Black Gold (Jimi Hendrix recordings)
Encyclopedia
In early 1970, Jimi Hendrix
recorded an autobiographical song cycle in his Greenwich Village
apartment that he titled Black Gold. The tapes consisted of 16 songs, all created by a solo Hendrix armed only with his voice and a Martin
acoustic guitar. Near the end of the collection lies an embryonic two-part rendition of his superhero themed funk-rock tune Astro Man, in which Hendrix sings lines from the 1950s Mighty Mouse
cartoon theme and makes humorous references to Superman
. Other songs from the Black Gold sessions were also further developed in the studio and have surfaced in the Hendrix catalogue (Stepping Stone, Machine Gun, and Drifting), but at least nine of the songs are known to be unique to the tapes.
Months later, at the Isle of Wight Festival
, Hendrix gave the tapes to his drummer Mitch Mitchell
to have him listen and comment on the necessary rhythm section requirements for recording the songs. After Hendrix's death in September 1970, Mitchell simply forgot about the tapes, apparently unaware that they were one-of-a-kind masters. For 22 years, the Black Gold tapes sat in a black Ampex
tape box that Hendrix tied shut with a headband and labelled "BG".
It was not until 1992 that Tony Brown
, the avid Hendrix collector and biographer, interviewed Mitchell and learnt that the mythical Black Gold tapes, thought to have been stolen from Jimi's apartment by vandals who ransacked it for collectibles soon after his death, were lying in Mitchell's home in England. Mitchell also possessed the Martin guitar that was used to create the material. Brown was invited to review the tapes and published a summary of his account, but to date the material has not been released and is not available to Hendrix collectors.
There is a bootleg
release called Black Gold but that is a collection of Electric Ladyland
outtakes and rehearsals, and does not include the Greenwich Village material. Only Brown and a handful of friends close to Mitch Mitchell have listened to the real Black Gold tapes.
Many aficionados consider Black Gold the "holy grail
" of Hendrix collectibles. The themed songs, plus the label markings and conventions used by Hendrix to identify the tapes lead fans to believe that this demo represents a proposed fifth studio album and predict that the material will reveal the broadest extensions of Hendrix's intended musical direction.
Mitch Mitchell's association with Experience Hendrix LLC was an indicator that Black Gold might see worldwide release. Mitchell's death, however, means that the future and whereabouts of Black Gold are even more uncertain. In March 2010, Janie Hendrix stated that Black Gold will be released "this decade".
Suddenly November Morning was included in the album West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology
, released in November 2010. The first track on the Black Gold suite, it was released as the last track on the album. This is the only track from Black Gold ever released.
and First Rays of the New Rising Sun
, respectively.
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
recorded an autobiographical song cycle in his Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
apartment that he titled Black Gold. The tapes consisted of 16 songs, all created by a solo Hendrix armed only with his voice and a Martin
C. F. Martin & Company
C.F. Martin & Company is a US guitar manufacturer established in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin. Martin is highly regarded for its steel-string guitars, and is a leading mass manufacturer of flattop acoustics with models that retail for thousands of dollars and vintage instruments that often...
acoustic guitar. Near the end of the collection lies an embryonic two-part rendition of his superhero themed funk-rock tune Astro Man, in which Hendrix sings lines from the 1950s Mighty Mouse
Mighty Mouse
Mighty Mouse is an animated superhero mouse character created by the Terrytoons studio for 20th Century Fox.-History:The character was created by story man Izzy Klein as a super-powered housefly named Superfly. Studio head Paul Terry changed the character into a cartoon mouse instead...
cartoon theme and makes humorous references to Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. Other songs from the Black Gold sessions were also further developed in the studio and have surfaced in the Hendrix catalogue (Stepping Stone, Machine Gun, and Drifting), but at least nine of the songs are known to be unique to the tapes.
Months later, at the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival 1970
The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of...
, Hendrix gave the tapes to his drummer Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell
John Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
to have him listen and comment on the necessary rhythm section requirements for recording the songs. After Hendrix's death in September 1970, Mitchell simply forgot about the tapes, apparently unaware that they were one-of-a-kind masters. For 22 years, the Black Gold tapes sat in a black Ampex
Ampex
Ampex is an American electronics company founded in 1944 by Alexander M. Poniatoff. The name AMPEX is an acronym, created by its founder, which stands for Alexander M. Poniatoff Excellence...
tape box that Hendrix tied shut with a headband and labelled "BG".
It was not until 1992 that Tony Brown
Tony Brown
Tony Brown may refer to:*Tony Brown , known as Tony Brown, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man*Tony Brown , Australian rules footballer...
, the avid Hendrix collector and biographer, interviewed Mitchell and learnt that the mythical Black Gold tapes, thought to have been stolen from Jimi's apartment by vandals who ransacked it for collectibles soon after his death, were lying in Mitchell's home in England. Mitchell also possessed the Martin guitar that was used to create the material. Brown was invited to review the tapes and published a summary of his account, but to date the material has not been released and is not available to Hendrix collectors.
There is a bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
release called Black Gold but that is a collection of Electric Ladyland
Electric Ladyland
Electric Ladyland is the third and final album of new material by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in October 1968 on Reprise Records, catalogue 2RS 6307. It is the only Hendrix studio album professionally produced under his supervision. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks in...
outtakes and rehearsals, and does not include the Greenwich Village material. Only Brown and a handful of friends close to Mitch Mitchell have listened to the real Black Gold tapes.
Many aficionados consider Black Gold the "holy grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
" of Hendrix collectibles. The themed songs, plus the label markings and conventions used by Hendrix to identify the tapes lead fans to believe that this demo represents a proposed fifth studio album and predict that the material will reveal the broadest extensions of Hendrix's intended musical direction.
Mitch Mitchell's association with Experience Hendrix LLC was an indicator that Black Gold might see worldwide release. Mitchell's death, however, means that the future and whereabouts of Black Gold are even more uncertain. In March 2010, Janie Hendrix stated that Black Gold will be released "this decade".
Suddenly November Morning was included in the album West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology
West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology
West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology is a posthumous box set by American blues-rock musician Jimi Hendrix. The set was released on November 16, 2010, in the US and includes four discs of previously unreleased studio and live recordings as well as a DVD with a documentary based on the...
, released in November 2010. The first track on the Black Gold suite, it was released as the last track on the album. This is the only track from Black Gold ever released.
Tentative track listing
There is precious little to go by regarding the actual names of the tracks on Black Gold. On the only recorded source Jimi had written "Idea for L.P. side 1 suite ... Black Gold" on side A. On the B side of the cassette the only writing was "cont from side A". Some of the tracks have been released on other albums, such as the tracks "Machine Gun" and "Drifting", found on Band of GypsysBand of Gypsys
Band of Gypsys was a blues rock band led by Jimi Hendrix and backed by Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Hendrix formed the band after the dissolution of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Band of Gypsys is also the band's eponymous live album recorded on two separate nights, 31 December 1969 and 1 January...
and First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun is a "concept compilation" attempting to recreate the album Jimi Hendrix was working on at the time of his death in 1970, as closely as is feasible to how he would have wanted it...
, respectively.
Side A
- Suddenly November Morning
- Drifting
- Captain Midnight
- Local Comotion
- Here Comes Black Gold
- Stepping Stone
- Little Red Velvet Room
Side B
- The Jungle is Waiting
- Send My Love to Joan of Arc
- God Bless This Day
- Black Gold
- Machine Gun
- Here Comes Black Gold
- Astro Man (Parts 1 & 2)
- I've Got a Place to Go