People, Hell & Angels is a new album of twelve never before
released Jimi Hendrix studio s. This special album
showcases the legendary guitarist working outside of the original
Jimi Hendrix Experience trio. Beginning in 1968, Jimi Hendrix
grew restless, eager to develop new material with old friends and
new ensembles. Outside the view of a massive audience that had
established the Experience as rock’s largest grossing concert act
and simultaneously placed two of his albums together in the US
Top 10 sales chart, Jimi was busy working behind the scenes to
craft his next musical statement.
Earth Blues: Totally unlike the version first issued as part of
Rainbow Bridge in 1971, this December 19, 1969 master take
features just Hendrix, Cox and Miles—stripped down funk at its
very origin.
Somewhere: This newly discovered gem was recorded in March 1968
and features Buddy Miles on drums and Stephen Stills on bass.
Entirely different from any previous version fans have heard.
Hear My Train A Comin’: This superb was drawn from
Jimi’s first ever session with Billy Cox & Buddy
Miles—the rhythm section with whom he would later record the
groundbreaking album Band Of Gypsys.
Bleeding Heart: This Elmore James masterwork had long been a
favorite of Jimi’s. Recorded at the same May 1969 session as
“Hear My Train A Coming,” Jimi had a firm understanding of the
arrangement and tempo he desired. Before they began, Jimi
instructed Cox and Miles that he wanted to establish a totally
different beat than the standard arrangement. He then kicked off
this amazing rendition unlike any other he had ever attempted.
Let Me Move You: In March 1969, Jimi reached back to another old
friend, saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood. Before he was discovered
by Chas Chandler in the summer of 1966, Jimi had contributed
guitar for Youngblood and such infectious rhythm and blues styled
singles such as “Soul Food”.
This March 1969 session features Hendrix and Youngblood trading
licks on this never before heard, high velocity rock and soul
classic.
Izabella: In the aftermath of the Woodstock festival, Jimi
gathered his new ensemble, Gypsy Sun & Rainbows at the Hit
Factory in August 1969 with engineer Eddie Kramer. “Izabella”
had been one of the new songs the guitarist introduced at the
Woodstock festival and Jimi was eager to perfect a studio
version. This new version is markedly different from the Band
Of Gypsys 45 rpm single master issued by Reprise Records in 1970
and features Larry Lee, Jimi’s old friend on rhythm guitar.
Easy Blues: An edited extract of this gorgeous, free flowing
instrumental was briefly issued as part of the long out of print,
1981 album Nine To The Universe. Now nearly twice as long, fans
can enjoy the dramatic interplay between Jimi, second guitarist
Larry Lee, Billy Cox and drummer Mitch Mitchell.
C Landing: Perhaps known as the title song for the
controversial 1975 album that featured Hendrix master s
posthumously overdubbed by session musicians, this April 1969
original has never been heard before. Jimi is joined
here by Billy Cox and drummer Rocky Isaac of the Cherry People to
record this thinly veiled warning to his girlfriend Devon Wilson.
Inside Out: Jimi was fascinated by the rhythm pattern which
would ultimately take form as “Ezy Ryder”. Joined here by Mitch
Mitchell, Jimi recorded all of the bass and guitar parts for this
fascinating song--including a dramatic lead guitar part amplified
through a Leslie organ speaker.
Hey Gypsy Boy: The roots of Jimi’s majestic “Hey Baby (New
Rising Sun)” trace themselves to this March 1969 .
Unlike the posthumously overdubbed version briefly issued as part
of Midnight Lightning in 1975, this is original that
features Jimi joined by Buddy Miles.
Mojo Man: Jimi lends a hand to Albert & Arthur Allen, the
vocalists known as the Ghetto Fighters, whom he had befriended in
Harlem long before he achieved fame with the Experience. When
the two recorded this inspired, previously unreleased master at
the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama they took it
back to Hendrix at Electric Lady Studios. Jimi knew just what to
do to elevate the beyond contemporary R & B to the new
hybrid of rock, rhythm and blues he was celebrated for.
Villanova Junction Blues: Long before his famous performance of
this song at Woodstock, Jimi recorded this studio version with
Billy Cox and Buddy Miles at the same May 1969 session which
yielded “Hear My Train A Comin’” and “Bleeding Heart” also
featured on this album. Never fully finished, the song stands
as an example of the fertile ideas he hoped to harness.
