About The Hendrix Clip, Your Mother

Someone asked - what's the big deal about Jimi Hendrix, yadda, yadda. I understand, frankly, without a studio and sometimes a lot of post production, his stuff can be pretty raw. But he broke barriers and I made the argument that was his genius, upon which others built. Check this out from SVR below - you'll see what I mean. And then check out Hendrix playing it in 1968 after writing it for his Mother in 67 - and look at all the artists who have covered it.

Speaking of which, here's a potential little rock bummer, if you weren't aware - ever think 3AM by Matchbox Twenty was, at the time, a funky-kinda tune about a young crazy funky kinda chick? Sorry, that was written by Rob Thomas for his Mother. As a child, he supposedly took care of her when she was sick with cancer. She survived.

Comments

[JD]

Another great video trip to start the day....

While the SRV and Jimi versions are phenominal in every respect, I was always partial to the Domino's version with Duane. Not that it was any better, just my own taste at the time.

After watching your links I stumbled onto a version by Clapton done live earlier in 2007. In the middle of the solo it occurred to me how lucky we all are to still have ol' EC around in his old age.... and once again reminded of how tragic it is that Jimi and SRV were gone way too soon.

[Phoenix]

Maybe Funtwo will have a reawakening and take up the rock 'n roll classics?

[bloodrage bob]

still not seein' it. been all over the net, reading tributes to hendrix that all sound suspiciously like old hippies reminiscing: "there was a *change* in the air, man! suddenly ANYthing was possible, even playing with your teeth and fairly routine feedback/distortion being acclaimed as genius!"

again, i'll grant that hendrix was quite the technician. hell, let's even give him credit for inventing a whole new chord: "z-flat". only hendrix could hit that chord! he could do it behind his back! blah blah blah.

BUT - but - who are the best, most able, most technically proficient musicians in the world today? easily? that's right: they're *studio musicians*. do studio musicians get credit nowdays for influencing anybody unless they write great songs or create an entire new genre of music like led zep did? or elvis? or giorgio moroder? no? because studio guys are seen as soulless automatons, good at merely *playing* the notes, but not at (reverent silence) "OWNING it, man!". i never hear nostalgic sighs for 'mister mister'. do you?

then why does hendrix get so much credit for mere technical expertise? in the art world, NObody is more skilled than the photorealists. to *paint* a picture so lifelike it literally cannot be distiguished from *photographs* (!) ...... that's ungodly skill level. yet photorealists are held in no particular esteem. they're not seen as *real* artists. yet somehow, hendrix is. i suspect emotional & sociological reasons for this, rather than the music itself.

lastly: have read where hendrix ("himself") said the lead guitarist of 'chicago' (terry kath?) was MUCH better than him. so why no terry kath cult? might it all be based on 'perceived reputation' and 'slavishly parroting the self-important critics' after all?

there. THAT oughta get the hippies ravin'.

[JD]

"who are the best, most able, most technically proficient musicians in the world today? easily? that's right: they're studio musicians"

Well, having done a substantial amount of studio work myself and also owning a working knowledge of the industry.... while the studio guys are quite proficient in many ways, they are in demand because they are COST EFFECTIVE. They don't stand around with their thumbs up their ass, arguing, PMS-ing and taking all day to get the bridge to a damned song down. They come prepared and execute!

Sure, many of them can blow the roof off the building with some amazing runs. So can half the cab drivers in Nashville. I see 'em all the time. But guys like Jimi and EC and Dunane and Burton did this shit 40 YEARS AGO!!!!

Who was the twelth guy to walk on the moon? Nobody knows or cares. But they all know who did it first.