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RELEASED [UK] 12-05-1967

A comment regard the release date of Are You Experienced on Track Records: Originally slated for release on the Friday of the 19th May 1967 the release date was pulled forward by a full week to Friday the 12th. This ensued from the “leaking” of a number of records prior to the 12th May.

* Note that with Track and Polydor releases some stamper detail is expressed as: 

> = an upside down triangle in all stamped matrix detail for the Track Record's and Polydor Record's pressings 

% = a diamond

^ = a triangle  

This title can also be found in box sets which can be found in the Studio section.

The big bang theory! Hendrix’s arrival in “swinging” London was to send shock waves that continue to reverberate to this very day in both social and music circles. Bringing endless guitar line ideas along with unknown song ideas to the U.K. Hendrix was able to capture the 60’s swinging mood emanating from the capitol city with the help and guidance of Chas Chandler and mould and shape his duel continent experience into what is for me at least, the most interesting and involving debut album in popular musical history. The original as intended record is far more reflective of and engaging with because of the non-single approach. Of course, not as “catchy” as the U.S. iteration but a lot more inventive and carries a weight of a debut album that a more of a compilation approach could ever do.

Chandler it was who put in place firm boundaries which Hendrix had little option other than to conform to at that juncture. An ideal setting for an unknown and unpublished musician, to develop his craft in a focused and productive manner.

Chandler was determined to ensure Hendrix could walk before he could run, not least as Hendrix was now his business. So what we got in 1967 was an album packed with styles and ideas all pushing for attention, all screaming the same message; I’m here and you better take note.

The original release of “Are You Experienced” on the 19 May 1967 [see note above]  was initially as a mono mix on Track Records. For us in the U.K. we would have to wait until Track Records released its Backtrack series before we got a flavour of the stereo mix, a full three and a half year wait for this original song listing to be presented to us in a mix, the mix that Hendrix had the vision for. Even then, we missed out on 3rd Stone From The Sun in all of its stereophonic glory.

The tracks that got dropped by the “suits” in the U.S.A. Red House, Remember and Can You See Me are all of the mono mixes. Only Remember was to show up soon after, on Smash Hits Reprise MS 2025, albeit with a different lead vocal, with no stereo mix ever being made available for either of the takes of Red House or Can You See Me. 

Of course, Mike Jeffery would need little convincing to conclude to a revised track listing if he was working to the premise of greater sales! While those business calls sure had a long and resonating outcome, I’m far from convinced that the original album as is would not have had just a similar impact on listeners as the amended album had in the U.S.A., even if that album did contain three mono mixes. 

Of the outstanding questions regard this album [plus the US additions], the most pertinent is that of the existence of the original 4-track recordings for these songs and has this tape survived the intervening years. That, along with the mono mixed master tape for the original mono record. It’s difficult to conclude definitely but we can consider a number of valid points. Before we can do that we need to review what was recorded, when and where as these are known details [barring the occasional difference of a date] and all have a real impact on how we ended up were we are.

We can see that “Are You Experienced” as is, the original recording [as intended by Jimi Hendrix and Chas Chandler] does not exist in Jimi’s native country [other than as an import purchase]! 

What was issued in the U.S.A on the 23rd August 1967 was a same titled record that resembled the original release, simply a recreated vision, repackaged. A close approximation of the intended!

The intended and received track content, for Track Records initially and followed quickly by Barclay Records in France [to be fully determined the release date sits between 9th and 13th August 1967], is that of a mono mix only. Yet another tale hangs here, one of speculation, opinion and very few supported facts though we get to that a little later!

Are You Experienced UK [and French] track listing;

Side A

01. FOXY LADY

02. MANIC DEPRESSION

03. RED HOUSE

04. CAN YOU SEE ME

05. LOVE OR CONFUSION 

06. I DON'T LIVE TODAY 

Side B

01. MAY THIS BE LOVE 

02. FIRE

03. 3RD STONE FROM THE SUN

04. REMEMBER

05. ARE YOU EXPERIENCED

LABEL: Track Records, mono mix throughout

Are You Experienced US track listing;

Side A 

01. PURPLE HAZE 

02. MANIC DEPRESSION 

03. HEY JOE 

04. LOVE OR CONFUSION 

05. MAY THIS BE LOVE 

06. I DON'T LIVE TODAY 

Side B 

01. THE WIND CRIES MARY 

02. FIRE 

03. THIRD STONE FROM THE SUN 

04. FOXY LADY 

05. ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? 

Label: Reprise Records with issue as both stereo and mono.

Across both the Track/ Barclay Record's and Reprise Record's release’s we have the following song listing, a total of 14 titles:

3RD STONE FROM THE SUN

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED [Began life as Title #4]

CAN YOU SEE ME

FIRE

FOXY LADY

HEY JOE

I DON'T LIVE TODAY 

LOVE OR CONFUSION

MANIC DEPRESSION

MAY THIS BE LOVE [Initially titled “Waterfall” on the tape box]

PURPLE HAZE

RED HOUSE

REMEMBER

THE WIND CRIES MARY

The following is an attempt to collate and condense an overview / timeline of the recording sessions. Utilising both John McDermott’s “Ultimate Hendrix. An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions”; John McDermott with Eddie Kramer and Billy Cox, shown as “UH” when referenced, along with Gary Geldeart and Steve Rodham’s “From The Benjamin Franklin Studios” 4th Edition Parts 1 and 3, shown as "BF" when referenced. While recognising the differences that exist between publications with some detail it is fair to say these two publications are as accurate as likely to be. I have avoided my own listing [as it remains unpublished] and have, when required referenced Doug Bell’s listings,

 https://ldb-sites.neocities.org/jimi.htm. If not already done so, please book mark the site and buy the books.

Probably the best place to begin is at the start with De Lane Lea studios. While doing so be aware that I have stripped this information back from the fuller detail and any distracting information unless I felt it necessary to the overall perspective of the recording line. 

I have noted the UK release dates of the singles for the three US replacement tracks.

October 23rd 1966 Hey Joe basic takes recorded. Despite a claim from Chas Chandler in that he overdubbed the bass parts for the basic track that went on to be used, there is little if any support for this claim. John McDermott has noted in “UH” that two other studios were utilised in the completion of the recording for “Hey Joe” for the likes of backing vocal [at least] and that an accurate record of this take of the songs history is difficult to fully achieve. Recording is to one inch, four track tape.

Released as a mono mix 45 rpm single on Track Records; Friday December 16th 1966 backed with “Stone Free”, so would subsequently not be included or considered for the final original album’s track listing. This title was mixed to both stereo and mono.

December 13th 1966 Foxy Lady basic track recorded and some rough mixing at CBS studios. 

December 15th 1966 saw further rough mixing though no recording as Mitch was not in attendance on this date. Olympic Studios 3rd February 1967 saw overdubs and mixing while again at Olympic Studios the 8th February 1967 saw a complete reworking of this track, replaced bass, reductions / mixing etc. Mixed to both stereo and mono.

December 13th 1966 Red House CBS, recording and initial mix, remixed at Olympic, unspecified date. Mixed to mono only.

December 13th 1966 Can You See Me CBS, recording only. Rough mix December 15th 1967 at CBS. While this was only mixed to mono the basic instrumental was mixed to stereo with a different lead vocal.

January 11th 1967 Fire Basic track recorded at De Lane Lea and the overdubs and mixing at Olympic February 8th 1967.Vocal overdub April 3rd 1967, again at Olympic Studios. Mixed to both stereo and mono. 

January 11th 1967 Purple Haze Basic track recorded at De Lane Lea. Olympic Studios saw guitar and vocal overdubs on February 3rd 1967 and further vocal overdubs February 7th 1967. Again at Olympic Studios, February 8th 1967 saw further overdubs and mixing. * Further work may have been under taken on February 5th and 6th 1967 for this track. This track mixed to both mono and stereo. Track Records mono single 45 rpm release backed with 51st Anniversary, March 17th 1967.

January 11th 1967 3rd Stone From The Sun Basic track achieved at De Lane Lea. Olympic Studios April 4th 1967 and April 10th 1967 overdubs and mixing. Track mixed to both stereo and mono.

January 11th 1967 The Wind Cries Mary De Lane Lea basic track. This saw a release as a single 45 rpm backed with Highway Child on Track Records May 5th 1967. Mixed to both stereo and mono.

January 11th 1967 Love Or Confusion Again, a De Lane Lea initial recording followed by an overdub / mixing session at Olympic, February 8th 1967. Also, April 4th 1967 saw further work by way of a new reduction [as noted in UH, placing this song now three generations away from the original master] followed by a lead vocal and guitar part over dub before final mixing. Track mixed to both stereo and mono.

On or around February 3rd 1967 recording began at Olympic Studios. An account was secured through and in the name of Polydor Records with Olympic Studios via Chas Chandler. Though it is noted that recording for AYE was not solely at this facility from this date onward; “I Don’t Live Today” recording was initiated at De Lane Lea later in February ’67.Along with “Manic Depression” a month later in late March ’67.

February 8th 1967 Remember Olympic Studios recorded and mixed to mono only. Though this day is also when the stereo mix is attributed to though it is unknown as to when the alternate vocal was recorded and mixed.

February 20th 1967 I Don’t Live Today A basic working master achieved at De Lane Lea studios. April 3rd’67 saw mixes done at Olympic Studios.

March 29th 1967 Manic Depression Again consigned to De Lane Lea Studios the mix made on this date was rejected in favour of a later date mix. Though not documented specifically, UH does intimate that the first week of April ‘67 saw further work [at Olympic Studios] including mixing. This would have been most likely April 3rd ’67. Track mixed to both stereo and mono.

3rd April 1967 May This Be Love Olympic Studios saw initial recording on this track, initial tape box titled as Waterfall. Take 4 being the master, with guitar and two lead vocal over dubs at the same session. A final mix was archived this date. The page turning can be heard in a stereo mix, which of course never appeared on the original album’s mono take and this specific stereo mix was not included on the Reprise Records iteration of the title. For this page turning, see Barclays 7”45rpm of this song backed with 51st Anniversary and note that the song carries its original title of “Waterfall” on this French release.

3rd April 1967 Are You Experienced A start to finish recording on this date of what was initially titled, #4. 4th April 1967 saw further work with a reduction to allow for piano, backward “elements” and vocal.

One point that needs highlighting here, were the term “rough mix” or “initial mix” was claimed it is really unknown at this point if this applies to a mono, stereo or both versions. BF indicates [by noting stereo and mono () numbers that the comment applies to both stereo and mono [where both are applicable] in all cases.

April 9th and 10th 1967 saw the final mixing for “Are You Experienced”, no real detail is presented for this / these session(s).

April 24th and 25th 1967 saw the final “fixes and mixes” through the night to Are “You Experienced”. Both mono and stereo were attended to on eight songs that would appear on the original tracked album. “Foxy Lady”, “Manic Depression”, “May This Be Love”, “I Don’t Live Today”, “Fire”, “Remember”, “Third Stone From The Sun” and “Love Or Confusion”. This work done by Hendrix, Chandler and Kramer at Olympic Studios. 

This session saw final mixing and sequencing of the album. A lacquer was cut later that day, Tuesday 25th for approval from Polydor [Horst Schmaltze, head of A&R]

Mixing date detail per track. Note that, for eight tracks [listed prior], any mix done [stereo and / or mono] on the date stated in the following likely would have seen amended or redone, with the other option of even been solely undertaken on the final late night early morning session set for April 24th and into the 25th’67: 

Hey Joe, undocumented.

Foxy Lady, mixing February 8th ’67 and April 3rd ’67.

Red House, mono mix only and not documented. Details indicate that the mono mix was attended to on the day of recording, December 13th ‘66 and possibly April 3rd ’67.

Can You See Me, mixed to mono only December 15th ’67 and again final mix date unconfirmed, again April 3rd ’67 appears to the likely date for the final work.

Fire, mixing February 8th ’67 and April 3rd ’67.

Purple Haze, mixed February 8th ’67.

3rd Stone From The Sun, whilst the stereo mix is confirmed for April 10th ’67 it is likely that the mono mix was conducted at the final April 24th/ 25th ’67 session. Work on mixing may have included April 3rd ’67.

The Wind Cries Mary, no detail.

Love Or Confusion, mixed April 4th ’67. Work may have been undertaken on April 3rd’67 prior to the following day’s reduction.

Remember, mixing February 8th ’67 and April 3rd ’67.

I Don’t Live Today, mixing April 3rd ’67.

Manic Depression, mixing [most likely] April 3rd ’67.

May This Be Love, mixing April 3rd ’67. This included the alternate stereo mix utilised by Barclay Records.

Are You Experienced, mixing April 4th ’67.

For a very complex recorded album for that period, a complexity that sat in both the recording and construction of any given song, there is a clear lack of expenditure of time involved per song! With money initially tight coupled by those time limitations the organising and stewardship of Chandler clearly came to the fore. It is ironic then that Chandler would rush the final operation that sat directly within his control, a copy master tape. And it is here that we begin consideration of those tapes.

While the Barclay mono Are You Experience is clearly the preferred source for the mono release [be it the original or the bastardised U.S. iteration of the track listing] before any of this is really considered we must highlight that Barclay apparently had access to mixes / tapes that were clearly not utilised elsewhere. As we will see, there was access to two different mixed master tapes, clearly one being a copy and also as noted already, access to a completely different stereo mix of at least one track from the album.