Hello Thom! Would absolutely love this as a series, I would suggest "Hush Now" which he did with Curtis Knight or perhaps either "Somewhere"or "Inside Out" from the People, Hell and Angels album.
Still Raining, Still Dreaming Ships Passing Through The Night from Valleys Of Neptune Room Full Of Mirrors and Shame Shame Shame from West Coast Seattle Boy Album Power To Love from Band Of Gypsys (the groovy part that starts at 3.50 is goldd)
I was once chatting to a girl in university and she asked me who my favourite artist/band was. I told her Jimi Hendrix. She said "Oh, I love Jimi Hendrix!" Me thinking that she was just trying to impress me asked "What's your favourite song?" She said Pali Gap! At the time, I hadn't heard it before! Felt very humbled.
@@JimmyBags69 A person who knows Pali Gap is a special person, indeed. Means you took the time to look beyond the hits, the icon, the hype. That's not a bad "single song" to know. It's a single song that points to perhaps the knowledge and appreciation of SEVERAL songs. So, it does depend...
Yes, Villanova Junction demonstrates what separates Hendrix from his peers- the ability to improvise so perfectly that it sounds like a well written part. Things that take me a week to figure out he just played naturally- it just flowed out of him! Musical genius of the highest order.
Pali Gap is great! Some other lesser known tracks I love " Hey Baby ( New Rising Sun)" , " Have You Ever Been ( to Electric Ladyland " , " Drifting ". I could go on and on, Hendrix is an amazing artist.
One of my favorite Hendrix tunes is Machine Gun. Hendrix was a prolific recordist. He never signed a contract that disallowed him from recording. Every year on his birthday I play 24 hours of Hendrix on my internet radio station. In 24 hours I can play about 1/5th of my Hendrix collection, play no commercially released tracks, and never play any track more than once.
It really is amazing the amount of recorded material. So grateful he was truly driven to express himself now we all get to hear him on demand forever. What a gift. I'm a machine gun junkie also. Never could there be a more incredible song imo. Every time it was a one off improvisation and they're all my favorite
I love Pali Gap very much. It is a cut through from one side of the island to another in Oahu, Hawaii. Like Villanova Junction, Jimi’s instrumentals are enough to make you cry. They are so beautiful.
Anything from the "blues" compilation album. The guitar playing is incredible.. "Born under a bad sign" , "jam 292" , "once I had a woman" to name a few. This album to me is the essence of hendrix.
If I had to pick only one song and guitar solo as his best, it would be "Bold as Love"...but good thing...I give myself permission to pick more than one! Like 'Pali Gap' and 'Hey Baby", 'Watchtower', 'Little Wing' and 'Voodoo Child'
Yup. I agree. Was at the dentist about 20 years ago. It was playing on his overhead system. I was like, "Damn, who is that, it sounds like Hendrix?" Pali Gap, what a song. I never would have known about this song had it not been for that day.
Yeah totally agree love that slow one .. (was always hoping a SRV version would emerge from the abundant online goldmine of rarities, bootlegs, etc.. that we now have)
I can't tell you how cool it is to hear a sound coming from my guitar that actually kinda reminds me a bit of hendrix. And it's all because of you, thanks...
I remember reading an interview with Billy Cox in which he says 'Pali Gap' was just a jam in the studio they played warming up to record 'Hey Baby'. Of course Jimi's unparalleled genius made it a desert island track and his prefectionism made him produce the overdubbed version you hear on Rainbow Bridge. If you listen carefully to the ending and to the beginning of 'Hey Baby', you can discern there is a segue...although the tracks were put on opposite sides of the LP...they belong together as some of the most scintillating guitar work in recording history.
@Bluesharp! it is on the Anthology box set, he plays an instrumental titled Bolero then goes straight into the Hey Baby studio recording, it is essentially one take but it is split into two tracks
Eternal thanks Thom for this! Not only is this my favorite Hendrix song, but my favorite song of all. I'm listening to it regularly since I bought the Rainbow Bridge Lp as a hippy-teen at Parkpop in the 90's. Never dared to figure out how to play it, until this video. I can't believe someone took the the time and effort to make a video like you did. Thanks again, off to practicing now!!!
Rainbow Bridge album....a gateway into great Hendrix: Pali Gap and the Berkeley Hear My Train a Comin' as well as Room Full of Mirrors. Pali Gap in my top 5.
So many great lesser known Jimi tunes. The instrumental Pali Gap was named for the area on the island of Oahu. The Pali is at the top of the Koalua mountain range were tourist can pull over and enjoy the view of the windward side (East side) of Oahu. It is a gap in the mountain were roads were made to get from Honolulu (leeward side) over the mountain to the Windward side. During Jimi's trip to Hawaii he played on the island of Oahu and then was recorded live on the island of Maui for the movie Rainbow Bridge. There is a scene in the movie were to hippies go up to the Pali and slide down a hillside full of grass and mud while the wind blows extremely hard. The Pali is known for the wind blowing up the side of the mountain and can lift a person off their feet. A amazing place.
I love the (often-overlooked) War Heroes album, a highlight is Midnight which is just a treasure trove of tones, incredible use of effects (unbelievable for the time) and just burning soloing.
Pali Gap is an impromptu jam during the July 1st 1970 session. As Dolly Dagger fell apart Billy Cox played a bassline from Gimme Some Loving by Spencer Davis Group. Jimi and Mitch in turn fell into the jam. There is clearly more to the master recording than the 4-5 mins that was released, according to Eddie Kramer almost 10 minutes. Jimi then added more guitar parts and at one point in the track he folds the rhythm and lead in and out, (rhythm takes over lead and back again). An absolutely beautiful track. It was Michael Jeffrey who came up with the name 'Pali Gap' when the tapes were been mixed for the Rainbow Bridge album and film.
I like those particular songs, played by Hendrix, quite a bit, too (of course, All Along...was written bt Dylan, and Red House is a traditional song, but Pali Gap and Little Wing are both Hendrix original compositions). I also love the Voodoo Chile jam on Electric Ladyland, where he goes back n forth, in the studio jam, with Steve Winwood, on keyboard. And, of course, Purple Haze--his first big hit in the U.S. But I listened endlessly to Red House, in the summer of '72, and All Along...during the previous school year, as well as Voodoo Chile. And, when I got my copy of Axis Bold As Love, and listened to it, endlessly, in the summer of '72, right after my sophomore year in college, I absolutely LOVED Little Wing--and always regretted how it was shortened--and seemed to be cut off. (I always wished that he'd recorded a longer studio version, of Little Wing--the most beautiful love song!)
Great song! I have been a Hendrix fan for 30+ years, yet only discovered this song a decade or so ago. It instantly became one of my all-time favorites!
Awesome Nice study! Brought back memories too. As a youngster; I used to listen to that track (from Rainbow Bridge album) over & over again. The riff, "textures" and rhythms Jimi laid down with his guitar(s) are so addictive. Thanks and keep up the fantastic work!
Omg! I heard this song on my brothers vinyl collection in the 80’s and the riff stuck with me as I was playing bass at the time. You are spot on about Hendrix songs that never get radio time. There are plenty and this is truly a gem as you point out. Love your lessons, so insightful. I always pick up great stuff! Thank you!
People ask why is jimi the best. Just look at that catalog you put up, the pic of all those albums, shit loads of completely original ideas, and he did all this in four years, l cant see anyone else even coming close to that
One of my favorite Hendrix songs from South Saturn Delta a master piece album. Pali Gap takes you on a psychedelic journey, forgot the sliding hamer on intro, but nicely done.
What a fantastic lesson! I don't know how I missed it. But I just came across it and I was waiting for you to say this song and it is one of my favorite. I can honestly say that I had goosebumps as I watched you play that teaching a fantastic lesson wow thank you man keep rocking
So glad to see you feature this song! While the original may have "just" been a jam, it shows one of the directions Hendrix was headed in at the time he died. I've been listening to it since the late 80s and love it to this day!
BTW, the Pali is part of a mountain ridge you cross while driving from Honolulu to the north side of the island (my home state). Hendrix loved Hawaii, and filmed Rainbow Bridge there.
True enough. However, Hendrix never named the song. The title came from the much (and rightly) maligned Michael Jeffrey. He gave the composition that moniker to make a connection to Hawaii on the "Rainbow Bridge" LP, which was itself released in that form to satisfy the contractual obligation for a "soundtrack" to the film of the same name - even though it wasn't a soundtrack at all!
When I clicked on the video I did not think you would say Pali gap. I said yes! My co workers was like what happen I said oh nothing just happy. Lol. I know im gonna sound little crazy but the first time I heard Pali gap was 2014 and a had a half of joint and saw a glimpse of my future while this song was playing lmao. Towards the middle/end it’s part where the guitar sounds like it’s trying to say it’s not over yet. Second favorite song hey baby ( new rising sun ) All the versions.
Burning of the Midnight Lamp is an absolute masterpiece in every way but especially sonically. Way ahead of its time. The wah-wah solo gets me every time.
Power to love. Is that considered obscure? Cannot stop listening to that over and over again. A few bars into it when he shouts 'yeaahhh' just off the mic as if he's rustling the notes out is just pure gold.
One Rainy Wish, Sweet Angel, Earth Blues....so many really really good tracks that don't get enough attention. PS I think Sweet Angel is the epitome of his clean style
I’ve loved Pali Gap since I first heard it in the mid-70s. You say it’s a simple jam. I say it’s a jazz fusion version of a Bach fugue. Castles Made of Sand is a lesser known Hendrix song. The lyrics are an outstanding poem just by themselves. The rhythm guitar work is classic Hendrix magic. But the coolest part is the lead guitar he recorded backwards then superimposed on the song. His imagination was nearly boundless.
Love Pali Gap, beautiful song. Any chance of a video on maggot brain by funkadelic? Or on Eddie Hazel in general? Absolutely doesn't get enough credit, great video once again man!
@james2774 Yeah, apparently Noel went around after the show looking for any drugs he could get his hands on and the second show was better. First show was apparently sub-par. 🙂
So glad you picked this one. Your channel is truly standout. The other deep cut that sticks out is over the rainbow off crash landing. South saturn might be the best posthumous album.
That tone is absolutely killer. Im not a strat fan but you cant get there without one! I didn't know about this track so it's a great heads up. Thanks!
