, but the later iteration is more -up-tempo. The instrumentation includes, drum, organ and guitar.
- “House Burning Down”: The song primarily focuses on the lyrics and the electric guitar. While lyrics in a few other songs are sung as the blues, the vocals in this song are rock n’ roll. The fact that the band can play and sing both blues and rock music is extraordinary.
- “All Along the Watchtower”: The song was composed by Bob Dylan. It is one of the best tracks on the album. The songwriting and performance are equally great. The guitar solo after the second verse is one of the best parts of the song. It was covered by Prince during his Superbowl Halftime performance. It is unclear if Prince thought about it in this way, but many people have drawn a comparison between the band’s song and Prince. The lyrics in the last verse, “All along the watchtower, Prince has kept a view,” is kind of regarded as a prophecy for the musician (Prince) who would make his musical debut in the 1970s, a few years after Hendrix’s death. Another comparison that is drawn from the lyrics is the word “watchtower”, and people connect it with Prince because he was a Jehovah’s Witness. While all of this is a coincidence, it is interesting to look at some of theories that people write about.
- “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”: It’s probably the most popular song on the album, and rightfully so. It’s the rock n’ roll version of track four. The song is up-tempo. The songwriting is unique. Excellent guitar playing. It is an excellent way to end the album.