Lover Man (Jimi Hendrix song)
Encyclopedia
"Lover Man" is a song written and performed by American psychedelic rock
musician and singer Jimi Hendrix
. Although a studio version was never officially released until 2010 in Valleys of Neptune
, the song was performed many times from as early as 1968, notably at Woodstock Festival
in 1969, and Berkeley Community Theatre
and the Isle of Wight Festival
in 1970. The tune from "Lover Man" was also used when The Jimi Hendrix Experience
covered B. B. King
's "Rock Me Baby
", which they did a number of times in 1967, most notably at Monterey Pop Festival
. In the notes to "Valleys of Neptune' there is a reference to producer Chas Chandler giving Mitchell and Redding the "opportunity to add or replace" their original bass and drum parts for both "Crying Blue Rain" and "Lover Man". In "Lover Man" in particular, Mitchell's new drum track demonstrates his mastery at providing edgy
counterpoint to Hendrix's free-flowing style.
A studio version of "Lover Man", entitled "Here He Comes (Lover Man)", appears on the compilation South Saturn Delta
. This version contains some dialogue at the beginning between Hendrix and an unidentified person (possibly Chas Chandler
or Eddie Kramer
), before he begins the "long beginning". The song also features a long guitar solo
after a couple of verses. "Lover Man" was also featured twice on the four-disc box set The Jimi Hendrix Experience – one an instrumental version just over three minutes in length, on disc one; the other an alternate recording just under three minutes in length, on disc four. The song was recorded many times throughout Hendrix's career, but he never achieved a take he was ultimately happy with.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
musician and singer Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. Although a studio version was never officially released until 2010 in Valleys of Neptune
Valleys of Neptune
-Recording details:All recording details are included in the Valleys of Neptune booklet, except for the Target tracks, which are listed on the inside of the Digipack behind the CD.Target bonus tracks-Album artwork:...
, the song was performed many times from as early as 1968, notably at Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
in 1969, and Berkeley Community Theatre
Berkeley Community Theatre
The Berkeley Community Theatre is a theatre, located in Berkeley, California on the campus of Berkeley High School. The Art Deco-style theater has 3,491 seats, including a balcony section...
and the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
in 1970. The tune from "Lover Man" was also used when The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
covered B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
's "Rock Me Baby
Rock Me Baby (song)
"Rock Me Baby" is a blues standard that has become one of the most recorded blues songs of all time. When B.B. King released "Rock Me Baby" in 1964, it became a Top 40 hit reaching #34 in the Billboard Hot 100. The song is based on earlier blues songs and has been interpreted and recorded by a...
", which they did a number of times in 1967, most notably at Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
. In the notes to "Valleys of Neptune' there is a reference to producer Chas Chandler giving Mitchell and Redding the "opportunity to add or replace" their original bass and drum parts for both "Crying Blue Rain" and "Lover Man". In "Lover Man" in particular, Mitchell's new drum track demonstrates his mastery at providing edgy
counterpoint to Hendrix's free-flowing style.
A studio version of "Lover Man", entitled "Here He Comes (Lover Man)", appears on the compilation South Saturn Delta
South Saturn Delta
South Saturn Delta is a posthumous Jimi Hendrix album compiled by the Hendrix estate that consists of material such as demo tapes, unfinished takes and alternate mixes, previously released material, most of which Hendrix had been working on prior to his death in 1970.When the Hendrix family...
. This version contains some dialogue at the beginning between Hendrix and an unidentified person (possibly Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
or Eddie Kramer
Eddie Kramer
Edwin H. Kramer is an audio engineer and producer who has worked with, among others, Led Zeppelin, Triumph, Kiss , Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Spooky Tooth, Peter Frampton, Curtis Mayfield, Santana, Anthrax, Carly Simon, Loudness, and Robin Trower.-1960s:Eddie...
), before he begins the "long beginning". The song also features a long guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
after a couple of verses. "Lover Man" was also featured twice on the four-disc box set The Jimi Hendrix Experience – one an instrumental version just over three minutes in length, on disc one; the other an alternate recording just under three minutes in length, on disc four. The song was recorded many times throughout Hendrix's career, but he never achieved a take he was ultimately happy with.