Search - Noel Redding :: The Experience Sessions

A few gems on this strange CD

Bring_back_the_60s | Australia | 08/21/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Noel Redding bass player for Jimi Hendrix from 1966 to 1969 was also a handy songwriter.

This CD contains a few examples of them. At 40 minutes it's not a good value CD with about 25 minutes of actual rare material.

Experience Hendrix LLC had this CD only available on their web site for over a year and at last is available through retailers.

This CD is only for Hendrix fanatics.

"

Redding: In the Spotlight

Sampo Man | Raleigh | 03/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Noel Redding is known by most people as the bassist for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He is also an under-rated and sadly unappreciated musician.

I'm glad to see this release, which gives us the chance to hear more of what Noel could have contributed to the group. Those who have heard the classic Hendrix albums Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland caught a glimpse of Noel's songwriting and creativity. This collection brings to light some of Reddings unreleased and unfinished songs featuring Jimi Hendrix and Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell. Hendrix supplies his signature lead guitar on some tracks, while he surprisingly plays bass on others.

As we can hear, Noel was a good guitarist in the brand of 60's rock that he plays, and his vocals aren't much but decent enough.

The songs mostly sound like demos, as the group primarily focused on Hendrix's material, but that doesn't mean they're bad, they're just unrefined. Some of the tracks don't have bass at all. If you like "Little Miss Strange" and "She's So Fine", then these will be a delight. It also features a live version of "Red House" with Redding playing rhythm guitar.

If you like Noel Redding or you just want everything that has to do with Jimi, then this is for you."

It Is What It Is.

Bring_back_the_60s | 11/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you've read his book, _Are You Experienced_? , then you already know that the late Mr. Redding, in a spectacularly critical faux-pas, over-valued his status and contributions to the Jimi Hendrix Experience. His hubris cost him the greatest gig of his life. He considered himself a "rock legend" in the same league as Mr. Hendrix, possibly because he and Jimi fought creatively, professionally, and over certain women. But apparently he perceived himself to be McCartney to Jimi's Lennon. He found out soon after parting ways with Hendrix in Denver that such was not the case. Hendrix was very supportive of Noel's side endeavors, as evidenced by some of the music on this disc, and by the fact that he allowed Fat Mattress to open for his shows. Noel's bitterness seems out of sync for a guy who showed up to the audition with only "10 bob" in his pocket and had to ask for train fare home -- from the man he called "the 'coon' from America". Of course, he was robbed of his financial due. So was his bandmate, Mitch Mitchell; so was his boss and bandleader, Jimi Hendrix. No one was paid their due.



If this disc wasn't designed to show that Redding didn't have the musical wherewithal to survive beyond Hendrix, you wouldn't know it. Many of his recordings contained on this disc wouldn't have been heard or cared about, but for this release. "Walking Through The Garden"? What?!!!???!!! On most of his own tracks, he sings through a heavy Pultec filter in order to disguise his shortcomings as a vocalist, which is the equivalent of Kanye West singing on an Auto-Tune on Saturday Night Live.



Is there good music on this disc? Absolutely. I loved the instrumental "She's So Fine". Jimi apparently punched in some bass on the finished _Axis: Bold As Love_ track, which I'm sure didn't sit too well with Mr. Redding. "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" finally gets the Kramer treatment after almost two decades on the boot circuit. Long story short -- any track with Hendrix on it is good, more or less. Any track lacking Hendrix involvement is, well, interesting from an historical perspective, so to speak."