dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green) (02/18/85)
> > BTW, I'm old enough to remember when Hendix came on the music scene. > The HYPE over HIM was because he was doing something that had never > been done before, NOT because he was good. We know better now, in > retrospect. I too, am old enough to remember when Jimi Hendrix came on the music scene ( as an opening act for the Monkees at a Forest Hills concert). If I recall, only 4 or 5 albums were released while he was alive; my favorites are the first and "Electric Lady Land". I never liked anything that was released after his death but "Electric Lady Land" and the "Jimi Hendrix Experience" are both 'good' and as for different... well, there was much experimentation going on in '67 and '68, and I see Jimi as one of the better guitarists of that time.
rsk@stat-l (Wombat) (02/19/85)
I find it hard to believe that people are comparing Prince to Jimi
Hendrix...to me, this is not unlike comparing Ripple to Dom Perignon '52.
Jimi Hendrix was, and still is, unquestionably, the greatest guitarist
of the rock era. His technical skills were awesome; his creative use of
studio (and live) effects has been copied by nearly every guitarist since.
His science-fiction blues ("House Burning Down", "1984 (A Merman I Should
Turn to be)" and so on) was entirely his own invention; and he was the first
of the guitar showmen of rock. While his lyrics were occasionally obscure,
and some of his recordings sound a bit muddy, the raw power of his work
and the social statements it made ("Machine Gun", "Pali Gap") comes through
on every cut of every album. Folks like Clapton, Beck, Page, Trower, and
S.R. Vaughan all have built on the foundations that Hendrix laid...Hendrix's
influence in modern rock is equaled only by Dylan, the Stones, and the Beatles.
Prince is a showman, to be sure; but his songs are all glitter and
sexual innuendo, with no substance; his musicianship is merely passable; and
his poetic sense leaves much to be desired. In other words, he's another
curiousity, with nothing substantial to say and little impact on the overall
direction of rock. His oozing androgyny attracts many; but his over-slick,
commercial attitude repels others. On balance--he's not bad, but he has no
lasting value.
So go out, buy yourself a copy of "Purple Rain" and listen to it.
Then go find a beat-up old copy of "Electric Ladyland" or "Rainbow
Bridge" or "Cry of Love" or "Crash Landing", and listen to that.
Maybe you'll wish as much as I do that Jimi hadn't left us so soon.
--
Rich Kulawiec @ Purdue Unix Wombat Group rsk@purdue-asc.arpa
(decvax,ihnp4,uiucdcs)!pur-ee!rsk.uucp (decwrl,hplabs,ucbvax)!purdue!rsk.uucp
May you live in interesting times. -- Ancient Chinese Cursesunny@sun.uucp (Ms. Sunny Kirsten) (02/25/85)
> Jimi Hendrix was, and still is, unquestionably, the greatest guitarist > of the rock era. His technical skills were awesome; his creative use of > studio (and live) effects has been copied by nearly every guitarist since. > His science-fiction blues ("House Burning Down", "1984 (A Merman I Should > Turn to be)" and so on) was entirely his own invention; and he was the first > of the guitar showmen of rock. While his lyrics were occasionally obscure, > and some of his recordings sound a bit muddy, the raw power of his work > and the social statements it made ("Machine Gun", "Pali Gap") comes through > on every cut of every album. Folks like Clapton, Beck, Page, Trower, and > S.R. Vaughan all have built on the foundations that Hendrix laid...Hendrix's > influence in modern rock is equaled only by Dylan, the Stones, and the Beatles > Then go find a beat-up old copy of "Electric Ladyland" or "Rainbow > Bridge" or "Cry of Love" or "Crash Landing", and listen to that. > > Maybe you'll wish as much as I do that Jimi hadn't left us so soon. Sadly, Jimi predicted his own death in "Belly-Button Window", and said something to the effect of: "Maybe you'll be ready for me next time around" so we only have to wait for his reincarnation, and be ready for him... -- {ucbvax,decvax,ihnp4}!sun!sunny