Widely recognized as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix pioneered the explosive possibilities of the electric guitar. Hendrix’s innovative style of combining fuzz, feedback and controlled distortion created a new musical form. Because he was unable to read or write music, it is nothing short of remarkable that Jimi Hendrix’s meteoric rise in the music took place in just four short years.

The summer of 1969 brought emotional and musical growth to Jimi Hendrix. In playing the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in August 1969, Jimi joined forces with an eclectic ensemble called Gypsy Sun & Rainbows featuring Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Juma Sultan, and Jerry Velez. The Woodstock performance was highlighted by the renegade version of “Star Spangled Banner,” which brought the mud-soaked audience to a frenzy.

Nineteen sixty-nine also brought about a new and defining collaboration featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar, bassist Billy Cox and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles. Musically the Band of Gypsys leaned more towards Jimi’s funk/R&B roots than the psychedelic rock sound of the Experience. The Band of Gypsys made their live debut at the Fillmore East on New Year’s Eve, 1969, for a series of four shows spread over two nights. A compilation of these shows saw the light as the eponymous live album ‘Band of Gypsys’. Containing definitive versions of “Machine Gun” and “Who Knows”!

 

Side One:
1. Who Knows
2. Machine Gun

Side Two:
1. Changes
2. Power To Love
3. Message To Love
4. We Gotta Live Together