Jimi Hendrix’s last months were about expanding his musical legacy, including recording his final song.
The iconic musician left us at 27 and spent his final days passionately crafting music in the studio. He would spend hours wielding his guitar like a determined artist destined for everlasting recognition.
Hendrix was at his peak when he passed away. His last recording emerged just a month before his untimely departure.
One of his boldest and most enduring ventures was the establishment of Electric Lady Studios. This state-of-the-art recording haven in Greenwich Village’s heart would be a creative sanctuary.
Tragically, by the time the studio was fully ready in 1970, the guitarist had only ten weeks to inhabit the space before his demise. In that short span, Hendrix unleashed an onslaught of creativity, churning out mind-blowing material with astonishing speed.
Eddie Kramer, Hendrix’s longtime studio engineer, who had collaborated with the legendary guitarist since “Are You Experienced,” recalled those final studio sessions.
He noted that he had never seen Hendrix so engrossed in his work. “We had two closets stacked with Jimi Hendrix tapes, from floor to ceiling, filled with all the jams and recordings we had done,” Kramer reminisced. “He would say, ‘Retrieve that takeover there.’ Or ‘Go to that section, yeah, stop. That’s what we need.'”
The sessions typically commenced at 8 p.m. They often extended into the late hours of the night, only to begin anew the following day.
Kramer observed a significant transformation in Jimi’s approach, as his dedication to his craft bordered on obsession. “In the past, we’d schedule sessions at the Record Plant for seven, and he wouldn’t show up until midnight because he was jamming somewhere.
At Electric Lady, we’d set a session for seven; he’d often be there early. He’d get her a chair if he saw a lady standing in the control room. The man was genuinely courteous – and immensely proud of the space.”
However, his studio time was abruptly cut short. His booking agent arranged European tour dates, putting Hendrix’s album plans on hold.
Rock music historians often debate the exact date of the final session, claiming it occurred on August 22nd when Hendrix recorded a demo for “Belly Button Window.” However, the musician wasn’t scheduled to fly to London for another five days and returned to Electric Lady to record the instrumental track “Slow Blues.”
As is often the case with the somewhat hazy facts of rock and roll’s heyday, the date remains uncertain. As per the statements of Liner, the recording date was on August 20th.
For decades, the song remained unheard by the public until the release of “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” compilation in 2000, which included “Slow Blues” as the closing track. It’s a raw recording, clearly impromptu, yet it is entrancing.
Less than a month later, Hendrix tragically left us shortly after his captivating Isle of Wight Festival performance. “Slow Blues” is the final testament to Hendrix’s presence in a recording studio.
