Axis. Bold as Love

Axis. Bold As Love

Side A

01. EXP

02. UP FROM THE SKIES

03. SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC

04. WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW

05. AIN'T NO TELLING

06. LITTLE WING

07. IF SIX WAS NINE

Side B

01. YOU'VE GOT ME FLOATING

02. CASTLES MADE OF SAND

03. SHE'S SO FINE

04. ONE RAINY WISH

05. LITTLE MISS LOVER

06. BOLD AS LOVE

UK release, 24-11-1967, US release, January 1968 and French release (Barclay 820 167) - 29th January 1968.

Initial release of this album on Track Records was mono while a stereo version soon followed. The Reprise Records issue also saw this in both mono and stereo formats. But as with everything Hendrix things are not quite straight forward. We get two different official stereo mixes of this album. If you read Doug Bell's essay on Enhancement then you will have an understanding of which copies contain what mix. Just to give a brief recap, Track, Barclay and Reprise used what is commonly accepted the normal mix while Polydor used the German alternate stereo mix, sometimes referred to as the "safe" mix. This safe mix was also used by Polydor Japan for their initial release of this title. This safe mix found its way onto a Track Records release, Backtrack 11.

Also see studio based releases.

A brief overview of the differences found on the safe mix against the normal mix.

Side A

01.   EXP
02.    YOU GOT ME FLOATING. Vocals central and no panning of the guitar solo
03.   SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC. Different guitar panning throughout
04.   WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. Some of the guitar is central rather than panned
05.   AINT NO TELLING. Some guitar panned right rather than swapping sides
06.   LITTLE WING. That extra guitar note at 1:05
07.   IF SIX WAS NINE. Guitar and drums central rather than panned to opposite channels [after the spoken piece].

Side B
01.   YOU GOT ME FLOATING. Missing six seconds of swirling guitar intro
02.   CAN YOU SEE ME. Most of the vocals central rather than panned along with some guitar cut
03.   SHE’S SO FINE. Less panning on guitar
04.   ONE RAINY WISH. Fuzzed guitar glissade at the two minute mark
05.   LITTLE MISS LOVER. Extra guitar panning in the last thirty seconds
06.   BOLD AS LOVE. Different phasing at the end of the track

While Europe got a pre Christmas release the United States and Canada had to wait until 1968 rolled around for the New Year release. Outside of the different mixes we have with this pressing once again we have different covers.

Cover art work:

For the most part the world has used the original art work that came with this album though as usual France took a different approach and later re issues from around the globe gave us a number of variations plus some totally different covers for this album. More recently we have seen a number of "complaints" surrounding the images used in the original design which probably has lead to the removal of this album from sale in a few countries. With the original cover from Track Records and soon followed by Reprise Records we get a gatefold sleeve with the one extended picture across front and rear. A slight variation with the Reprise Records issues having extra text on the front cover, Reprise logo / cat: #, mono or stereo. It is the inner gatefold that see's the biggest difference between these two labels. While Track Records retained the minimalist approach with simply a large format black and white Donald Silverstein photograph and minimum text, Reprise Records gave us the track listing accompanied by the lyrics and a group head shot. That same head shot of the band appeared on the orange double sheet that came with the Track Records issues of the mono and stereo pressings. Much later, Experience Hendrix re issued this title in conjunction with Classic Records, MCA and Sony Legacy, all of these re issues have retained the US inner lay out. Personally, I feel they that US fans and those who do not own a copy of the original Track records pressings are to a degree missing out on what is a fantastic Silverstein shot.

Reprise Records used the Track Records insert as their basis for the inner gatefold of their pressings, the slight changes include white text on a black back ground, logo, and the header of the lay out changed to large format album and band statement. Some notable exceptions to the cover are Polydor International [Greece] which gives us a totally different cover using a head shot of Hendrix, though the actual disc label states stereo it also contains the mono 33 logo [International Polydor Production 2484014].

While the rear cover of one of my favourite pressing to listen to, even with digital in the chain, is the Carlos Olms mastering of the German mix from Polydor Records. This album came in a single sleeve utilising the front [top] of the traditional Axis cover as the front but a re designed back cover.

Some of the later Reprise Records pressings came with a different inner sleeve, here's the inner that my Canadian re press came in. I'm fairly sure other Reprise Records re issue of Hendrix titles would have included this inner, AYE as an instance. Classic Records [or at least the design team behind the Classic Records re release] took on this alternate inner idea and brought us via this mono repress in 2000 an inner containing an essay from John McDermott and an image from Monterey Pop Festival. The re issues of this album from Sony Legacy [including the 2015 pressing in a joint venture with Newbury Comics] also contained this same image inner with an essay again from McDermott.

* 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 Records and Polydor Records pressings

% = a diamond
^ = A triangle

Find out more

SIDE PICTURE: REPRISE ON ISSUE PROMO.

TRACK RECORDS 612 003 MONO

A: 612003 A > 11 12

B: 612003 B > 11 22

MACHINE STAMPED
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TRACK RECORDS 613 003 STEREO

A: 613003 A > 11 13

B: 613003 B > 11 [unknown single number]

MACHINE STAMPED
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BACKTRACK 11 2407 011 [STEREO COVER / LABEL]

A: 2407011 A>1 11 5

B: 2407011 B>1 11 6

MACHINE STAMPED

This is the "safe" German stereo mix.

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This is the "safe" German stereo mix.

POLYDOR SELECT DOUBLE 2683 031 This is the coupled double album [with ABAL] often referenced as the 2fer! UK PRESSING 1973 OR 1974

A: 2343073 A//1s420 11 11 06

B: 2343073 B//1s420 11 10 04

C: 2343074 A//1s420 11 [REVERSED 1 AND 3]

D: 2343074 B//1s420 11 12

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR SELECT DOUBLE 2683 021

GERMAN 1STPRESSING 1973

A: [UNREADABLE SYMBOL, MAYBE 3 WITH AN X STAMPED OVER ANOTHER SYMBOL OR NUMBER] 2 [P IN A CIRCLE] 1976 E7 XIXRX¯V [C ON ITS SIDE] .>X<B40>8<>5 >A< 2335 076 01 B: 1 [P

IN A CIRCLE] 1967 E7 ¯V [C ON ITS SIDE] >1<>8<>4<>0<>8<>5< >B< 2335 076 S2

C: 1 [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 ¯V [F ON ITS SIDE] 00 184110 = 2 A 239000= 2 A

D: [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 ¯V [E ON ITS SIDE] 00 184110 = 2 B [23 BOTH CROSSED OUT] 9 [000 CROSSED OUT] X2XBX 239000 = 2 B

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR SELECT DOUBLE 2683 021

GERMAN 2ND PRESSING 1973 NOTE THAT THIS VINYL IS LIGHTER THAN THE 1ST PRESSING

A: 3C [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 E7 [D ON ITS SIDE] XHXRX ¯V >1<>8<>4<>0<8<5 2335076 S1

B: 1A [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 E7 ¯V [Y ON ITS SIDE] >1<>8<>4<>0<>8<>5< >B<2335 076 S2

C: 184 110 A=1 320 1 [0*A ON THEIR SIDE]

D: 85 [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 ¯V [D ON ITS SIDE] 00 184110 = 2 B [23 CROSSED OUT] 9 [000 CROSSED OUT] 239000 = 2 B

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR SPELP3 2343 097

A: SPELP3A//1>420W

B: SPELP3B//1>420W

MACHINE STAMPED

POLYDOR ENGLAND

RELEASED 1983

This is the "safe" German stereo mix.
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POLYDOR 2489 149

A: PO 2489 149 A MT [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 410 742

B: PO 2489 149 B MT [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 410 742

POLYDOR GREECE

MACHINE STAMPED

RELEASED 1967

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This "special" Greek pressing also appeared pressed to swirled black and blue vinyl. I am unsure when the variant was released, circa 1971?

POLYDOR SPECIAL 100 2484 014

A: 2484 014 A P 1971 41 C X

B: 2484 014 A P 1971 41 CX

MACHINE STAMPED

POLYDOR GREECE

RELEASED 1971

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POLYDOR ESTEREO 184 110

MEXICO ISSUED 1970

A: 1705-1385-1A

B: 1705-1386-1A

HAND ETCHED

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POLYDOR SPECIAL 2482 119

AN ITALIAN PRESSING FROM 1973

A: 22482 119 1 1 520 1704 7416 [LOOKS LIKE 3]

B: 2//[8?]8 2482 119 2 1 520 1704 7416

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR SMP-1398

JAPAN 1969 2ND PRESS HAS OBI AND ONE SIDED LYRIC INSERT

A: [P IN A CIRCLE] SLPM-1398A A--1--6 [I IN A CIRCLE] 81PK

B: [P IN A CIRCLE] SLPM-1398B A--1--6 [H IN A CIRCLE] 8PK

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR 2486 029

HOLLAND RE-ISSUE

A: C [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 %V 00 184110 = 2 A 115

B: C [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 %V 00 184110 = 2 B [SET OF NUMBERS MOSTLY X OUT XX9XXX X2XBX] 239000 = 2 B 114

MACHINE STAMPED

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KARUSSELL 2499 006

GERMAN ISSUE FROM 1971

A: [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 %V[AG ON THE SIDE] 00 184110=2 A 239000=2 A

B: [P IN A CIRCLE] 1967 M7 %V[AI ON THE SIDE] 00 184110=2 B [239000 ALL X OUT] 239000=2 B

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR 10.20350

URUGUAY. TITLED AS AUDAZ COMO EL AMOR, UNKNOWN RELEASE DATE

A: 20350 A

B: 20350 B

MACHINE STAMPED

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POLYDOR INTERNATIONAL 2484014

BETTER KNOWN AS INTERNATIONAL POLYDOR PRODUCTION

GREEK. RELEASED 1971

A: 2484 014 A P 1971 410 X

B: 2484 014 B P 1971 410 X

MACHINE STAMPED

Track listed as follows;

Lado 1

EXP

DESDE LOS CIELOS

MAGIA DEL CASTILLO ESPANOL

ESPERA HASTA MANANA

NO HAY FORMA DE DECIRLO

PEQUENA ALA

SI SEIS FUESE NUEVE

Lado 2

ME HAS TENIDO FLOTANDO

CASTILLOS DE ARENA

ES TAN FINA

UN DESEO LLOVIDO

PEQUENO AMANTE AUSENTE

AUDAZ COMO EL AMOR

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BARCLAY 80 582

THIS IS THE SECOND LP FROM THE MOBIUS ART 2 LP. SEE ARE YOU EXPERIENCED FOR DISC 1 DETAILS

A: BAR 80582 A CIDIS D4 ^5

B: BAR 80582 B CIDIS DA ^4

MACHINE STAMPED

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BARCLAY 820167

A: [HAND ETCHED (V)] YBARCX 69445 820167A M6 282311

B: YBARCX 69446 820167B M6 282312

MACHINE STAMPED

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BARCLAY 0 820 167

A: HXBLY 820167A T

B: HXBLY 820167B T

HAND ETCHED

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REPRISE RS 6281 STEREO

A: 30725 RS-6281-A 1B o BX D

B: 30726 RS-6281-B 1A I D

HAND ETCHED
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REPRISE RS 6281 STEREO

CANADA

A: 30725-1A C2-D DM

B: 30725-1A C2-DO

HAND ETCHED

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Picture run through: Same cover [inner / outer] for the Track Records issue with insert, both mono and stereo labels. Backtrack and label followed by the “2fer” rear cover and respective label. Following these, the SPELP single sleeve and label, sleeve and label from the Mexico issue and then the Barclay issues. The first and second issued Barclay, showing covers and labels for both.

The USA cover [inner / outer] and label for a tan label mono, the inner sleeve [front / rear] from a Canadian issued ABAL and finally here, an 80’s re-issue cover [showing bar code] with label.

SIDE PICTURE: HIT WEEK POLYDOR PROMO GERMANY FROM ISSUE

EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS 612 003

RELEASED 2000, 180gm MONO.

A: 612003 [R-6281A CROSSED OUT] BG

B: 612003 [R-6281 CROSSED OUT] B BG

HAND ETCHED
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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS 612003

180gm TEST PRESSING RTI FEBRUARY 29 2000. R-6281 A/B WITH RTI PRINTED LABEL ON SIDE A.

A: R-6281 A BG

B: R-6281 B BG

HAND ETCHED

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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / CLASSIC RECORDS 612 003

MONO 200gm 2008 RE-ISSUE TEST PRESSING

This re-issue, shown here as a test pressing has a slightly different pressing profile to the 2000 issue. There also exists a copy in the same profile and vinyl weight but on Clarity vinyl. The latter exists as a test pressing, possibly a few more but it was never issued on Clarity vinyl.

A: 612003 [R-6281A CROSSED OUT] BG

B: 612003 [R-6281 CROSSED OUT] B BG

HAND ETCHED
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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / MCA (UNIVERSAL) MCA-11601

BACK TO BLACK RELEASED 1997

A: MCA-11601-LP1-A-1 RJ/GM [STERLING STAMPED] 17683.1(3)

B: MCA-11601-LP1-B-1 RJ/GM [STERLING STAMPED] 17683.2(3)

HAND ETCHED
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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / SONY LEGACY 88697 62396 1

NUMBERED ISSUE **** OF 5000 RELEASED 2010

A: 88697623961-A 18782.1(3) [STERLING STAMPED]

B: 88697623961-B 18782.2(3) [STERLING STAMPED]

HAND ETCHED
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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / SONY LEGACY LC 02361/88875134521

180 GRM “WE ARE VINYL” STICKER ON COVER. GERMAN COVER DATED 2010 / BOUGHT 2017. FROM PARTS SUPPLIED BY RTI. CONTAINS BOOKLET.

A: 88697623961-A [STERLING STAMPED] 18782.1(3) .- 13984 1A

B: 88697623961-B [STERLING STAMPED] 18782.2(3) .- 13984 1B

HAND ETCHED

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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / LEGACY MONO 88765419711

RELEASED 2013

NUMBERED ISSUE ****

A: 88765419711-A BG

B: 88765419711-B BG

HAND ETCHED
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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / LEGACY / NEWBURY COMICS MONO 88765419711

ORANGE VINYL NUMBERED ISSUE **** OF 2500. RELEASED 10-05-2015

A: 88765419711-A BG

B: 88765419711-B BG

HAND ETCHED
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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / SONY LEGACY-MUSIC/ MOV MONO 88765419711

COVER DATED 2013 BUT STICKERED AS RE-ISSUE 2015. MOV CUT / PRESSED

A: 95034 2A MOVLP 723 [HAND ETCHED 88765419711-[AM MIXED, ERROR ETCH] OV-A BG]

B: 95034 1B MOVLP 723 [HAND ETCHED 88765419711-MOV-B ]

MACHINE STAMPED

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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / SONY LEGACY-MUSIC / UNICEF MONO 19075911191

UNICEF CYAN BLUE NUMBERED OF 50. MOV CUT / PRESSED, THIS SHOWS THE STEREO GATEFOLD SLEEVE AND THE STEREO LABELS BUT IS MONO.

A: 95034 2A MOVLP 723 [HAND ETCHED 88765419711-[AM MIXED, ERROR ETCH] OV-A BG] [FOLLOWING SCRATCHED TO PLATE B152149-0^ A1 VI]

B: 95034 1B MOVLP 723 [HAND ETCHED 88765419711-MOV-B ] [FOLLOWING SCRATCHED TO PLATE B152149-0^ B^ VI]

MACHINE STAMPED

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Picture run through: Classic Records from 2000, front, label and inner sleeve [front / rear] and reissue from 2008 test pressing followed by the ’97 Back To Black issue front, label and booklet. The Sony licenced 2010 shows front cover and label and the now revised booklet and the German “We Are Vinyl” duplicated pressing, front and label. Following on with the 2013 mono issue; front, label and inner sleeve [front / rear]. Newbury Comics coloured vinyl follows with front and record.

Added, the test pressing from RTI for the initial release of the 2000 mono along with front and record of the UNICEF pressing.

ULTRA HIGH QUALITY RECORDS

EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / SONY LEGACY - MUSIC / ANALOGUE PRODUCTIONS STEREO UHQR 0001 19075812451

200 GRAM CLARITY FLAT VINYL NUMBERED ISSUE 00**** OF 5000. COVER DATE 2018, RELEASED MAY 2019

A: UHQR 0001 A2 19075812451-A2 BG

B: UHQR 0001 19075812451-B BG

HAND ETCHED

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EXPERIENCE HENDRIX / SONY LEGACY - MUSIC / ANALOGUE PRODUCTIONS MONO UHQR 0002 19075812461

200 GRAM CLARITY FLAT VINYL NUMBERED ISSUE 000*** OF 1500. COVER DATE 2018, RELEASED MAY 2019

A: UHQR 0002 A2 19075812461-A2 BG [QRP STAMPED]

B: UHQR 0002 19075812461-B BG

HAND ETCHED

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Picture run through: Stereo box front, full sleeve and record. Followed by the mono box front, inner and record. The booklet that is generic to both along with the technical data insert, certificate and team insert. Finally the upcoming UHQR insert.

Ultra High Quality Record