zumpoems

The producer of this album, Jerry Wexler, once said that Aretha in Paris was an embarrassment to him.  Yet, fifty years later after its release on October 1968 (of a concert earlier that year in May recorded at the Olympia Theatre in Paris), we have to be thankful for such a wonderful document of the greatest soul singer in her prime. The band could be better, Wexler’s primary complaint, and the arrangements are less than stellar, but the band is engaged and energetic and, within the given arrangements, provides the suitable canvass for Franklin to project her magic.

Track listing [from,Wikipedia]

1. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)
2. “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream” (Franklin, Teddy White)
3. “Soul Serenade” (Luther Dixon, Curtis Ousley)
4. “Night Life” (Willie Nelson, Walt Breeland, Paul Buskirk)
5. “Baby, I Love You” (Jimmy Holiday, Ronnie Shannon)
6. “Groovin’” (Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere)
7. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Jerry Wexler)
8. “Come Back Baby” (Ray Charles)
9. “Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)” (Franklin, Teddy White)
10. “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” (Franklin, Teddy White)
11. “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (Ronnie Shannon)
12. “Chain Of Fools” (Don Covay)
13. “Respect” (Otis Redding)

An improvement from the first album, there are a number of strong tracks sandwiched between what are arguably the weakest two tracks which start and end the album, “Deboraarobed”,  a quasi blues-based number with a second half that is the recorded tape of the first half played backwards (Debora — arobeD) thus flipping the extended opening on the tonic major chord to also serve as its coda , and the a capella  “Scenescof Dynasty” which goes nowhere repeating nearly endlessly, aided in its absence of interest by handclaps and difficult to suss out lyrics, until it ceases abruptly as if the vinyl real estate had run out.

Track listing [from Wikipedia]

All tracks written by Marc Bolan.

Though more a testament to Jimi Hendrix’s remarkable performing, improvisational and leadership skills than his considerable songwriting abilities, this two LP set, Electric Ladyland, provides an impressive example of 1968 rock music at its very best. The album is stylistic next-to-impossible to define, ranging from psychedelic to blues-rock to jam-rock with notable post-bop and early prog-rock qualities, but at the end of it all it holds together as a finished work of art.  Yet still, amazingly, this album just about has something for everyone, from the highly accessible “Cross Town Traffic” to the epic, brilliantly crafted “1983… (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)”.  If there is just one Hendrix studio album to have in one’s collection, this may be yet, but the truth is, one should have every Hendrix album in their collection.

For those looking to purchase this, a fiftieth anniversary edition box set will be available in early November on digital and vinyl formats that includes the original studio tracks plus additional material.

Track listing [from Wikipedia]

All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

• Jimi Hendrix – lead vocals, guitar, piano, percussion, comb and tissue paper kazoo, electric harpsichord, bass on “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)”, “Long Hot Summer Night”, “Gypsy Eyes”, “1983”, “House Burning Down”, and “All Along the Watchtower”
• Noel Redding – backing vocals, bass on “Crosstown Traffic”, “Little Miss Strange”, “Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)”, “Burning of the Midnight Lamp”, and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, acoustic guitar and lead vocals on “Little Miss Strange”
• Mitch Mitchell – backing vocals, drums (except on “Rainy Day Dream Away” and “Still Raining, Still Dreaming”), percussion, lead vocals on “Little Miss Strange”

Additional personnel

• Jack Casady – bass on “Voodoo Chile”
• Brian Jones – percussion on “All Along the Watchtower”
• Al Kooper – piano on “Long Hot Summer Night”
• Dave Mason – twelve-string guitar on “All Along the Watchtower”, backing vocals on “Crosstown Traffic”
• The Sweet Inspirations – backing vocals on “Burning of the Midnight Lamp”
• Steve Winwood – Hammond organ on “Voodoo Chile”
• Chris Wood – flute on “1983… (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)”
• Larry Faucette – congas
• Mike Finnigan – organ
• Buddy Miles – drums
• Freddie Smith – tenor saxophone