Classic Albums Review: Band of Gypsys

Fitting to his legendary status, Jimi Hendrix was prolific until the (unexpected) last year of his life in 1970. Even after his band the Jimi Hendrix Experience dissolved in the summer of 1969, Hendrix immediately sought after new musicians to further explore his musical talent. Band of Gypsys, released and recorded live in early 1970, is the product of Hendrix’s short-lived three-piece group “Band of Gypsys.” With Buddy Miles on drums and long-time friend and colleague Billy Cox on bass, Band of Gypsys is a different side of Hendrix that falls short of his previous achievements.

The album, in contrast with Hendrix’s previous work, is largely funk- and R&B-based as opposed to rock. While some of the album’s songs seem lackluster in structure, credit must be given to the band; only a few months of practice and forming material and they still shine here and there with lengthy jams and thoughtful hooks. The second track “Machine Gun,” for instance, is an aural attack with unimaginable tones from Hendrix’s guitar that subtly inserts blues influence within the obvious anti-war theme of the song. Overall, Hendrix’s guitar playing is as crazy and mesmerizing as ever.

Where the album becomes mediocre is the inclusion of two Buddy Miles tracks. Actually, Miles’ contribution to the album in general is disappointing compared to the drumming of Mitch Mitchell (former member of the Hendrix Experience). While it’s nice to have a bit of soul infused into the LP, Miles’ drumming is drab and his vocals uninteresting. To Buddy Miles’ credit, “Changes,” one of his original songs, has a pretty explosive conclusion (the rest of the song is not not so great, though). Some of the same can be said of Billy Cox, who does not have the same vigor as Noel Redding (the other third of the Hendrix Experience) but does not overwhelm you in the same sense as Buddy Miles.

Hendrix definitely lost something major when the Experience broke up, and that’s evident on this live album. Despite this, Hendrix shines as bright as ever. It’s also admirable to see him shifting style not only in genre, but in his more reflective songwriting (such as in “Message to Love”). What’s important – from an artistic perspective – is that Hendrix was growing as a musician, which makes his premature death all the more tragic. So, if you’re a Hendrix fan, it’s definitely worth checking out Band of Gypsys. If you’re just a casual listener looking for something amazing, however, you may want to check out Hendrix’s earlier work.