Jimi Hendrix & The Experience
Axis Outtakes 

Silver disc --> EAC Secure Mode --> Flac.

Disc 1:

1. SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC (3:11)
2. LITTLE WING (3:24)
3. YOU'VE GOT ME FLOATING (2:42)
4. SHE'S SO FINE (3:39)
5. LITTLE MISS LOVER (2:20)
6. BOLD AS LOVE (3:18)*
7. TAKIN' CARE OF NO BUSINESS (4:05)
8. SOUTH SATURN DELTA (4:04)
9. CAT TALKIN' TO ME (2:36)
10. THE STARS THAT PLAY WITH LAUGHING SAM'S DICE (4:10)
11. TAKIN' CARE OF NO BUSINESS (3:58)

Disc 2:

1. DREAM (2:04)
2. DANCE (1:55)
3. LITTLE ONE [Take 1] (3:26)
4. LITTLE ONE [Take 2] (3:29)
5. DRIVING SOUTH (6:07)
6. BOLD AS LOVE (12:10)
7. TAX FREE (4:57)
8. SOMEWHERE (3:50)
9. CHEROKEE MIST (5:08)
10. THREE LITTLE BEARS (12:37)

*-offspeed

The tracks on this double CD represent the surviving Outtakes and alternate mixes from the recordings, which form the second Jimi Hendrix Experience album “Axis Bold As Love.” After the explosive debut, “Are You Experienced”, Axis offered a more melodic, lyrical counterpoint and demonstrated quite clearly that Jimi Hendrix was more musician than wild man. The Outtakes are combined with slightly later recordings, which although in the same vein, indicate where The Experience was heading. It is well documented that Jimi somehow managed to leave the original mixes for side one of the album in a London cab, requiring a subsequent, frantic remixing of those first seven tracks to enable the release schedule to be maintained. Jimi’s personal mixes of a number of Axis tracks were sold at Sotheby’s in London in 1981. Although there is no connection between these two events, each has added a little romance to the “Axis Bold As Love” Story.

The first disc in this set offers the opportunity to ponder how “Axis Bold As Love” might have sounded if different decisions had been made by Chas Chandler and Jimi when selecting the final mixes. These alternatives shed light on the creative process and highlight just how different two takes of the same song can be. Spanish Castle Magic, for example, utilises a piano. Not the most common instrument heard on rock albums in 1967. Some tracks feature completely different vocal takes while on others it is easy to see how the band experimented with newly available sonic effects. The first five tracks on disc two were recorded during the Axis sessions, but ultimately not used. Indeed only “Stars That Play” saw a release of any sort in Jimi’s lifetime, on the “B” side of “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp.” “Takin’ Care Of No Business” appears twice, firstly as originally recorded and then with 1988 overdubs added under the supervision of Chas Chandler when he was looking to prepare a release of unheard Experience material; a project that was never completed. “Cat Talkin’ To Me” offers a very rare opportunity to hear Mitch Mitchell on lead vocal. Not quite as outstanding as his consummate drumming abilities.

“Axis Bold As Love” was originally released in the UK on 1st of December 1967. The remaining tracks on disc two were recorded mainly in London, although the shift towards New York began in the few months that followed. They show the band stretching out; having completed a more melodic album they began to move into a more jazzy feel, which culminated in 1968’s “Electric Ladyland.” “Dream” and “Dance” offer Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell further opportunity to demonstrate their compositional skills, while the very loose “Little One” is alleged in some quarters to feature Brian Jones, possibly on sitar. Later on in this album you can hear Jimi play sitar on “Cherokee Mist.” The familiar Albert Collins instrumental, “Driving South” leads us into two tracks which reiterate the more improvisational route the band were beginning to take, stretching out on longer pieces. A trend that would also become a feature of their live performances in 1968 and into 1969. Closing this set, “Three Little Bears” and the ensuing improvisation demonstrate evidence of the blinkered attitude employed in the compilation of the severely edited “War Heroes” album. Listen to and enjoy these recordings as history that might have been, works in progress and a vision of the future in equal measure. You will not be disappointed by the Experience.