Our first introduction of the Jimi Hendrix Experience was via the 7" vinyl disc, from Hey Joe on Polydor Records in 1966 through to much more recent 7" releases from Sundazed and Sony Legacy. These releases span six decades and the format looks like its never going away as Experience Hendrix appear to both enjoy this format as promotion of fuller titles and along with Sony Legacy, support Record Store Day [global and US centric]. Included here with these 7" singles and EP's are the numerous 12" singles [even the 331/3], box set singles and a few bootleg singles, basically as many as I can detail or get details of. As always these pressings show up with some quirks. Some simply having a different colour label, as in Track records white and black Purple Haze or more obscure with that same title, some pressings are mastered slightly differently though the difference here is often confused with it being a different mix!
The contract Track Records had with Jimi Hendrix had lapsed nearing the end of 1970 and though we had both single and album releases in 1971 on the Track label, Polydor took over the releases after this year.
* Note that with Polydor releases some stamper detail is expressed as:
> = an upside down triangle in all stamped matrix detail for the Track Records and Polydor Records pressings while V is expressed as such.
% = a diamond
HEY JOE B/W STONE FREE POLYDOR 56139
RELEASED 16TH DECEMBER 1966
THIS IS THE 1ST PRESSING WITH THE FULL "JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE" CREDIT ON THE LABEL
A: *P* 56139 A//1 11 17
B: 56139 B//1 11 11
MACHINE STAMPED
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PURPLE HAZE B/W 51ST ANNIVERSARY TRACK 604001
RELEASED 17TH MARCH 1967 WHITE LABEL
A: 604001 A//1 [LOOKS LIKE 2 5]
B: 604001 B//1 1 4
MACHINE STAMPED
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PURPLE HAZE B/W 51ST ANNIVERSARY TRACK 604001
RELEASED 17TH MARCH 1967 BLACK LABEL
A: 604001 A//1 11 11
B: 604001 B//1 11 1
MACHINE STAMPED
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THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W HIGHWAY CHILE TRACK 604004
RELEASED 5TH MAY 1967
A: 604004 A//1 11 12
B: 604004 B//1 11 61
MACHINE STAMPED
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HOW WOULD YOU FEEL B/W YOU DON’T WANT ME TRACK 604009
UNKNOWN RELEASE DATE BUT MOST LIKELY 18TH AUGUST 1967
A: 604009 A>1 1 1
B: 604009 B>1 1 5
MACHINE STAMPED
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HUSH NOW B/W FLASHING LONDON HL 10160
RELEASED OCTOBER 1967
A: MSC-7797-1C
B: MSC-7798-1C
MACHINE STAMPED
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BURNING OF THE MIDNIGHT LAMP B/W THE STARS THAT PLAY WITH LAUGHING SAM’S DICE TRACK RECORDS 604007
RELEASED 18TH AUGUST 1967
A: 604007 A >1 1 1 4
B: 604007 B >1 1 1 5
MACHINE STAMPED
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ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER B/W LONG HOT SUMMER NIGHT TRACK 604025
RELEASED 18TH OCTOBER 1968
A: 604025 >A>2 420 11 3
B: 604025 B>1[CROSSED OUT 4] 11 4
MACHINE STAMPED
Other copies I have show a similar matrix detail in all but the end numbers except one which has only one inverted triangle showing on side A, between the A and 2.
A: 64025 AV2 420 11 5
B: 604025 BV1[CROSSED OUT 4] 11 9
MACHINE STAMPED
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CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W GYPSY EYES TRACK 604029
RELEASED 4TH APRIL 1969
A: 604029 A//1 420 11 1
B: 604029 B//1 42011 2
MACHINE STAMPED
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[LET ME LIGHT YOUR] FIRE B/W THE BURNING OF THE MIDNIGHT LAMP TRACK RECORDS 604033
RELEASED 14TH NOVEMBER 1969
A: 604033 A//1 1 12
B: 604033 B//1 1 1 3
MACHINE STAMPED
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VOODOO CHILE B/W HEY JOE, ALL ALONE THE WATCHTOWER TRACK 2095-001
RELEASED 23RD OCTOBER 1970 PICTURE SLEEVE
A: 2095001 A>1 11 6
B: 2095001 B>1 11 9
MACHINE STAMPED
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ANGEL B/W NIGHT BIRD FLYING TRACK RECORDS 2094-007
RELEASED MARCH 1971
A: [SCRATCHED 2 AND CROSSED OUT NUMBER] 094007 A>11 1 1
B: [SCRATCHED 2 AND CROSSED OUT NUMBER] 094007 B>11 1 1
MACHINE STAMPED
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GYPSY EYES, REMEMBER B/W PURPLE HAZE , STONE FREE TRACK 2094 010
MARKETED BY POLYDOR, RELEASED OCTOBER 1971. PICTURE SLEEVE
A: 2094010 A//>420 112 04
B: 2094010 B//>420 112 04
MACHINE STAMPED
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This Reprise Records 45rpm has caused some confusion down the years, now we know that all of the content from Electric Ladyland is in fact simply a fold down of the stereo mix. The exception of course is the “Burning of the Midnight Lamp”, which has a dedicated mono mix found originally on Track Records, 604007.
Stated as a re release and appearing in mono and stereo formats it seems, this re release of
“All Along the Watchtower” has a date of issue as 1983(?) or more often the release date is omitted altogether adding to the confusion. We have four know pressings of this 45 it seems. Three copies with the usual early tan colour label and the later [1983(?)] yellow, blue, green Reprise label. From The Benjamin Franklin Studios, 4th edition. Part 4: A selected official discography [Geldeart / Rodham], we have three pictures showing the two variation labels and detailing the differences. Here we have a subtle difference in that the matrix detail differs to those listed in that publication. The publication offers up a suffix after the L-5424 / L-5442 on the mono pressing with W1#1 on both sides. The copy here clearly does not have this. This copy differs as it was pressed for jukebox use. This is the only copy I have seen and dates from 1973. The images shown in FTBFS Vol4 also show one of the early tan labels with the W [Warner] logo next to the Made In The USA text. Again, this is not on the copy listed first.
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER B/W CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC REPRISE GRE 0742 MONO BACK TO BACK HITS
A: REP-0742-L-5424
B: REP-0742-L-5442
HAND ETCHED
The stereo version which looks near identical to this mono copy has the following matrix:
A: L-5424-1B T111
B: L-5442-1C T11
While the later(?) three colour Reprise label mono has a repeat of what is included in one of the earlier mono pressings:
A: GRE-0742 L-5424 W1#1
B: GRE-0742 L-5442 W1#1
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Polydor Records endless re issuing of Hendrix singles from around the globe is legend, be they stand alone, attached with albums, box sets and to confuse matters as mono where the original issue had been stereo or even as fold down from stereo! Also factor in the various size disc and picture sleeves and we have a wealth of releases to catalogue.
This then will be the start!
This release appears as both a 7" and 12" release:
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W VOODOO CHILE (SR) POLYDOR PO 71 873854-7
7" PICTURE SLEEVE, RELEASE UNKNOWN
A: PO 71 A-3U-1-Q2
B: PO 71 B-3U-1-Q1
ALL RIGHTS ETC TYPE IS MACHINE STAMPED AROUND LABEL IN THE LAST OF THE DEAD WAX AREA.
MACHINE STAMPED
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JOHNNY B. GOODE B/W LITTLE WING POLYDOR 2001-277
RELEASED 1971 UK PRESSING
A: 2001277 A//1V420 1 1 1 04
B: 2001277 B//1V420 1 1 4 04
MACHINE STAMPED
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GLORIA POLYDOR 2612 034
PICTURE SLEEVE SINGLE SIDED, PART OF THE ESSENTIAL JIMI HENDRIX RELEASE JIMI 1 UK PRESSING
A: JIMI 1 A//S1R 11 2
B: INJECTION 1 2 1
MACHINE STAMPED
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JOHNNY B. GOODE B/W LITTLE WING POLYDOR 2001-277
RELEASED 1971 PICTURE SLEEVE SPANISH PRESSING.
A: 850 2001277 *A*1 COL J
B: 850 2001277 *B*1 COL J
MACHINE STAMPED
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FOXY LADY B/W SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC POLYDOR DP-1585
JAPAN
A: [UNKNOWN SYMBOL] D P-1585A A-1-12 [X IN A CIRCLE]
B: D P-1585B A-1-13 [X IN A CIRCLE]
MACHINE STAMPED
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THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W HIGHWAY CHILE POLYDOR 59078
GERMAN PICTURE SLEEVE 1967
A: 1 [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 E7 Z [C ON ITS SIDE] 59078 A MADE IN GERMANY
B: 1 [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 E7 Z [C ON ITS SIDE] 59078 B MADE IN GERMANY
MACHINE STAMPED
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Whilst revising the previous considerations regard the Purple Haze / 51st Anniversary Track Records 604001 I was a little surprised to see that this record was pressed with three differing centres. While three can be seen for the black the white label has two, so far!
Showing the “solid” centre style and a tri push-out for the white label. Then for the black label, a “solid” centre, a tri push-out and the quad push-out centre shown to the right.
While the black "solid" centre looks different to the white in the pictures, they are in fact the same. The centre hole rim lines do not show up as well here.
CLASSIC SINGLES COLLECTION CLASSIC RECORDS / EXPERIENCE HENDRIX [NO CATALOGUE NUMBER]
RELEASED 1998, NUMBERED ISSUE ****
SET INCLUES:
HEY JOE B/W STONE FREE RTH-1007
PURPLE HAZE B/W FOXY LADY RTH-1007
THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W FIRE RTH-1007
LITTLE WING B/W SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC RTH-1007
UP FROM THE SKIES B/W GYPSY EYES RTH-1007
VOODOO CHILE (SR) B/W ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS RTH-1007
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER B/W LONG HOT SUMMER NIGHT RTH-1007
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W IF SIX WAS NINE RTH-1007
RAINY DAY, DREAM AWAY B/W STILL RAINING, STILL DREAMING RTH-1007
FREEDOM B/W ANGEL RTH-1007
A: EH-1-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-2-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-3-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-4-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-5-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-6-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-7-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-8-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-9-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-10-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-11-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-12-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-13-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-14-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-15-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-16-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-17-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-18-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
A: EH-19-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
B: EH-20-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM
HAND ETCHED
Also from this set:
HEY JOE B/W STONE FREE EXPERIENCE HENDRIX /CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
PURPLE HAZE B/W FOXY LADY EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W FIRE EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
UP FROM THE SKIES B/W GYPSY EYES EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
LITTLE WING B/W SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER B/W LONG HOT SUMMER NIGHT EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W IF 6 WAS 9 EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
RAINY DAY, DREAM AWAY B/W STILL RAINING, STILL DREAMING EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
FREEDOM B/W ANGEL EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS TEST PRESSING
WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING . MCA TEST PRESSING GLOVERSVILLE PLANT STAMPED ON ONE LABEL SIDE.
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CLASSIC SINGLES COLLECTION CLASSIC RECORDS / EXPERIENCE HENDRIX [NO CATALOGUE NUMBER]
2005 RE-ISSUE COLOURED SET. THIS IS #03 OF 05 OF MICHAEL HOBSON ARCHIVE SET.
SET INCLUES:
HEY JOE B/W STONE FREE RTH-1007
PURPLE HAZE B/W FOXY LADY RTH-1007
THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W FIRE RTH-1007
LITTLE WING B/W SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC RTH-1007
UP FROM THE SKIES B/W GYPSY EYES RTH-1007
VOODOO CHILE (SR) B/W ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS RTH-1007
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER B/W LONG HOT SUMMER NIGHT RTH-1007
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W IF SIX WAS NINE RTH-1007
RAINY DAY, DREAM AWAY B/W STILL RAINING, STILL DREAMING RTH-1007
FREEDOM B/W ANGEL RTH-1007
A: HEY JOE EH-1-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT RED
B: STONE FREE EH-2-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT RED
A: PURPLE HAZE EH-3-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT DARK GREEN
B: FOXY LADY EH-4-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT DARK GREEN
A: THE WIND CRIES MARY EH-5-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT BLUE
B: FIRE EH-6-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENTBLUE
A: LITTLE WING EH-7-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT YELLOW
B: SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC EH-8-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT YELLOW
A: UP FROM THE SKIES EH-9-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT CLEAR
B: GYPSY EYES EH-10-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT CLEAR
A: VOODOO CHILE (SR) EH-11-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT ORANGE
B: ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS EH-12-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT ORANGE
A: ALL ALAONG THE WATCHTOWER EH-13-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT PURPLE
B: LONG HOT SUMMER NIGHT EH-14-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT PURPLE
A: CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC EH-15-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT PINK
B: IF SIX WAS NINE EH-16-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT PINK
A: RAINY DAY, DREAM AWAY EH-17-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT GREEN
B: STILL RAINING, STILL DREAMING EH-18-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT GREEN
A: FREEDOM EH-19-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT TURQUOISE
B: ANGEL EH-20-45 EK[STERLING STAMPED]GM TRANSLUCENT TURQUOISE
HAND ETCHED
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Picture run through; Numbered set, standard black vinyl box and sleeves. Coloured set, box, booklet, front sleeves and B sides of vinyl, box sticker and Hobson certificate.
The Classic Singles Box Set Volume 2: Classic Records / Experience Hendrix RTH1008B [though note that the box set does not display this catalogue number at all]. Released 14 August 2007 and limited to 1000 sets worldwide.
In an ideal [and boring world!] the following initial list would be all we needed. This list shows at a glance each set as they appear in the box, paired and labelled with vinyl colour.
CLASSIC SINGLES COLLECTION VOL 2 CLASSIC RECORDS / EXPERIENCE HENDRIX [NO CATALOGUE NUMBER SHOWN]
RELEASED 2007, COLOURED VINYL LIMITED NUMBER 18/1000 AS SUPPLIED BY MIKE HOBSON AND JOHN MCDERMOTT
THIS IS THE CORRECT PRESSED SET CONTAINING THE CORRECT LABELS PER SIDE.
PURPLE HAZE B/W 51ST ANNIVERSARY 604001 (PURPLE / GREY VINYL)
THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W HIGHWAY CHILE 604004 (TRANSLUCENT PALE GREEN TINT CLEAR VINYL)
BURNING OF THE MIDNIGHTLAMP B/W STARS THAT PLAY WITH LAUGHING SAM’S DICE 604007 (TRANSLUCENT RED VINYL)
HEY JOE B/W FOXY LADY 0641 (WHITE VINYL)
UP FROM THE SKIES B/W ONE RAINY WISH 0665 (CLEAR VINYL)
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W GYPSY EYES 0792 (TRANSLUCENT BLUE VINYL)
STEPPING STONE B/W IZABELLA NO LABEL NUMBER BUT COVER NUMBER 0602498143643 (TRANSLUCENT GREEN VINYL)
DOLLY DAGGER B/W STAR SPANGLED BANNER 1044 (GREY VINYL)
JOHNNY B. GOODE B/W LOVER MAN 2001-277 (TRANSLUCENT RED VINYL)
GLORIA B/W LOOK OVER YONDER NO NUMBER (TRANSLUCENT BLUE VINYL)
CLASSIC SINGLES COLLECTION VOL 2 CLASSIC RECORDS / EXPERIENCE HENDRIX [NO CATALOGUE NUMBER SHOWN]
RELEASED 2007, COLOURED VINYL LIMITED NUMBER 136/1000
THIS IS THE INCORRECTLY PRESSED SET, SOME LABELS ARE REVERSED AS NOTED:
PURPLE HAZE B/W 51ST ANNIVERSARY 604001 (PURPLE / GREY VINYL)
THE WIND CRIES MARY B/W HIGHWAY CHILE 604004 (TRANSLUCENT PALE GREEN TINT CLEAR VINYL)
BURNING OF THE MIDNIGHT LAMP B/W STARS THAT PLAY WITH LAUGHING SAM’S DICE 604007 (TRANSLUCENT RED VINYL)
HEY JOE B/W FOXY LADY 0641 (WHITE VINYL)
UP FROM THE SKIES B/W ONE RAINY WISH 0665 (TRANSLUCENT ORANGE VINYL) LABELS REVERSED
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC B/W GYPSY EYES 0792 (CLEAR VINYL) LABELS REVERSED
STEPPING STONE B/W IZABELLA NO LABEL NUMBER BUT COVER NUMBER 0602498143643 (TRANSLUCENT GREEN VINYL)
NIGHT BIRD FLYING B/W STAR SPANGLED BANNER 1044 (TRANSLUCENT TURQUOISE VINYL) LABELS REVERSED
JOHNNY B. GOODE B/W LOVER MAN 2001-277 (TRANSLUCENT ORANGE VINYL)
GLORIA B/W LOOK OVER YONDER NO NUMBER (TRANSLUCENT BLUE VINYL)
The Test pressed “set”, of those I have turned up thus far and which I have now housed in a suitcase box [numbered 374/ 1000] are all white label and without stamp or written indication. These are paired sides as follows and I have noted picture sleeve here for reference:
Purple Haze sleeve: Purple Haze / 51st Anniversary
The Wind Cries Mary sleeve: The Wind Cries Mary / Highway Chile
The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp sleeve: The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp / The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice
Hey Joe sleeve: Hey Joe / Star Spangled Banner [mis-match]
Up From The Skies sleeve: Up From The Skies / If 6 Was 9 [edit] [mis-match]
Crosstown Traffic sleeve: Crosstown Traffic / Gypsy Eyes
Stepping Stone sleeve: Stepping Stone / Izabella
Dolly Dagger sleeve: Dolly Dagger / Night Bird Flying [mis-match]
No sleeve: Johnny B. Goode / Lover Man [studio take] [mis-match]
No sleeve: Look Over Yonder / Lover Man [studio take] [mis-match]
Gloria sleeve: Gloria / Foxy Lady [mis-match]
In the following text, numbers found in ( ) after a song title indicate the “From The Benjamin Franklin Studios” reference listing. These reference numbers do not appear on the [rear] box set track listings or the labels.
While Test Pressing(s) are referenced as TP(‘s) throughout the following article.
While this piece deals with the initial limited release set of the coloured vinyl it is noted that this set was followed by a standard black set of pressings which as far as I am aware presents none of the errors found with the coloured set.
Jimpress issues #83 [mid 2007], #85 [early 2008] and #96 [late 2011] ran articles on this release and detailed both of the issues found with the set and attempted to conclude as to the number of error pressed sets with an attempt to conclude as to why such a mis-press error of a replaced title would / could occur.
Given that I now have a number of the test pressed discs for this set [all pressed to black vinyl] it has become patently clear that confusion reigned at some point between Experience Hendrix and Classic Records, not to mention Sterling Sound N.Y. and Bernie Grundman Mastering L.A.
A brief refresher and an introduction for those unaware of the issues this set presented:
On issue the coloured set presented some issues of incorrect labelled sides, nothing major of course with a couple of swapped over labels per sides. But on playing what was labelled Dolly Dagger (1) / Star Spangled Banner we found not only are the labels placed on incorrect sides but Dolly Dagger was in fact Night Bird Flying (1).
Despite slight variations in vinyl colour between sets generally it was found they are close to being the same. With that in mind the mis-pressed Night Bird Flying / Star Spangled Banner 45 is a translucent turquoise and the correct Dolly Dagger / Star Spangled Banner pressing is grey. That alone gives a visual clue to what is on any given pressing. But due to slight variations in colour, labelling and dependent on the matrix set number we get too many variations as to what is in the grooves to be able to know for sure. So a list is presented [a little later] of the matrix detail per song for reference.
While an attempt was made to see if any of these 1000 sets had in fact been correctly pressed with the correct titles it was found that at some point between set numbers 788 [set missing Dolly Dagger] and set 824 [set including Dolly Dagger] a correction was made.
As concluded to back in 2011, there was an apparent mix up with the 45 stamper plates sent by Classic Records for pressing. Mixing up the Dolly Dagger plate with that of the Night Bird Flying plate which had been cut / plated and utilised for Experience Hendrix’s “give away” 45 [with issue #2 of Experience Hendrix magazine] in May of 1997. This give away 45 was unsurprisingly Dolly Dagger (1) / Night Bird Flying (1). This is a clear and obvious a simple mix up of course but things don’t really end there once we dip our toes into the test pressing world for this set.
While of course there are two differing sets of test pressed records, one containing Dolly Dagger and one containing Night Bird Flying that does not cover the variations per record pairing thereof!
The test pressing set [I say “set” but that is simply terminology as there is no real TP set, this is simply something I put together. I have made up to eleven discs [so far] and is likely to alter over time] shown here clearly shows a number a strange variations in the mix and match world of pressing plates. To help us along, all the TP’s bar the title Johnny B. Goode / Lover Man come with the picture sleeve that was contained in the actual set(s). Again, the best reference here as to what is in the grooves per side is the matrix detail as the sleeves are not an accurate guide in any way. To further this along all of the TP’s are white faced labels with no stamps or written indication.
To start with, both “Dolly Dagger” and “Night Bird Flying”appear in the TP set, though not necessarily as a pairing and that both of the TP titles that contain “Lover Man” have a studio take and not the live Berkeley version that appears in the box set. Beside the fact that these TP’s are the only place to find this studio take of “Lover Man” on official 45 is one thing but also we have a real oddity that involves “If 6 Was 9”. That title did not appear in the box set though it did appear as part of the Singles Box set Volume 1. Again to add a little confusion the version from the Volume 1 set was mastered / cut at Sterling Sound N.Y.[ Eddie Kramer / George Marino] the version in the TP set from Volume 2 is from Bernie Grundman. And to take this further, the TP cut of “If 6 Was 9” was cut from the mono master source by Grundman as opposed to the stereo Kramer / Marino cut.
If you want yet a little more confusion and something that appears nowhere else, this Grundman TP cut is not complete. It begins after the 4 second silent break in the song and runs to the end, 3:58.
Meanwhile back to the studio for “Lover Man”, this registers with Ben Franklin at (47), making it from the 20th July ’70 session and can be found as part of The Jimi Hendrix Experience [Purple] box set which saw release, 12th September 2000. Though as mentioned, this is [as far as I'm aware] the only place to find[officially] this version of “Lover Man” as a 7” 45rpm pressing the “If 6 Was 9” edit is the only place to find this on a 7” 45rpm record. Though importantly to note this same edit of “If 6 Was 9” can be found on the Mexican Axis. Bold As Love release, Polydor stereo 184 110 where the track is presented as two separate pieces on the A side of the record!
The list of matrix detail found in all of the 45’s that now have an association to this set, listed alpha-numerically including relative detail, grouped according to mastering engineers, of which there are three who contribute to this set.
* correct pressing
** incorrect pressed set
*** Test Pressing “set”
The Bernie Grundman cuts:
EH2-A-45 BG Up From The Skies (1)*
EH2-B-45 BG If 6 Was 9 edit (2) ***
EH2-C-45 BG Gypsy Eyes (1)*
EH2-D-45 BG Crosstown Traffic (1)*
EH2-E-45 BG HEY JOE (1)*
The Chris Bellman cut:
EHB2-245-L CB Lover Man (31)*
The Ray Janos cuts:
EHB2-145 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Johnny B. Goode (3)*
EHB2-245 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Lover Man (47) ***
EHB2-345 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Look Over Yonder (2)*
EH2-1 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Purple Haze (1)*
EH2-2 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] 51st Anniversary (1)*
EH2-3 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] The Wind Cries Mary (1)*
EH2-4 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Highway Chile (1)*
EH2-5 RJ [STERLING STAMPED]The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp (1)*
EH2-6 [STERLING STAMPED] The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice (2)*
EH2-7 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Stepping Stone (4)*
EH2-8 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Izabella (7)*
EH2-9 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Dolly Dagger(1)*
EH2-10 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Night Bird Flying (1)**
EH2-12 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] One Rainy Wish (1)*
EH2-13 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Foxy Lady (1)*
EH2-14 RJ Gloria (1)*
EH2-15 RJ [STERLING STAMPED] Star Spangled Banner (1)*
Shown here are sets #18 and #136. While both sets #18 and #19 have been corrected, as far as I am aware all other lower number sets are inclusive of the mis-pressings. The photographs are presented so as to show differences / similarities between vinyl colouring per title but should be noted the full spectrum of slight variations may not be shown; some reds may be more orange with some pressing sets for instance.
My eternal gratitude to Brother Bill on the West Coast, without whom none of this would have been possible.
July 2020
Photograph presentation order: The box sets, front and rear. Inside the box and booklet and card insert. Followed by front / rear sleeve and labels presented so as to show the similarities or differences of vinyl colour between box sets, set #18 shown first in all cases. Next, a couple of shots covering the promo discs and rounding this section up are The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp acetate.
