Top Artists – JImi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix – Hendrix In The West

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  • Hendrix in the West finally returns to the site with outstanding Double Plus (A++) sound from first note to last
  • This is a fun live album with stellar performances by Jimi – the best of his many posthumous releases
  • The awesome version of Little Wing is just killer on this copy – it’s Jimi’s best performance of the song
  • 4 stars: “. . . it’s a hodge-podge, made of live tracks largely from 1969 and 1970. But it’s a bunch of great live tracks, including some real rarities. . . In the West is a great sampling of Hendrix’s late-period live material (and his sense of humor) making its long awaited appearance.”

We’re still surprised at how well recorded the album is. It takes a pressing like this to really show you the live Jimi Hendrix magic Eddie Kramer got onto tape. Drop the needle on Little Wing and you are going to be FLOORED.

The size and space here are really something, miles beyond most. The resolution and clarity of the open live sound of this copy bring out all the instrumental textures and details of the recording like few we played. More importantly, the extended top keeps the highs from getting hard or harsh the way they do on so many pressings we’ve played.

As these performances are culled from different concerts the sound varies a bit from track to track, but every track on here sounds good and the best tracks sound amazing. (more…)

Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced

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  • This one will blow you away with a Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) side one mated with an outstanding Double Plus (A++) side two — exceptionally quiet vinyl too
  • The sound is dramatically bigger, cleaner, livelier and more present than you’ll hear on any other copy
  • Stunning sound for Purple Haze, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Fire and Foxy Lady
  • No matter what version you’ve been playing, we guarantee you’ll be blown away by the energy and punch on this import
  • 5 stars: “One of the most stunning debuts in rock history, and one of the definitive albums of the psychedelic era.”

It is no easy task trying to find good copies of this album (or any Hendrix album, really). This one is absolutely killer. The bottom end is big and weighty, the top is open and transparent, and there’s plenty of rich, full tubey magic. Good luck finding this kind of sound for Are You Experienced on your own — it took us DECADES! (more…)

Jimi Hendrix – Rainbow Bridge

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  • This superb pressing of Rainbow Bridge boasts Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) sound from top to bottom – just shy of our Shootout Winner
  • A surprisingly good sounding album, one of the best of his posthumous releases
  • “‘Dolly Dagger’ is arguably one of the great pop songs of Hendrix’s career. Written towards the very end of his life, the song sounds like it was written years earlier, and it certainly has the same feel as many of the compositions on Hendrix’s debut, Are You Experienced?. Of course, Hendrix’s guitar work is inspired, but it doesn’t draw attention away from what is essentially a brilliantly crafted song.”

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Jimi Hendrix / Axis: Bold As Love – More Heavy Vinyl Trash from Classic Records

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Reviews and Commentaries for the Music of Jimi Hendrix

Sonic Grade: F

One of the worst things those dummies at Classic ever did. The mono mix is terrible.

Their reissue of the mono mix is flat and dry with practically no Tubey Magic whatsoever.

It positively screams “CHEAP REISSUE.” That two word description reminds me of this record, although to be fair the sound is quite a bit worse on the Hendrix.

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Letter of the Week – “…suddenly it’s like being 12 again!”

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One of our good customers had this to say about some Hot Stampers he purchased recently:  

Hey Tom,   

I’ve been a bit remiss in thanking you for the last record, Electric Lady Land so thanks! I bought this when I was twelve, listened to it on headphones and was blown away, but as I got older and ended up with tapes and then CD’s it all faded… until you play a fantastic hot stamper on a great stereo and suddenly it’s like being 12 again! I would have paid the same for just side three with Rainy day, dream away, 1983 and Moon turn the tides.

Absolute bliss… and then there’s the other three sides!

Forget the haters, I am so glad you guys do what you do Tom.

Cheers, Peter

Peter, it always warms our hearts to hear that customers get the same feeling from our records as we do.

Crazy thing about Hendrix — so many pressings of his records are just a disaster. The same is true of Zep. Some of the shit that is out there is so bad it just blows my mind.

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Jimi Hendrix – Isle of Wight

  • Outstanding sound throughout for this fun live album, boasting solid Double Plus (A++) grades or BETTER on both sides of this early UK press – exceptionally quiet vinyl too
  • We guarantee there is dramatically more space, richness, vocal presence, and performance energy on this copy than others you’ve heard, and that’s especially true if you made the mistake of buying whatever Heavy Vinyl pressing is currently on the market
  • Allmusic: “Hendrix’s performances of Foxy Lady, Lover Man, Midnight Lightning, All Along the Watchtower, In from the Storm and Freedom are excellent and made Isle of Wight well worth the price of admission when it first came out in 1971.”

Superb live ROCK ’N ROLL sound. It’s so clean, clear and transparent with deep punchy bass. The guitars here sound excellent. And hey, let’s be honest, if the guitars don’t sound right on a Hendrix record. You’re in trouble!

Fortunately, that ain’t the case here. Everything sounds tonally right on the money. I can’t imagine this record sounding any better. It just sounds right. Just drop the needle on Freedom for a taste of that real Hendrix magic.

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Letter of the Week – “What a mind-blowing experience!”

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Hot Stamper Pressings of Psych Rock Albums in Stock

One of our good customers had this to say about some Hot Stampers he purchased recently:

Hey Tom,    

Well, you found another INCREDIBLE Hot Stamper with “Axis: Bold as Love.” What a mind-blowing experience! This was at least my fifth copy of this album and it shamed all other sad sacks I had bought.

I really don’t know how you do it, but I’m infinitely grateful that you do. The notion of a “great sounding Hendrix album” almost sounds like an oxymoron, but again you struck sonic gold and unearthed one of those rare few that offer a deeply satisfying listening experience – to put it mildly!

My appreciation for Hendrix’s towering musical achievements has doubled, maybe even tripled, from hearing this Hot Stamper. That’s quite a feat for an artist I already considered to be one of the best ever! All this because of those magical Hot Stamper grooves. This goes to show what a difference amazing sound can have on the ability to appreciate an album or artist.

Oh, and I once owned a copy of the abysmal Classic pressing. Among its many other failings is the decision to re-release it in mono. Mono!? “Axis” is one of the creative examples of stereo mixing known to man! Reducing this album to mono is a travesty, but I guess that didn’t bother Classic Records.

Anyhow, keep ’em coming, Tom! You indeed sell the best sounding records in the world.

Dan L.

Jimi Hendrix – Crash Landing

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TWO GREAT TRIPLE PLUS SIDES on this original Reprise pressing! This is one of those somewhat controversial posthumous Hendrix albums, but it’s hard to argue with the quality of the best tracks on here, like the great Message To Love. I’m not going to go out on a limb and say this is a must-own album, but Hendrix fans will certainly find much to like here. We played a big stack of copies and most of them weren’t worth our time; a copy like this one lets you appreciate Jimi’s craft without mediocre sound getting in the way.

The overall sound is both richer and cleaner than you get on the average copy., not to mention more musical and enjoyable. The bass is strong, there’s lots of presence to the vocals and guitar, and more depth to the soundfield as well.

Bottom line? If you’re a Hendrix fan who wants to hear some of these later songs sound good, this Hot Stamper pressing will get the job done. (more…)