After seeing the clip of a younger Jimi Hendrix with Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, I had to post something by him since it’s been a while. His playing and writing still blows me away. Hendrix had a flow through his songs. Is this one very commercial on the surface? No, but it IS because of the way he arranged his songs. His songs draw you in with that flowing sound. I first really found Hendrix when I was 11 or 12. Later on, when I started to play guitar and bass… no, I couldn’t do his solos (still can’t!), but I took some of his movements to the bass.
His guitar playing was off the charts and identifiable like a fingerprint. He slid a lot while playing, and after him, many guitar players picked that up as well. This song closed out his album Axis: Bold As Love, released at the end of 1967. Six months after his debut album, Are You Experienced. The biggest difference between the two albums can be heard. It was Hendrix realizing that the studio itself was an instrument, and learning how to play it or work it. I also read where his songwriting was catching up with his guitar playing, which fits.
The basic track was cut live by them, with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell locking into a loose groove. Hendrix kept the structure simple at first until the end, when it exploded. His voice was very intimate and more confident than on the first album. You could tell from this album that he wanted his lyrics more exposed.
The verses move gently with Noel Redding’s bass and Mitch Mitchell’s drumming, keeping everything fluid rather than forced. The album Axis: Bold As Love peaked at #3 on the Billboard Album Chart and #5 in the UK in 1967-1968.
Bold As Love
Anger!He smiles, towering in shiny metallic purple armorQueen jealousy, envy waits behind himHer fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground
Blue are the life-giving waters taken for grantedThey quietly understandOnce happy turquoise armies lay opposite readyBut wonder why the fight is on
But they’re all bold as loveYes, they’re all bold as loveYeah, they’re all bold as loveJust ask the axis
My red is so confident, he flashes trophies of warAnd ribbons of euphoriaOrange is young, full of daringBut very unsteady for the first go round
My yellow, in this case, is not so mellowIn fact, I’m trying to say it’s frightened like meAnd all these emotions of mine keep holding me fromGiving my life to a rainbow like you, but I’m
Yeah, I’m bold as love, yeah-yeahWell, I’m bold, bold as loveHear me talking, girlI’m bold as loveJust ask the axis
He knows everythingYeah-yeah-yeah
Yeah
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