Flashing

Flashing is the follow-up to Get That Feeling: Jimi Hendrix Plays, Curtis Knight Sings released on Capitol as well and the reason why the Band of Gypsies live album eventually came out. These Ed Chalpin masters are different from the live tapes recorded at the New Jersey nightclub in 1965, material that comprises the albums Birth of Success, What I'd Say, and Early Jimi Hendrix, Vol. 2 released on EMI's MFP imprints in Europe. The material here was recorded in July and August of 1967, with three tunes recorded in 1966 and one from 1965. As Jimi Hendrix performed "I Saw Her Standing There" with Little Richard on the unreleased live tape by Walter DeVenne, the legendary mastering engineer, Curtis Knight and Hendrix give "Day Tripper" a go -- though they both sound pretty out of tune. The 1965 track "Don't Accuse Me," on the other hand, isn't bad, with snarling Hendrix guitarwork and a bluesy R&B groove. Though there are no revelations, as on Band of Gypsies, or underground gems like Jimi Hendrix Live at the Los Angeles Forum, 4-25-70, hearing Hendrix improvise on instrumentals like Curtis Knight's "Hornets Nest" or Ed Dante's title track "Flashing" (with its vocal snippet, "I got that feeling," almost a reference to the previous album) is more satisfying than hearing Moods or Rare Hendrix. "Happy Birthday" has some excellent Hendrix wah-wah and gives a taste of future "Voodoo Child" sounds. "Odd Ball" is another Ed Dante instrumental which has some future "Machine Gun" riffs from Hendrix lurking, waiting in the wings. For true fans, this is all so essential. It will be interesting to see if and how Experience Hendrix compiles this material along with the music he recorded with the Isley Brothers, Little Richard, and Lonnie Youngblood. Hendrix fans will always be seeking the holy grail, so these early albums are of value in understanding his master's guitar voice. ~ Joe Viglione|