Drifting

Album: First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (1970)
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Songfacts®:

  • Hendrix was working intermittently on a new album, tentatively titled First Ray Of The New Rising Sun (finally released in 1997), when he died in London on September 18, 1970 from "drug-related complications." Many of the songs probably wouldn't have made the actual release if Hendrix had lived.
  • Hendrix wrote this as a tribute to R&B legend Curtis Mayfield, who played with Jimi early in his career. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • There are around four guitar tracks. The backwards solo and fills, two guitar effect (univibe) and one last guitar with no special effect. The univibe was probably Hendrix' favorite effect. A Similar sound was created with a Leslie speaker used in "Little Wing."
  • According to Hendrix' producer Eddie Kramer, Jimi had the uncanny ability to record a solo backwards, all the while knowing exactly how it would sound after the tape was flipped back over.
  • An alternative mix recorded July 23, 1970 starts out with Jimi saying, "Let me do some sea sounds."
  • Buzzy Linhart played a vibraphone on this track, which was added after Hendrix' death. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Gonzalo - BsAs, Argentina, for all above

Comments: 3

  • Charlie from Virginia Beach, VaI wish I could post this at facebook for my friends. Some people don't know he could do this.
  • Barry from New York, NyAnyone ever check out the film RAINBOW BRIDGE? That was made (at least Henrix's appearences) during a break in the recording sessions for Hendrix's new album. That's one long mess of a movie, long and boring. Luckily the Jimi Hendrix concert footage livens things up a bit but unfortunately only a brief portion exits in this film.
  • Mota from .Wow....what can you say about this song and the lyrics? A very sad sounding song but also beautiful.
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