People,
Hell and Angels is the first Jimi Hendrix release of the
year and fans will be delighted to know that there are 12 previously unreleased
tracks on this recording. Eddie Kramer was once again called upon to tap into
all the nuances of Jimi’s artistry and he does a superb job of engineering the
tracks.
Hendrix coined the term People, Hell and Angels and at the time of these recordings he was
incorporating a different style of music into his repertoire. Music fans will
be able to hear studio recordings that included horns, keyboards and a second
guitar. This is a snapshot into the past and a taste of what Hendrix was to
become and you will bear witness to an artist progressing as a producer,
musician and songwriter.
Hendrix continued to evolve at the speed of light during
his short but meteoric career. He electrified the blues more than any other
artist that came before or after his demise. A perfect example of how he could
take a classic blues track and turn it into a blues filled rock trip was Elmore
James’ “Bleeding Heart.” If you are not feeling anything after this exercise of
guitar genius then I would be checking for a pulse. Jimi set that tune on fire,
peeling off lead after lead with pinpoint accuracy. Dissimilarly, I think what
most listeners will find very interesting and entertaining is “Let Me Move You,”
with saxophone player Lonnie Youngblood. Before Jimi broke big over in the UK
he did some sideman work and one of the band’s he was in was Youngblood’s, who released
singles such as “Soul Food.” We can only wonder now how far he could have gone
into the world of jazz-rock-fusion, the possibilities remain endless. Although it is something entirely
different from the Hendrix archives he does not stray from his roots on this
one. Another real smoker is “Hear My Train A Comin',” which I know many folks
have heard before in different settings, but believe me this one is different
and it will leave a lasting taste ringing in your ears and on your psyche
before the next track kicks in and you get lost all over again, finding
yourself fascinated and mesmerized by the magic of Hendrix.
“Easy Blues” (ironically titled for any of you guitar
players out there attempting to tab it out and play it) is a nice venture into
the instrumental side of Hendrix which I have always particularly enjoyed. Even
though he was a powerful and distinctive vocalist the man never had to utter a
word as far as I am concerned, his guitar said it all. He made that instrument
sing its own song. What makes this version special is his interplay with second
guitarist Larry Lee (who is also featured on different version of “Izabella”).
This one is also twice as long as the version found on the out of print 1981 Nine To The Universe album. Then again
another instrumental run takes shape on “Inside Out” which would eventually
become "Ezy Ryder." Jimi was always the innovator and experimenting
with sounds and on this one he took a lead guitar part and amplified it through
a Leslie organ speaker. Can you imagine the things he would have come up with
today’s technology in his hands? It would no doubt be mind boggling.
Listening to all of this incredible music, I found myself
unable to write fast enough to keep up with all the feelings and thoughts
running through my head. At one point I had to stop the CD just to come up for
air and then jump back in.
When “Mojo Man” starts it is like traveling to another
world in regards to what we have been accustomed to hearing from Hendrix even
on previously unreleased tracks and demos from pre-Experience days. It is a
funky workout with Albert & Arthur Allen of the Ghetto Fighters. Similar to
“Let Me Move You,” it takes us into unchartered waters for Hendrix fans
nevertheless it is very entertaining while providing quality sound and music
from start to finish.
“Villanova Junction Blues” is a short instrumental that
closes out the recording giving us a glimpse of what Jimi had in mind for
future recordings and sadly fades off into the distance and leaves you wanting
for more and hoping maybe someday another artist so brilliant and influential
will come along that changes everything just like he did. Somehow I doubt that
will ever happen. Hendrix was one of kind and People, Hell and Angels is further evidence of his brilliant output,
whether it was a finished recording or something being developed, he remains
unmatched and his spirit lives on while the legend continues to grow.
5/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: Easy Blues, Inside Out, Bleeding Heart
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder MuzikReviews.com
February 15, 2013
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