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Jimi Hendrix: The Ultimate Lyric Book
(Book). Jimi Hendrix was such an extraordinary guitarist, it can be easy to forget that just as much passion, soul, and precision went into his lyrics. Inspired by Bob Dylan, Hendrix was a fearless lyrical innovator, willing to let his imagination guide him to landscapes hitherto unexplored within the realm of pop music. From the existential euphoria of "I Don't Love Today" to the elusive beauty of "Little Wing" to the psychedelic blues of "My Friend" to the otherworldly "1983 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)," his lyrics remain among the greatest in the pantheon of rock, infused with the same inventiveness, virtuosity, and courage that informed his guitar playing. Here are all the words to the Hendrix classics you've rocked along to for years, as well as unpublished songs from Valleys of Neptune and other hitherto undiscovered sources. Jimi The Ultimate Lyrics Book , compiled by Janie L. Hendrix, is extraordinarily personal. It includes numerous examples of Jimi's handwritten lyrics, often scribbled on hotel stationery, as well as photos of Jimi to accompany every song. Much of this material has never been seen before. Jimi The Ultimate Lyrics Book will give you a glimpse of the lyricist behind the songs, a songwriter whose words were just as searing as his solos.
- GenresMusic
308 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2012
28 people want to read
About the author
Jimi Hendrix
191 books234 followersJimi Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Hendrix is considered one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in rock music history. After initial success in Europe, he achieved fame in the USA following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Hendrix helped develop the technique of guitar feedback with overdriven amplifiers. He was influenced by blues artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King, and Elmore James, rhythm and blues and soul guitarists Curtis Mayfield, Steve Cropper, as well as by some modern jazz.
Carlos Santana has suggested that Hendrix's music may have been influenced by his Native American heritage. As a record producer, Hendrix also broke new ground in using the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas; he was one of the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects during recording.
Hendrix won many of the most prestigious rock music awards in his lifetime and has been posthumously awarded many more, including being inducted into the USA's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. An English Heritage "Blue plaque" was erected in his name on his former residence at Brook Street, London in September 1997 and his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (at 6627 Hollywood Blvd.) was dedicated in 1994. In 2006, his debut USA album, Are You Experienced, was inducted into the United States National Recording Registry and Rolling Stone named Hendrix number 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2003.
Hendrix helped develop the technique of guitar feedback with overdriven amplifiers. He was influenced by blues artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King, and Elmore James, rhythm and blues and soul guitarists Curtis Mayfield, Steve Cropper, as well as by some modern jazz.
Carlos Santana has suggested that Hendrix's music may have been influenced by his Native American heritage. As a record producer, Hendrix also broke new ground in using the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas; he was one of the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects during recording.
Hendrix won many of the most prestigious rock music awards in his lifetime and has been posthumously awarded many more, including being inducted into the USA's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. An English Heritage "Blue plaque" was erected in his name on his former residence at Brook Street, London in September 1997 and his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (at 6627 Hollywood Blvd.) was dedicated in 1994. In 2006, his debut USA album, Are You Experienced, was inducted into the United States National Recording Registry and Rolling Stone named Hendrix number 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2003.
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December 13, 2021
People tend to forget that Jimi Hendrix was a great lyricist, a poet in his own right besides being the greatest guitar player to walk the face of the earth. His sister Janie L. Hendrix, president and CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC, compiled Jimi Hendrix: The Ultimate Lyric Book, a lavishly illustrated coffee table book the size of a vinyl box set. It contains the words (in alphabetical order) to all the songs of his studio albums and the best known posthumous ones, including unpublished ones: 27 rough sketches for songs that would never see the light of day.
Most of the songs are illustrated by reproductions of the original handwritten lyrics. Jimi did most of his writing on hotel stationary as he traversed the globe to perform his songs before audiences who never experienced something like his sonic explorations and poetic imagery.
With this book his words come alive: the tender love songs, the macho bravado, the war in Vietnam, and the prospects of space travel that were so dear to him. Jimi Hendrix: The Ultimate Lyric Book is a work of love that is a must for all serious fans of the legendary guitarist, a meticulously assembled collection of his songs and more. This is as close as you're gonna get in appreciating the words of an artist whose legacy and influence continues to inspire legions of fans and fellow musicians.
Oh say can you see it's really such a mess,
every inch of earth is a fighting nest.
Giant pencil and lipstick-tube shaped things
continue to rain and cause screamin' pain.
And the arctic stains from silver blue to bloody red,
as our feet find the sand and the sea
is straight ahead,
straight up ahead
Jimi Hendix - 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)
https://www.herecomestheflood.com/201...
Most of the songs are illustrated by reproductions of the original handwritten lyrics. Jimi did most of his writing on hotel stationary as he traversed the globe to perform his songs before audiences who never experienced something like his sonic explorations and poetic imagery.
With this book his words come alive: the tender love songs, the macho bravado, the war in Vietnam, and the prospects of space travel that were so dear to him. Jimi Hendrix: The Ultimate Lyric Book is a work of love that is a must for all serious fans of the legendary guitarist, a meticulously assembled collection of his songs and more. This is as close as you're gonna get in appreciating the words of an artist whose legacy and influence continues to inspire legions of fans and fellow musicians.
Oh say can you see it's really such a mess,
every inch of earth is a fighting nest.
Giant pencil and lipstick-tube shaped things
continue to rain and cause screamin' pain.
And the arctic stains from silver blue to bloody red,
as our feet find the sand and the sea
is straight ahead,
straight up ahead
Jimi Hendix - 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)
https://www.herecomestheflood.com/201...
Displaying 1 of 1 review