Dagger Records is proud to release Jimi Hendrix Experience: Paris 67 for Record Store Day (November 26). This 150-gram red-and-blue colored vinyl LP presents the original Jimi Hendrix Experience lineup–Hendrix, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell in peak form at the famed Olympia Theater in Paris on October 9, 1967.
This live recording documents Hendrix’s triumphant return to Paris almost one year to the date of their 1966 showcase as a burgeoning support act for Johnny Hallyday. Now in place of Hallyday’s audience were more than 14,000 screaming Jimi Hendrix Experience admirers. In his own inimitable fashion, Hendrix graciously acknowledged his audience for their early support. “Thank you very much for last year, for letting us play here,” prefaced Hendrix before starting “The Wind Cries Mary.” “Instead of booing us off the stage you gave us a chance, so thank you very much.”
These recordings capture the verve and exuberant spirit displayed by the group. Jimi kicks off the performance with a rousing “Stone Free,” known to his fans as the flip side of his debut single “Hey Joe”. “The Wind Cries Mary” finds Jimi in fine voice, showcasing his deft touch with slow ballads. The raucous “Catfish Blues,” Jimi’s unique hybrid of Muddy Waters’ classic “Still A Fool,” was another early-stage favorite of the Experience.
For the first time, tracks from this Paris concert that were previously only available on The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set from 2000 (aka the purple box) are re-integrated with several other tracks recorded that night, making Jimi Hendrix Experience: Paris 67 the most complete official release of the October 9, 1967 set to date.
Dagger Records was founded by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. in 1998 as an ‘official bootleg’ label, providing fans throughout the world with additional live performances, home demos and studio recordings not issued on commercial albums. With over a dozen vinyl and CD titles to date, the imprint is an invaluable resource for devotees who want to dig deeper than the standard Jimi Hendrix catalog. Apart from special, limited edition vinyls such as this release, Dagger titles are not available in retail stores or via digital services such as Amazon Music, Spotify and Tidal but only via jimihendrix.com.
Titles in the Dagger series are intended to provide Hendrix’s fans with new appreciation and insights for his songwriting explorations, found on each of Dagger’s Morning Symphony Ideas (a collection of 1969 and 1970 demo recordings), Hear My Music, and Burning Desire. The live albums in the series include historically significant events such as his final concert at the Isle Of Fehmarn on September 6, 1970 and March 1968 Capitol Theater performance captured on Live In Ottawa that Jimi himself recorded. Dagger also offers a peek into Jimi’s pre-Experience days as a member of Harlem-based R&B musician Curtis Knight’s band with Live At George’s Club 20 1965-1966 and No Business: Curtis Knight & The Squires: The PPX Sessions, Volume 2.
These informative ‘bootleg’ releases are properly annotated, complete with photos, liner notes and the best possible sonic quality available and offer invaluable exposure to Hendrix’s musical mastery.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Paris 67 tracklist
Side One
1) Stone Free
2) Hey Joe
3) Fire
4) Catfish Blues
5) The Wind Cries Mary
Side Two
1) Rock Me Baby
2) Red House
3) Purple Haze
4) Wild Thing
Compilation produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer & John McDermott for Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.
