A collection of three rare Jimi Hendrix studio recordings, titled Morning Symphony Ideas, will be released on November 25 by Experience Hendrix in conjunction with Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings, to mark Record Store Day’s vinyl-centric “Back to Black Friday.” The vinyl release—pared down from the original CD/digital version of Morning Symphony Ideas released in 2000—will be issued on Dagger Records, started by Experience Hendrix in 1998 as an official “bootleg” label whose releases would provide classic rock fans with additional live Hendrix performances, home demos and studio recordings not issued on commercial albums. This 10-inch translucent yellow vinyl EP consists of three tracks recorded between September and December of 1969, at a time when Hendrix was starting to put together his Band Of Gypsys with bassist Billy Cox (who appears on the track “Strato Strut”) and drummer Buddy Miles (who appears on all tracks).
Morning Symphony Ideas follows Hear My Music, Burning Desire and Live at Clark University.
Related: BCB’s review of Hendrix’s Electric Church DVD
A press release offers background on the music: “By 1969, international success and the dizzying schedule of touring and performing it required wrecked havoc with Jimi’s desire to create new music. However, with fellow musicians Cox and Miles, who also came up in the same R&B ‘chitlin’ circuit,’ he began writing music that leaned more towards the funky end of the spectrum than his previous work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience.”
It continues: “Morning Symphony Ideas reveals the earliest stages of Jimi’s songwriting technique from that period. With a nod to the guitar styling of Curtis Mayfield, Jungle gathers together strands of Ezy Ryder and ‘Villanova Junction,’ the haunting theme he had successfully premiered at Woodstock in August 1969. On the track, Jimi is heard singing the melody of ‘Freedom,’ describing to Miles yet another new song he wished to explore.”
The idea of “Room Full of Mirrors” dates back to the 1968 recording sessions for Electric Ladyland. On this 1969 recording, Hendrix modifies the song’s tempo and throws in a short burst of “Message To Love.” On “Strato Strut,” Hendrix pays homage to Jimmy Nolen of James Brown’s band. Keenly aware of the demo’s promise, Hendrix instructs engineer Bob Cotto to “save that” at the song’s conclusion.
The full-length CD/digital version of Morning Symphony Ideas (released in 2000), which includes three recordings not featured on this 10-inch yellow vinyl EP, is available here. (http://jimihendrix.com)
Morning Symphony Ideas vinyl 10-inch track list
1) “Jungle”
Recorded 11/14/69
Engineer: Bob Cotto
Guitar: Jimi Hendrix
Drums: Buddy Miles
2) “Room Full Of Mirrors”
Recorded 9/25/69
Engineer: Jack Adams
Guitar, Vocals: Jimi Hendrix
Drums: Buddy Miles
3) “Strato Strut”
Recorded 12/19/69
Engineer: Bob Cotto
Guitar: Jimi Hendrix
Drums: Buddy Miles
Bass: Billy Cox
All tracks were written and produced by Jimi Hendrix, and recorded at Record Plant, New York.
