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Band of Gypsys is a live album
Live album

A live album – commonly contrasted with a studio album – is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances. Live albums may be recorded at a single concert, or combine recordings made at multiple concerts....
 and a project by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose guitar playing continues to be a considerable influence on rock music....
, backed by Billy Cox
Billy Cox

William 'Billy' Cox is a bass guitarist, best known for playing with guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He was born in West Virginia.Billy first met Hendrix in the early part of the 1960s, when they were both in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Campbell....
 and Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles

George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
, that followed Hendrix's Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was an English/American rock music band that formed in London in 1966. Originally comprising American vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until 1969, in which time they released three successful studio albums....
 project. Released before his death in 1970, it was the last album Hendrix himself authorized, and the only Hendrix-authorised album to be released on Capitol Records
Capitol Records

Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood, California and New York City as part of Capitol Music Group....
 (in the USA) — the result of a settlement regarding a recording contract he had signed in 1965 before he became famous.
History
After Hendrix disbanded the Jimi Hendrix Experience in mid-1969, he formed the group he called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows ostensibly to fulfill the contract of the "Jimi Hendrix Experience" to play Woodstock
Woodstock Festival

Woodstock was a music festival, billed as An Aquarian Exposition, held at Max Yasgur's 600 acre dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York from August 15 to August 18, 1969....
.






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Band of Gypsys is a live album
Live album

A live album – commonly contrasted with a studio album – is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances. Live albums may be recorded at a single concert, or combine recordings made at multiple concerts....
 and a project by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose guitar playing continues to be a considerable influence on rock music....
, backed by Billy Cox
Billy Cox

William 'Billy' Cox is a bass guitarist, best known for playing with guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He was born in West Virginia.Billy first met Hendrix in the early part of the 1960s, when they were both in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Campbell....
 and Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles

George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
, that followed Hendrix's Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was an English/American rock music band that formed in London in 1966. Originally comprising American vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until 1969, in which time they released three successful studio albums....
 project. Released before his death in 1970, it was the last album Hendrix himself authorized, and the only Hendrix-authorised album to be released on Capitol Records
Capitol Records

Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood, California and New York City as part of Capitol Music Group....
 (in the USA) — the result of a settlement regarding a recording contract he had signed in 1965 before he became famous.

History


After Hendrix disbanded the Jimi Hendrix Experience in mid-1969, he formed the group he called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows ostensibly to fulfill the contract of the "Jimi Hendrix Experience" to play Woodstock
Woodstock Festival

Woodstock was a music festival, billed as An Aquarian Exposition, held at Max Yasgur's 600 acre dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York from August 15 to August 18, 1969....
. Bassist Billy Cox
Billy Cox

William 'Billy' Cox is a bass guitarist, best known for playing with guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He was born in West Virginia.Billy first met Hendrix in the early part of the 1960s, when they were both in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Campbell....
 had already been rehearsing and playing with Hendrix since April, but the band was short-lived. With Cox and his drummer
Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
 friend Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles

George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
, he next formed the Band of Gypsys, this time to fulfill his legal (US only) obligation to produce an LP of new material for Ed Chalpin, to be released on the Capitol label, which Hendrix, in an interview as early as March, had already mentioned was going to be a "jam" album titled "Band of Gypsys." The name "Band of Gypsys" was also mentioned as an alternative name for the group by Hendrix in his introduction during the Woodstock concert. With these musician friends he further consolidated his new musical style that he had tentatively begun in the last days of the "Jimi Hendrix Experience" and had largely developed with GS&R. They recorded a single "Stepping Stone" b/w "Izabella" for Reprise (quickly withdrawn after its release), some studio material, and several finished tracks towards his forthcoming LP, some of which have been posthumously released on First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun

The CD First Rays of the New Rising Sun is an attempt to recreate the album Jimi Hendrix was working on at the time of his death in 1970, as he would have wanted it ....
 and elsewhere. They made their live debut at the Fillmore East
Fillmore East

Fillmore East was promoter Bill Graham 's late 1960s ? early 1970s rock music palace in the East Village, Manhattan area of New York City.Located on Second Avenue at Sixth Street, this venue provided Graham with an East Coast of the United States counterpart to his existing The Fillmore establishment in San Francisco, California Opening...
 on New Year's Eve, 1969, for a series of four shows spread over two nights.

The Fillmore East concerts featured mostly new songs, as the songs Hendrix would have to select for the Band of Gypsys
Band of Gypsys

Band of Gypsys is a live album and a project by Jimi Hendrix, backed by Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, that followed Hendrix's The Jimi Hendrix Experience project....
 LP had to be, as this was a condition of the judgment against him. The fact that these songs were never properly released as studio versions elevates the significance of this album. (Studio versions of "Message of Love" and "Power of Soul" are available on some posthumous releases.) The version of "Machine Gun" from this show contains improvised sections featuring guitar feedback and percussive effects that have commonly been seen as a simulation of the sounds of war such as explosions, falling bombs and most prominently, the titular machine guns. This performance was captured on hand held portable B&W video recorders.

Hendrix selected two Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles

George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
 songs and only three of his own for the album as a damage limitation exercise, obviously not wanting to give away any more of his new songs than he had to, as he would personally receive nothing for the album. He later spoke of the sub-standard quality of the LP, no doubt hoping to limit its sales. "We Gotta Live Together" is heavily edited to fit on the album. Its original length is about twice that which can be heard on the album. A longer version can be heard on the 2-disc Live at the Fillmore East album; the full version has never been officially released.

Due to the demands of four sets over two days, the band faced a lack of material. So, Hendrix did rely on Experience-era favourites "Wild Thing," "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze, "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," "Foxy Lady," "Fire," and "Stone Free" to fill out the sets, not included on the original album. In fact, nearing the end of the fourth set, Hendrix said, "We're just trying to figure out something to play, but we only know about six songs right now...seven...nine." He then launched into a version of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." "Foxy Lady" was included on the later Japanese/German re-release (details below). Further, "Wild Thing," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "Stone Free" can be heard on the MCA/Experience Hendrix Live at the Filimore East 2-disc set.

After a disastrous show at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City....
 on January 28, where Hendrix crudely insulted a woman in the audience, played just two songs and then left the stage, Band of Gypsys was disbanded. With Experience member Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell

John "Mitch" Mitchell was an England drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience....
 on drums and Billy Cox on bass, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was reformed and for the next several months would work on Hendrix's next album, projected to be a double (or even triple) album until the leader's tragically sudden death that September. He had also been due to work with jazz composer and Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, and apparently numerous other projects yet to be initiated, including those with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton Order of the British Empire is an English blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. He is "probably most famous for his mastery of the Stratocaster guitar." Clapton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds, of Cream , and as a solo performer, being the only person to...
, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Miles Davis
Miles Davis

Miles Dewey Davis III was an United States jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz from World War II to the 1990s: he played on various early bebop records and recorded one of the first cool jaz...
, and Duane Allman
Duane Allman

Howard Duane Allman was an United States lead guitarist, co-founder of the Southern rock group the Allman Brothers Band, and respected session musician....
.

Produced by Hendrix (as "production company" "Heaven Research", no doubt to get the producer's fee), Band of Gypsys reached #5 in the U.S. and #6 in the UK and became one of the artist's best-selling albums. In certain foreign markets, including the UK, the album was originally released with an alternative cover photograph which featured dolls of Hendrix, Brian Jones
Brian Jones

Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones was an England guitarist and founding member of the England rock group The Rolling Stones. Jones was known for his use of multiple instruments, fashionable Mod image, Recreational drug use excesses and his 27 Club....
, Bob Dylan and British DJ John Peel
John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, Order of the British Empire , known professionally as John Peel, was an England disc jockey, radio presenter and journalist....
, an early supporter of Hendrix.

Band of Gypsys is also the name of a DVD documentary concerning the album and Hendrix's performances at the Fillmore during New Year's Eve 1969, and New Year's Day 1970. It contains the B&W footage.

Songs played at concerts

The recordings included on Band of Gypsys featured selections from the final two shows. The set lists for the complete Fillmore East shows are as follows.

* indicating inclusion on the Band of Gypsys album 1970
~ indicating inclusion on the Band of Gypsys reissued Polydor CD 1991
+ indicating inclusion on the Live At The Fillmore East CD 1999

Wednesday, December 31 1969 (First Fillmore East set)

  1. "Power Of Soul"
  2. "Lover Man"
  3. "Hear My Train A-Comin'" ~ +
  4. "Them Changes" +
  5. "Izabella" +
  6. "Machine Gun"
  7. "Stop"
  8. "Ezy Ryder"
  9. "Bleeding Heart"
  10. "Earth Blues"
  11. "Burning Desire"


Wednesday, December 31 1969 (Second Fillmore East set)

  1. "Auld Lang Syne" +
  2. "Who Knows" +
  3. "Stepping Stone"
  4. "Burning Desire"
  5. "Fire"
  6. "Ezy Ryder"
  7. "Machine Gun" +
  8. "Power Of Soul"
  9. "Stone Free/Nutcracker Suite/Drum Solo/Outside Woman Blues/Cherokee Mist/Sunshine Of Your Love"
  10. "Them Changes"
  11. "Message To Love"
  12. "Stop"
  13. "Foxy Lady"
  14. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"
  15. "Purple Haze"


Thursday, January 1 1970 (Third Fillmore East set)

  1. "Who Knows" *
  2. "Machine Gun *
  3. "Them Changes"
  4. "Power of Soul" +
  5. "Stepping Stone" +
  6. "Foxy Lady" ~
  7. "Stop" ~ +
  8. "Hear My Train A-Comin"
  9. "Earth Blues"
  10. "Burning Desire" +


Thursday, January 1 1970 (Fourth Fillmore East set)

  1. "Stone Free/Little Drummer Boy" +
  2. "Them Changes" *
  3. "Power of Soul" *
  4. "Message to Love" *
  5. "Earth Blues" +
  6. "Machine Gun" +
  7. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" +
  8. "We Gotta Live Together" * +
  9. "Wild Thing" +
  10. "Hey Joe"
  11. "Purple Haze"


Track listing

All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix except where noted. The titles of tracks #3, #4, and #5 are misprinted on both the original vinyl and CD rereleases. They should read "Them Changes," "Power of Soul," and "Message of Love" respectively.

  1. "Who Knows" – 9:32
  2. "Machine Gun" – 12:36
  3. "Changes" (Buddy Miles
    Buddy Miles

    George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
    ) – 5:10
  4. "Power to Love" – 6:53
  5. "Message to Love" – 5:22
  6. "We Gotta Live Together" (Buddy Miles
    Buddy Miles

    George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
    ) – 5:46


The German/Japanese release contained these bonus tracks:

  2. "Hear My Train A-Comin'" (First set) – 9:02
  3. "Foxy Lady" (Third set) – 6:33
  4. "Stop" (Howard Tate
    Howard Tate

    Howard Tate is an American soul music singer and songwriter. He was born August 14 1939, near Macon, Georgia, and moved with his family to Philadelphia in the early 1940s....
    ) (Third set) – 4:47


Personnel

  • Jimi Hendrix
    Jimi Hendrix

    James Marshall Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose guitar playing continues to be a considerable influence on rock music....
     – guitar
    Electric guitar

    An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickup to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current, which is made louder with an instrument amplifier and a speaker....
    , vocals
  • Billy Cox
    Billy Cox

    William 'Billy' Cox is a bass guitarist, best known for playing with guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He was born in West Virginia.Billy first met Hendrix in the early part of the 1960s, when they were both in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Campbell....
     – bass
    Bass guitar

    The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
  • Buddy Miles
    Buddy Miles

    George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an United States rock music and funk music drummer, most known as a member of Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970....
     – drums
    Drum kit

    A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
    , vocals


Production personnel

  • Jimi Hendrix
    Jimi Hendrix

    James Marshall Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose guitar playing continues to be a considerable influence on rock music....
     (Heaven Research) – producer
    Record producer

    In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
  • Wally Heider
    Wally Heider

    Wally Heider was an United States recording engineer and recording studio owner ...
     – Live recording engineer
  • Eddie Kramer
    Eddie Kramer

    Eddie Kramer is an audio engineer and record producer who has worked with Led Zeppelin, Triumph , Kiss , Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Peter Frampton, Curtis Mayfield, Santana , Anthrax , Carly Simon, Loudness_ and Robin Trower....
     – Studio mixing engineer, mastering, remastering, remixing
  • Jan Blom – album cover photography
    Photography

    Photography is the process, activity and art of creating still or moving by recording radiation on a sensitive medium, such as a photographic film, or an ....
  • Joseph Sia – photography
  • Album cover designed by Victor Kahn
  • Robert Herman – photography
  • George Marino – remastering
  • John McDermott – liner notes
    Liner notes

    Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes....
     (later re-release)


External links