Uneven sonics on "Electric Ladyland"

[magiccarpetride]

Jimi Hendrix is arguably the best electric guitar player ever recorded. And his double LP "Electric Ladyland" is the best argument one could put forward to support that claim.

I originally got introduced to this album on a CD format, and could not enjoy it -- the sound was too harsh, too trebly. I could hear that it contains the meanest guitar playing ever put on tape, but the glassy, shrill overall sound was more than I could absorb.

Finally, I managed to get me a nice clean original pressing, and now listening to it on vinyl, it finally shines the way it's supposed to

There is one thing that's still bothering me, though: the sonics appear very uneven. Some tracks are almost an audiophile heaven, while some other tracks sound amateurish and almost blurry. I guess this is due to the fact that different tracks were recorded on different continents, plus Jimi's legendary falling out with his manager etc. Too bad, because this is one of the most epic records in music history.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

A few corrections: Electric Ladyland was recorded entirely at the Record Plant West 44th Street in New York.

Jimi's inventive use of guitar was always progressing, so confining it to just this album is a bit sad. Rather
we can hear even better playing on later posthumos albums like Rainbow Bridge ( the re released Estate version )
which is not to say Electric Ladyland does not contain some stellar moments, which it does.

Due to Jimi's extremely inventive use of devices that included feedback across headphones to create the sound of gulls
and studio perfectionism, IMO you really need to hear it on CD.

The Authorised release by the Hendrix family is terrific and sounds excellent on a good audio system, even better one with a proper preamp.

Cheers / Chris

[magiccarpetride]

A few corrections: Electric Ladyland was recorded entirely at the Record Plant West 44th Street in New York.

Jimi's inventive use of guitar was always progressing, so confining it to just this album is a bit sad. Rather
we can hear even better playing on later posthumos albums like Rainbow Bridge ( the re released Estate version )
which is not to say Electric Ladyland does not contain some stellar moments, which it does.

Due to Jimi's extremely inventive use of devices that included feedback across headphones to create the sound of gulls
and studio perfectionism, IMO you really need to hear it on CD.

The Authorised release by the Hendrix family is terrific and sounds excellent on a good audio system, even better one with a proper preamp.

Cheers / Chris

My digital front end is not that good, hence, as I explained in the original post, I could not bear listening to Ladyland on the CD.

[alphaGT]

I was a bit young the first time around, but I've recently bought Electric Ladyland on 180g vinyl, and am quite happy with the recording. Of course we do have to take into consideration the year it was made, compared to other rock albums of its day it's very OK.


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[Macca]

I've always thought 'Landlady' was a bit self-indulgent compared to 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis'. Rainbow Bridge = disappointing.

Live albums 'In The West' and 'The Jimi Hendrix Concerts' are my most usual plays though.

[Joe]

I've always thought 'Landlady' was a bit self-indulgent compared to 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis'.

Same here, to the extent that I gave my copy away.

[magiccarpetride]

I've always thought 'Landlady' was a bit self-indulgent compared to 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis'. Rainbow Bridge = disappointing.

Live albums 'In The West' and 'The Jimi Hendrix Concerts' are my most usual plays though.

The only thing I don't like about Ladyland is side B. For some reason, does not match the majesty of the other three sides.

[alphaGT]

Now I've got to listen to it again, and see if I missed something? I will confess I am more likely to play Experienced or Axis. Growing up my older sister had the Best Of album, all the Hendrix I ever had until I was 50 years old and these remakes came out.


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[Bigman80]

I know a guy who played with Hendrix when he was in the UK. (He owns my local guitar shop) I spoke to him at length about this very subject a few years ago. His take on it was that they just couldn't find the best way to record him. Some tracks were easier than other and often sounded better but often he'd change the volume of his guitar during a track (as he did live) to attain certain sounds like dive bombs and it would throw the whole recording into a EQ nightmare. The second problem was, he just wasnt that "big" at the tine which also meant he didn't get the amount of attention to detail on his record mixes as say the Beatles or the stones.

That's his take. Sounds like he's right to me.

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[Light Dependant Resistor]

I know a guy who played with Hendrix when he was in the UK. (He owns my local guitar shop) I spoke to him at length about this very subject a few years ago. His take on it was that they just couldn't find the best way to record him. Some tracks were easier than other and often sounded better but often he'd change the volume of his guitar during a track (as he did live) to attain certain sounds like dive bombs and it would throw the whole recording into a EQ nightmare. The second problem was, he just wasnt that "big" at the tine which also meant he didn't get the amount of attention to detail on his record mixes as say the Beatles or the stones.

That's his take. Sounds like he's right to me.

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Eddie Kramer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Kramer was the main engineer for Hendrix,
and also collaborated with The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Many AOS members would know "Whole Lotta love" from Led Zeppelin 2 .. also Eddie Kramer.
Some footage of him is seen as I recall in the Woodstock movie, as he was also engineer there.

Basically Eddie Kramer was a great choice for Hendrix, as he had the patience for things like 50 takes
on Gypsy eyes from Electric Ladyland, and knew his stuff when recording.

And a quote from Wikipedia ( same link above ) about Hendrix in the recording studio

"Kramer recalls Hendrix as extremely disciplined in the studio, with his objectives thoroughly pre-planned. To some extent this was a result of working with results-oriented manager and early producer Chas Chandler, who brought Hendrix to England in September 1966, where he established his fame before returning to the United States. Hendrix envisioned the tonal spectrum as a palette of colors, often instructing Kramer with color-based commands. "Make it sound green," for example, was satisfied by adding reverb.[8]

"Jimi utilized the studio as a rehearsal space", thank God he did." Kramer described Hendrix as "very sharp, very focused, very funny, very shy, totally dedicated to his music and his art. He was such a complete human being with such far-reaching intellect."[5] Kramer places Hendrix among Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Louis Armstrong. "He really is in that league, because his individuality was so strong and his message was so strong and his mastery of his instrument was so complete. He was a maverick. He broke a lot of barriers, musically and in every way."[9] "Tastes and sounds may change", echoes Chris Talbott of Associated Press, "but Hendrix always remains close at hand".