Band of Gypsys
Live album by Jimi Hendrix
Released	April 1970
Recorded	January 1, 1970 at the Fillmore East
Genre	Psychedelic rock, Blues-rock
Length	45:16
Label	MCA
Producer	Heaven Research
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork (9.1/10) 2/1/1998 Rolling Stone 2/2/1998 ThisIsRealMusic.com (Listen Up!) link
Jimi Hendrix chronology
Electric Ladyland (1968) Band of Gypsys (1970) The Cry of Love (1971)

Band of Gypsys is a live album and a project by Jimi Hendrix, backed by Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, that followed Hendrix's Experience project. Released before his death in 1970, it was the last album Hendrix himself authorised, and the only Hendrix album to be released on Capitol Records—the result of a settlement regarding a forgotten recording contract he had signed in 1965 before he became famous. Band of Gypsys was later reissued on MCA Records, along with the rest of his catalog, and is now on Geffen Records. Image File history File links Album cover of Jimi Hendrixs Band of Gypsys, available under fair use doctrine. ... // Many successful recording artists release at least one live album at some point during their career. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fillmore East was promoter Bill Grahams rock palace in the East Village area of New York City. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of hallucinogenic drugs; especially LSD.[1] by using lyrics that describe dreams and refer to drug use using bizarre sounds created by altering the instruments and vocals with electronic effects such as heavy distortion... Blues Rock or Blues-rock is a fusion genre of music which combines elements of the blues with rock and roll. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4. ... Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork and occasionally shortened to P4K or pfork,[1] is a United States-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Electric Ladyland is a rock album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in 1968 (1968 in music). ... The Cry of Love is an album by Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix. ... // Many successful recording artists release at least one live album at some point during their career. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Billy Cox is most known for being Jimi Hendrixs bassist. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Jimi Hendrix Experience was a highly influential, though short-lived, English/American rock band famous for the guitar work of frontman Jimi Hendrix on songs such as Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, Fire, Hey Joe, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), All Along the Watchtower and Spanish Castle Magic. // Hendrix arrived in... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at the... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ...

After The Jimi Hendrix Experience broke up in mid-1969, Hendrix played with a line-up he called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows at Woodstock. Bassist Billy Cox was already playing on that line-up. The band was short-lived, and was turned to a Band of Gypsys with his drummer friend Buddy Miles. The name "Band of Gypsys" was already mentioned as an alternative name for by Hendrix in his speeches during the Woodstock concert. This name is a tribute to the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhart. Searching his musical direction he began to work with Buddy. In the beginning there were three percussionists, but that was scratched because of the jumbled sound. They recorded some studio material, some of which has been posthumously released, and made their live debut at the Fillmore East on New Year's Eve 1969 for a series of four shows, spread over two days. The Fillmore East show is alleged to feature the definitive versions of "Who Knows" and "Machine Gun." The Jimi Hendrix Experience was a highly influential, though short-lived, English/American rock band famous for the guitar work of frontman Jimi Hendrix on songs such as Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, Fire, Hey Joe, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), All Along the Watchtower and Spanish Castle Magic. // Hendrix arrived in... Gypsy Sun and Rainbows was a band formed by Jimi Hendrix after the break-up of The Jimi Hendrix Experience in June 1969. ... Woodstock redirects here. ... Billy Cox is most known for being Jimi Hendrixs bassist. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block or tambourines, arranged for convenience playing by a single drummer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Django Reinhardt as a boy Jean Baptiste Django Reinhardt (January 23, 1910 - May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Gypsy jazz musician. ... Fillmore East was promoter Bill Grahams rock palace in the East Village area of New York City. ...

The Fillmore East concert features Hendrix in his element and in peak form, and the songs Hendrix selected for the Band of Gypsys release highlighted new material. The fact that these songs were never properly released as studio versions elevates the significance of this album. (Studio versions of "Message to Love" and "Power of Soul" are available on some posthumous releases.) Specifically, the version of "Machine Gun" from this show is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock guitar performances, 12 minutes of unbroken, sublime genius. Its long, intricate guitar solos and percussive riffs descend into a sonic assault of controlled feedback to simulate the sounds and frenzy of a battlefield: helicopters, dropping bombs, explosions, and most prominently, the titular machine guns. Yet Hendrix always maintains the melodic center of the song and impeccable tone. This great moment in guitar/vocal/blues history was luckily captured on film.

Hendrix selected two Buddy Miles songs for the album as a kind of apology for the break-up of the band. "We Gotta Live Together" is heavily edited for the album. Its original length is about twice of what can be heard on the album (before moving to that song the band seems to play a riff that is taken from Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song"). The full version can be heard on the 2-disc Live at the Fillmore East album. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Sly & the Family Stone were an American rock band from San Francisco, California. ... Sing a Simple Song is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their #1 hit Everyday People. The songs lyrics, sung in turn by Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, and Larry Graham, with spoken word (or, rather, shouted... Live at the Fillmore East is a live album by A Band of Gypsys, recorded at four shows in 1969-1970 and released in 1999. ...

Due to the demands of four sets over two days, the band faced a lack of material. So, Hendrix did rely on Experience-era favorites "Wild Thing," "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze, "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," "Foxy Lady," "Fire," and "Stone Free" to fill out the sets. In fact, nearing the end of the fourth set, Hendrix said, "We're just trying to figure out something to play, but we only know about six songs right now...seven...nine." He then launched into a blistering version of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." Hendrix was energized by his new bandmates, which infused new life into these Experience-era classics not included on this album. ("Foxy Lady" was included on the Japanese/German release (details below). Further, "Wild Thing," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "Stone Free" can be heard on the widely available Live at the Filimore East 2-disc set.)

After a shambolic show at Madison Square Garden on January 28, Band of Gypsys was disbanded. With Experience member Mitch Mitchell on drums and Billy Cox on bass, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was reformed and for the next several months would work on Hendrix's next album, projected to be a double (or even triple) album until the leader's tragically sudden death that September. He had also been due to work with jazz composer and Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, and apparently numerous other projects yet to be initiated, including those with Eric Clapton, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Miles Davis, and Duane Allman. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Noel Redding was the better known of the 2 bassists that appeared alongside Jimi Hendrix during his brief recording career of 1967-1970 (due to the fact that he played on Hendrixs most acclaimed recordings), but Billy Cox had known and played alongside Hendrix longer. ... Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ... ELP can also stand for Extra Long Play, a format for the VCR tape. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American lead guitarist and noted session musician. ...

Produced by Hendrix (as "Heaven Research"), Band of Gypsys reached #5 in the U.S. and #6 in the UK and became one of the artist's best-selling albums. In certain foreign markets, including the UK, the album was released with an alternative cover photograph which featured dolls of Hendrix, Brian Jones, Bob Dylan and British DJ John Peel, an early supporter of Hendrix. For other persons named Brian Jones, see Brian Jones (disambiguation). ... This article is about the recording artist. ... “Peel Sessions” redirects here. ...

Band of Gypsys is also the name of a documentary concerning the album and Hendrix's performances at the Fillmore during New Year's Eve 1969, and New Year's Day 1970.

Songs played on concerts

The recordings included on Band of Gypsys featured selections from the final two shows, which were performed on the evening of January 1, 1970. The set lists for these two shows are as follows with asterisk indicating inclusion on the Band of Gypsys album: is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

January 1, 1970 (Third Fillmore East set) is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1. "Who Knows" *
2. "Machine Gun" *
3. "Them Changes"
4. "Power of Soul"
5. "Stepping Stone"
6. "Foxy Lady"
7. "Stop"
8. "Hear My Train A-Comin"
9. "Earth Blues
10. "Burning Desire"

January 1, 1970 (Fourth Fillmore East set) is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1. "Stone Free/Little Drummer Boy"
2. "Them Changes" *
3. "Power of Soul" *
4. "Message to Love" *
5. "Earth Blues"
6. "Machine Gun"
7. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"
8. "We Gotta Live Together" *
9. "Wild Thing"
10. "Hey Joe"
11. "Purple Haze"

Track listing

All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix except where noted.

1. "Who Knows" – 9:32
2. "Machine Gun" – 12:32
3. "Changes" (Buddy Miles) – 5:10
4. "Power to Love" – 6:53
5. "Message of Love" – 5:22
6. "We Gotta Live Together" (Buddy Miles) – 5:46

The German/Japanese release contained these bonus tracks: For other uses of the phrase, see Machine gun (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

7. "Hear My Train A Comin'" (Third set) – 9:02
8. "Foxy Lady" (Third set) – 6:33
9. "Stop" (Howard Tate) (First set) – 4:47

(Track #3 should be "Them Changes" and track #4 should be "Power of Soul". These miss-spellings appear on both original vinyl edition and current CD releases) Howard Tate is an American soul music singer and songwriter. ...

Personnel

• Billy Cox – bass guitar
• Jimi Hendrix – electric guitar, vocals
• Buddy Miles – drums, vocals

Billy Cox is most known for being Jimi Hendrixs bassist. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, popping or using a pick. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block or tambourines, arranged for convenience playing by a single drummer. ...

Production personnel

• Jan Blom – album cover photography
• Heaven Research – producer
• Wally Heider – engineer
• Robert Herman – photography
• Eddie Kramer – engineer, mixing, mastering, remastering, remixing
• George Marino – remastering
• John McDermott – liner notes
• Joseph Sia – photography
• Album cover designed by Victor Kahn