Jimi Hendrix — Axis Outtakes

Axis Outtakes

Purple Haze

Keith Carman (CHARTattack)

12/16/2003 8:08am

Dubious at best, this "unearthed collection of gems" from 1967’s Axis: Bold As Love recording sessions mars the Hendrix legend. It features echo-laden album tracks that are poorly remixed and scratch pre-production tracks/alternate vocal takes that even collectors would find painful to listen to more than once. The question here isn’t Hendrix’s performance. Naturally he is enigmatic and frustratingly awesome even on off-the-cuff material ("Takin’ Care Of No Business," "Driving South") and the rough take of "Little Wing" alone is drool-worthy. But why a second disc comprised of previously released — and forgotten — crap like the abominable "Three Little Bears," where even Hendrix says it’s "dumb" mid-song? The question really lies in what Purple Haze is trying to prove if the Hendrix family (keepers of Jimi’s work) was adamant about having their name on this. They’re called outtakes because Hendrix wanted them taken out. How does that merit releasing them as an album?