The Jimi Hendrix merchandising machine busts out March 27 with an elaborate 50th anniversary rerelease of “Band of Gypsys.”
The latest vinyl version has been worked by longtime Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer. The “all-analog” rerelease is “available on 180-gram vinyl for the first time in the U.S.,” plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings.
Streeting for about $25, the revived “Band Of Gypsys” comes with an eight-page booklet and a reprint of the original promo poster for the live album. It is the original “Band of Gypsys” presentation, with six tracks.
The rerelease comes just months after the debut of the eight-LP (five CD) set “Songs for Groovy Children,” which more completely chronicles Band of Gypsys’ stand at at New York’s Fillmore East on New Year’s Eve 1969 and New Year’s Day 1970.
Meanwhile, Quality Record Pressings owner Acoustic Sounds has returned the shipping date for its long-awaited hybrid SACD release of “Are You Experienced” to the dreaded “to be announced.” The long-delayed disc had been slated for Jan. 31. Staffers reportedly advised customers that problems with the artwork caused the latest delay.
Acoustic Sounds already released the SACD of “Axis: Bold as Love” to mostly rave reviews. Both of those SACDs are newly remastered by Bernie Grundman. (“Machine Gun: The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/69” and “People, Hell & Angels” were released to the SACD format in 2016.)
“Band Of Gypsys” features Hendrix (guitar), Billy Cox (bass) and Buddy Miles (drums). Miles sings several songs. It originally was released in the U.S. in March 1970.
Much of the “Band of Gypsys” album is given to funk, with Hendrix egged on by his pal Miles, the singer-drummer from the Electric Flag. With the Band of Gypsys, Hendrix reached out to the black audience that had shrugged off his psychedelic adventures. The 12-minute “Machine Gun,” however, returned the guitarist to the jaw-dropping soundscapes he created on the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s classic trio of psychedelic albums.
The Band of Gypsys proved short-lived, with commercial pressures soon bringing a fitful reunion of the Experience.
“This is more than the commemoration of an anniversary,” says Janie Hendrix, president and CEO of Experience Hendrix. “That, of course, is something momentous, but it is also the celebration of a cathartic event in Jimi’s life … a sort of changing of the guards.”
The rerelease of the classic “Band of Gypsys” album is said to be an “all-analog edition” mastered from the original stereo tapes by Kramer, Hendrix’s original engineer. It features a 24-by-36-inch replica of Capitol Records’ original promotional Band of Gypsys poster.
“Band of Gypsys” will be available on black vinyl and a “limited color pressing on 180-gram translucent cream, red, yellow and green swirl vinyl” — the latter an exclusive to the official Hendrix store and going for an extra 5 bucks.
Also coming up with a 50th anniversary vinyl rerelease is the Doors’ “The Soft Parade” — remastered in 2019 by Bruce Botnick. Look for it at the end of the month, via Elektra/Warner.
Here is your official promo video for “Band of Gypsys”:
Well, it’s not quite the first time. The audiophile label Classic Records did an all-analogue pressing before this. But I think that was in the late 90s. It’s long out-of-print and fetching huge prices, so this release is very welcome. I’m glad they’re realizing the importance of doing an all-analogue release.
I couldn’t find any references to that ’97 one being AAA, and I’d always wonder about something done in the late ’90s. Does say 180 gram, for what it’s worth. Not all that important, as you say, because it’s a long-gone release. Please ping me back if you have a reference to that old one being all-analog and I’ll include in the body of the article. Did wonder about that, hence the quote marks.
The 1997 Classic Records edition of BOG was pressed on 150 gram virgin vinyl, mastered exclusively from the original 2-track analog master tapes. The copy I bought was even “Hand Selected” for quality control. It sounds amazing.