The Ultimate Experience (CD - 1993)

Additional personnel: Dave Mason (12 string acoustic guitar, background vocals), Al Kooper (keyboards), Billy Cox (bass).

Producers: Jimi Hendrix, Chas Chandler, Mitch Mitchell, Eddie Kramer, Alan Douglas.

Recorded between 1966 and 1970. Includes liner notes by Rob Partridge and Chris Salewicz.

All tracks are AAD; the album was remastered using the High-Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) technology.

Digitally remastered at Chop Em Out, London, England.

All songs written by Jimi Hendrix except "All Along The Watchtower" (Bob Dylan), "Hey Joe" (Billy Roberts), "Star Spangled Banner" (Francis Scott Key) and "Wild Thing" (Chip Taylor).

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE includes a 24-page five-color booklet featuring biographical information, notes about the songs, photos, and artwork from the Jimi Hendrix Exhibition--a comprehensive art show celebrating the life of Jimi Hendrix.

Personnel: Jimi Hendrix (vocals, guitar, piano); Dave Mason (acoustic 12-string guitar, 12-string guitar, background vocals); Al Kooper (keyboards); Noel Redding, Billy Cox (bass guitar); Mitch Mitchell (drums).

Recording information: CBS Studios, London, England (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); De Lane Lea Music Ltd, London, England (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); Electric Ladyland, New York, NY (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); Mayfair Recording Studio, New York, NY (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); Monterey Pop Festival (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); Olympic Sound Studios, London, England (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); The Record Plant, New York, NY (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); Woodstock Music and Arts Fair (10/23/1966-07/23/1970); Woodstock, NY (10/23/1966-07/23/1970).

Photographers: David Costa; Gered Mankowitz.

As a single-disc compilation, The Ultimate Experience is hard to beat. Drawing from all of the original Jimi Hendrix Experience albums, the 20-track collection hits all of the major highpoints -- "Purple Haze," "All Along the Watchtower," "Little Wing," "Red House," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Highway Chile," "Angel" -- and gives an accurate impression of why Hendrix was so revolutionary and influential. All three of Hendrix's completed studio albums are mandatory listening, but The Ultimate Experience is a terrific introduction to the guitarist. ~ Thom Owens

Classic is the only way to describe this compilation. The musician that continues to inspire every generation of axe slingers that follows him is represented quite positively on THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE. Beginning with Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower," the listener is thrust into Jimi's world. While the radio staples are included here ("Purple Haze" and "Foxy Lady"), the lesser known but equally amazing tunes are here as well ("Angel," "Castles Made Of Sand"). Going the blues route as only Hendrix can, "Red House" is a tribute to the artists that preceded him.

Two live tracks close the package, "Star Spangled Banner" and "Wild Thing," showing the man at his most creative and furious. Although there was initially some dispute as to the remastering authenticity of the album's remastering, the sound quality is quite good. With extensive liner notes by Rob Partridge, THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE is just that, the cream of Hendrix's crop, and material that shall remain timeless. minimize