Personnel: Jimi Hendrix (vocals, guitar, flute, kazoo, piano, harpsichord, glockenspiel, bass); Dave Mason (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Noel Redding (bass, background vocals); Billy Cox (bass); Mitch Mitchell (drums, percussion); Graham Nash (feet).

Producers include: Chas Chandler, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, Mitch Mitchell, John Jansen.

Compilation producer: Janie Hendrix, John McDermott.

Engineers: Dave Siddle, Eddie Kramer, Mike Ross.

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE [BOX] consists principally of previously unreleased alternate takes & mixes, studio demos and live tracks, and comes with an 80-page booklet.

Personnel includes: Jimi Hendrix (vocals, guitar, harpsichord, bass); Larry Lee (guitar); Paul Caruso (harmonica); Larry Young (organ); Billy Cox, Noel Redding (bass, background vocals); Buddy Miles, Mitch Mitchell (drums, percussion, background vocals); Juma Sulton, Jerry Velez (percussion); Graham Nash, Andy Fairweather Low, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, Arthur & Albert Allen, Chas Chandler, Gary Walker, The Ronettes, Roger Chapman (background vocals).

Producers: Jimi Hendrix, Rune Hallberg, Chas Chandler, Lou Adler.

Compilation producers: Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, John McDermott.

Engineers include: Eddie Kramer, RTE, Gary Kellgren.

Includes liner notes by Dave Marsh & John McDermott.

Digitally remastered by Eddie Kramer & George Marino (Sterling Sound, New York, New York).

Containing interviews with the legendary guitarist as well as with the Experience's drummer and bassist Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, EXPERIENCE also includes live recordings of one of Jimi Hendrix's final performances, at London's Albert Hall.

The Hendrix family continues its reissue campaign with the release of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, a lavish four-disc box set that should be a boon to Hendrix collectors everywhere. With a beautiful 80-page booklet, and purporting to have 46 unreleased tracks, further inspection actually reveals less than meets the eye, at least for collectors.

The problem is that real collectors have already heard most of this material, and not only through bootleg sources. Many of the previously unreleased tracks are just new mixes of live tracks that were issued as part of Stages, Live at Monterey, and Lifelines. Also included is a new mix of the "Gloria" single. While the sound quality is somewhat better (handled by the expert Eddie Kramer), the new mixes do not differ substantially from the earlier versions. With the inclusion of virtually all of In the West, and a few quality tracks from Rainbow Bridge and Crash Landing (without the wretched mid-'70s overdubs), The Jimi Hendrix Experience almost seems like a shelf-clearing exercise, taking care of the leftover tracks that fans have been clamoring for en masse.

Other tracks have been available on bootleg recordings but have been lovingly remixed by Kramer. "Taking Care of No Business," a great tune similar in feel to "My Friend," has been stripped of the posthumous horn overdubs that marred the first appearances of this song. "Country Blues" and "It's Too Bad" (a slow blues with organist Larry Young) are quality studio jams that sound great with a proper mixing job.

The real highlights of the set are the early studio outtakes, presumably from the cache that Chas Chandler withheld from Alan Douglas for so many years. (You'll recall that Douglas claimed complete control of Hendrix's recorded legacy until that was overturned in 1995 and reverted to Al Hendrix.) Some of these tracks are versions recorded prior to the version that ended up being released, giving an interesting glimpse into the evolution of some of Hendrix's songs, in some cases, like "Room Full of Mirrors," differing drastically from the known release. Other tunes are alternate mixes ("Purple Haze," "If Six Was Nine") that give indications of the type of studio experimentation that Hendrix, Kramer, and Chandler were undertaking. "Little Wing" and "Bold As Love" are given powerful instrumental readings, as the band locks in the arrangement prior to their respective master takes. In addition, the cool proto version of "Angel" called "Sweet Angel" (released on the South Saturn Delta compilation) is revisited, restoring the 15 or so seconds that were missing, and with a better mix, created from the recently discovered multi-track recordings. Interestingly, one of the most enjoyable aspects of these studio outtakes is the control room banter that takes place. There isn't a ton of it, but there are some highly enjoyable moments. At the end of "Purple Haze," Hendrix starts to giggle and throws in "Mary Had a Little Lamb." The version of "Third Stone From the Sun" has Chandler and Hendrix's recording of the spoken bits used on the song, tacked on to the beginning. It's great to hear Hendrix cracking up throughout their interstellar conversation.

Another moment subtly hints at the frictions that were to end up dissolving the Chandler-Hendrix partnership. After seven minutes of take 21 of "Bold As Love," Hendrix is heard to say, "let's try it one more time, alright?" to which Chas Chandler dejectedly replies with a groan.

The book itself is wonderful; all tracks are fully documented and annotated, with lots of photos, many previously unpublished. There are also recording studio log sheets, newspaper articles, poster/flyers, and Hendrix's handwritten lyrics reproduced. All in all, The Jimi Hendrix Experience is a fine addendum to the Hendrix legacy, but not the place to start; this is a set for someone who already has the studio albums and can't get enough of his genius. The disappointment a hardcore collector might feel at having heard most of this material already should be outweighed by the beautiful, warm sound achieved by Eddie Kramer and the general high quality of the package. ~ Sean Westergaard

This compilation just misses being the perfect single-CD Jimi Hendrix anthology, and it's a crying shame because it comes so close. Its main virtue is that, in contrast to Smash Hits -- the only compilation of Hendrix's work approved by the artist -- it extends its reach past 1968. The last of the tracks come from the abortive First Rays of the New Rising Sun album, left unfinished at the time of his death, and show off a more R&B and soul-oriented sound than Hendrix was generally known for -- and are worth the price of the disc by themselves. In fact, some of these cuts recall Hendrix's history with the Isley Brothers, but done his way, with the range of sounds that he was generating in 1970. The disc concludes with the obligatory live version of "The Star Spangled Banner" from Woodstock, which is of massive historical and cultural importance. Where it falls short is by leaving out "Can You See Me" and "Remember," which are on Smash Hits -- it's a pity because the presence of two of those cuts (which, in fairness, can be found on Are You Experienced?) would make this compilation perfect in most respects. ~ Bruce Eder

This collection represents the essential items of the Jimi Hendrix catalog. Each selection illustrates Hendrix's uniqueness as both guitarist and composer. In the '60s, he virtually defined rock guitar, remaking history in his own image. His mix of blues, psychedelia and Dylanesque folk-rock made him a rock & roll icon.

It's in the surreal balladry of "The Wind Cries Mary." It's in the archetypal hard-rock cadences of "Purple Haze." It's in everything this electric guitar prodigy laid his talented hands on. Those unfamiliar with Hendrix's legacy are fortunate to have EXPERIENCE HENDRIX as a guide.

The Jimi Hendrix catalogue has been diced and sliced so many ways over the years that only the most cynical record executives could possibly envision another box set of the same old material. Thankfully, this four-disc box entirely avoids the pre-existing body of work that's been presented to Hendrix fans innumerable times in the past.

Rolling Stone (9/28/00, p.54) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The Rolls Royce of posthumous Hendrix sets....a vivid telling of a remarkable life in motion....with a windfall of stage and studio rarities..."

Entertainment Weekly (12/1/00, p.100) - "...These songs are so durable, and the differences between these and preexistent versions so irresistible...that before long you've fallen under their spell once more..." - Rating: B+

Q (12/00, p.143) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Fine and dandy....these are all-weather pop songs, full of flash but never outstaying their welcome..."

Q (11/00, p.130) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The kind of thing that completists would pawn the wife's jewellery for....much more than just a bunch of out-takes....Out of this world."

Uncut (10/00, p.82) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...One is left reeling by the sheer quantity of ground-breaking stuff packed into so brief a time. The best of this music is pure incandescence, and no one wanting to get the measure of Jimi Hendrix should be without it..."

Mojo (Publisher) (10/00, pp.116-7) - "...For anyone interested in Hendrix and the '60s...it is mandatory....Mutable, fiery, expansive, Hendrix rarely played anything the same way twice..."