STONE FREE

[scottb]

My wife had this in her car and I listened again while out today. I don't care for many tribute type discs but this one ROCKS!

Some of the artists / groups really make the songs their own. The Pretenders, The Cure, Pat Metheny. I gotta admit I like Jeff Beck and Seals version of Manic Depression better than the original. One of my favorite Beck solos. Also think Clapton plays with more fire than usual on Stone Free, it's good to hear him cut loose. Buddy Guy playing Red House is as good as expected.

The biggest suprise to me is The Spindoctors doing Spanish Castle Magic. Hendrix' version of this one does nothing for me but the Spindoctors totally rock it. I think the vocals are the key. Even Jimi admitted to being weak vocally.

If you haven't heard it in a while or maybe never, check it out. It's a truly worthy tribute to Jimi.

[jazzbo]

I'm afraid I DON'T like this as much as you do. A nice tribute cd, sure. . .but not something I reach for often. None of it replaces Jimi for me!

The BMG tribute (In from the Storm, with Tony Williams et al) I like a little better. . . but generally I accept no substitute!

[BFrank]

. . . but generally I accept no substitute!

Exactamundo!

It's hard for me to listen to Jimi covers. I've never picked up any of those albums.

[BERIGAN]

. . . but generally I accept no substitute! 

Exactamundo!

It's hard for me to listen to Jimi covers. I've never picked up any of those albums.

I am sure Dylan fans hated the fact Hendrix did All Along the Watchtower, no matter how much Dylan praised/copied it....

[scottb]

I don't usually like these type discs either, that is my point. I actually like several songs on this one and think some of them rival the originals. Listen to the two versions of Spanish Castle Magic.

[BFrank]

I should probably check it out.

[jazzbo]

Ummm. . . to me they no way rival the original. This is an okay tribute disc. . . . That's as far as I'll personally go!

[Rooster_Ties]

About half of this particuluar Hendrix tribute disc is VERY good, and the other half is just good or even fair. Here's a track-by-track rundown...

Purple Haze - The Cure --> Nothing like the original, but I do really like this version. A totally re-imagined version of the song. GREAT!!!

Stone Free - Eric Clapton --> Great version of a great tune.

Spanish Castle Magic - The Spin Doctors --> Decent version of a GREAT tune!!

Red House - Buddy Guy --> Not bad, far as I remember, but I've never been much for Red House. Too slow, and too many Hendrix versions out there.

Hey Joe - Body Count --> Didn't care for this one much at all, as I remember.

Manic Depression - Seal / Jeff Beck --> This is a pretty good verison, of a GREAT tune. I have a live version of Seal doing Hey Joe on a single of his, and it works well too.

Fire - Nigel Kennedy --> Interesting version. I've also got the all-Hendrix Nigel Kennedy disc, and it's also pretty interesting.

Bold as Love - The Pretenders --> GREAT version of a GREAT tune. They/she covered "Room Full of Mirrors" on a Pretenders album back around 1986, and it's really great too!!! (Would love to hear The Pretenders do an all-Hendrix album some time.)

You Got Me Floatin' - PM Dawn --> Better than I was expecting. Not half bad, I guess.

I Don't Live Today - Slash / Paul Rodgers / Band of Gypsies --> Paul Rodgers has done a number of great Hendrix covers over the years, and this is one of them.

Are You Experienced - Belly --> Don't remember it, guess it was OK. I'm sure it was 'different' - and I generally think 'different' is a good thing.

Crosstown Traffic - Living Colour --> Pretty good. Living Colour has also covered Hendrix well before, as well as here. They've recorded a great version of "Burning The Midnight Lamp" on an EP of theirs.

Third Stone from the Sun - Pat Metheny --> I'm not a big Metheny nut, but this version is pretty good in my book.

Hey Baby (Land of the New Rising Sun) - MACC --> Pretty good version of a GREAT tune.

Guess I liked it better than I remembered, now that I'm looking back through my track-by-track review. This disc can be found in the 'used' bins for $5 or $6 frequently, and it's certainly worth that much.

[danasgoodstuff]

Good Hendrix covers are truly few and far between for my tastes too. I remember Stone Free as uneven and merely OK on the whole. The Nigel Kennedy Experience was impressive live, but I don't listen to the CD much (at least as a fiddle player, he has the advantage of surprise/unexpectedness). I thought the postumous SRV reading of "Little Wing" (not the medley with "3rd Stone", the other one) was quite nice--not as literal as his "Voodoo Child" but not trying too hard to be different either). Los Lobos (who are the kings of cover versions, see their box set for lots of examples) did a v. nice "Are You Experienced" on something called Searching For Jimi Hendrix which is otherwise quite weak. Even Booker T. & the MGs (who rule, see my forthcoming entery in the '60s band thread) came off as kinda clunky when they did "Fire" ("Move over rover and let Jimi take over!"). I thought Miles use of a little bit of "Wind Cries Mary" on Filles was quite nice, but it's not quite a 'cover' is it? Still, I'd love to hear Bill F. take a whack at it. Haven't got the WSQ album of Hendrix covers yet, anyone here heard it?

[Sundog]

The cover of Little Wing that "DGS" refers to is absolutely one of the most honest, pure, emotional, pieces of music I've ever heard. No show-boating, riffing, or other unnecessary bullshit. Just Stevie coming to terms with his own legacy, and the obvious connection to Jimi. It's no tribute, it's Stevie saying thanks to Jimi in the only way he could.

I believe this song is on the album, The Sky Is Crying which also contains a nice cover of "Chitlins Con Carne". Stevie had good taste in guitar heros!

Edited March 15, 2004 by Sundog

[danasgoodstuff]

Yes, that's the one I meant, the one on The Sky is Crying, which also has a nice cover of Lonnie Mack's "Wham!"

[BFrank]

OK. OK. I'll look for it. It does have an interesting "cast of characters". B)