Are You Experienced And More

A daring release from Purple Haze and quite a good idea to put out the first album by The Experience without the addition of the singles and B-sides for once. Unfortunately for maniacs like me though, the same error has been made here as on the 1992 Alan Douglas re-release: "Red House" and "Can You See Me" are featured in their second release versions (initially only on the US "Smash Hits"), and not the original "Are You Experienced" versions ! Perhaps the Dougles remasters were used ?. Okay, "Red House" (version 1) is on the second CD in its raw form and "Can You See Me (2)" differs very little from the first released version, but this set is really aimed at true fans so it's a shame that more care wasn't taken in the compiling. The original mono mix might also have been a better idea.

The bonus CD of outtakes is of obvious interest to collectors. The sound quality is excellent (unlike many of the "Axis Outtakes" already released by Purple Haze). Most recordings lack vocals as the band work to lay down mainly rhythm tracks. Many takes fall apart or cut out, but just about every sequence ends with a complete version carrying vocal and guitar overdubs.
That "Red House", as I said, is in fact the original raw take of the version that went on to the first U.K. album. At the beginning, you can hear Chas say "Hey Jimi, do you want try that thing you were doing at the flat this afternoon ?"(Jimi and Chas were sharing a flat at the time*). At the end of that historic blues you could hear Jimi say "How's that one ?" and on this disc (like on the origianal mono "Are You Experienced") we hear Chas reply "Great, I think we should put that on ..." ! This particular recording is without the slight vocal echo that Chas added to the album track.
The second instrumental "Manic Depression" has a nice raw guitar solo and wild ending. The last "Can You See Me " is a nearly finished "Version 2". The vocal-less track 12, "I Don't Live Today", is a nice raw cut with some great guitar. The following "I Don't Live Today" features a double tracked vocal (unlike the single vocal track on "AYE") and is close to the finished master. "Fire" goes on and on with a rudimentary sound until we hear a nice complete instrumental version. Finally, six takes of "Remember" which end again with a near finished version, featuring the actual abrupt ending rather than the album's fade out.
Big error in the sleeve notes which confuses "In From The Storm" with "I Don't Live Today" !

*In the early days of The Experience, Jimi lived with Chas and his wife in their London flat. In one interview, Chas remembered that Jimi was practically never without his guitar. He'd cook with it on, even go to the loo with it, because he liked the sound in there ! Practice makes perfect.