Oldish Psych and Prog

 

Two months later, Redding would make the next move. Immediately following the final concert of the Experience's US tour in Denver, June 29, 1969, the bassist elected to leave the group and return to London. He would join Fat Mattress, a collection of his old friends and serve full time as their guitarist.
Redding's swift departure effectively severed his ties with Hendrix. Little contact between the two took place thereafter until an awkward February 1970 Experience `reunion,' wholly orchestrated by Hendrix's manager Michael Jeffery, ended almost immediately after it was proposed. Hendrix made his preference for Billy Cox clear and Redding was left to focus on developing a solo career.
Chronologically, Noel Redding: The Experience Sessions begins with "She's So Fine," the song that announced Noel's emergence as a composer. In addition to the original Axis: Bold As Love album cut, The Experience Sessions presents the instrumental backing track that reveals just how intensely Hendrix and Mitchell contributed to Redding's effort.
The same December 1967 sessions from which "Crosstown Traffic" would materialize also yielded "Dream". Here, Hendrix and Redding switched instruments with Jimi providing extraordinary accompaniment on bass. It is not known whether Redding ever returned to this intriguing demo, but its potential remains clear.
The basic rhythm track for the album opener "There Ain't Nothing Wrong" was recorded on December 28, 1967 by Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, and Traffic guitarist Dave Mason. This recording is particularly unique in that Noel, under the direction of former Jimi Hendrix Experience producer Chas Chandler in 1988, composed lyrics, recorded a lead vocal, and added new bass parts to this previously unissued Jimi Hendrix session.
A live rendition of "Red House" provides another highlight. This version, recorded at the Paris Olympia on January 29, 1968, features Redding recreating the studio take by playing bass heavy rhythm guitar in support of Hendrix.
Sessions for Electric Ladyland moved from London to New York's Record Plant in April 1968. In and around Hendrix's sessions for the album, Redding continued assembling a cache of original songs. "Little Miss Strange" was the strongest of these new works. Here the original Electric Ladyland track is presented as well as an alternate version recorded before Hendrix added his own distinctive contributions.
"Little, Little Girl" is a newly discovered gem. Early versions of both "Walking Through The Garden," which features Traffic's Chris Wood on flute, and "How Can I Live?" make their debut as part of this collection. Redding would rerecord both for Fat Mattress's 1969 self-titled debut.
In the aftermath of the Experience's two sold out performances at London's Royal Albert Hall in February 1969, the group engaged in a series of recording sessions at Olympic Studios. These two takes of "Noel's Tune" reveal another budding Redding original not previously known. Jimi provides some forceful lead guitar throughout take one. For the second, Redding was alone on guitar and throttled back the song's tempo to perhaps better fit his original creative vision. Unfortunately, Noel was unable to fully complete this song before his tenure in the Experience came to a close in June 1969.
With Noel's unexpected passing at the age of 57 on May 15, 2003, one cannot help but feel that the story of his musical legacy has only been partly told. Noel Redding: The Experience Sessions sheds valuable light on his development as a solo artist and the substance of the Noel Redding legacy.

TRACK LISTINGS:
There Ain't Nothing Wrong 3:43
Recorded: Olympic Studios, London, December 28, 1967
Previously Unreleased Recording
Little Miss Strange 2:50
Recorded: Record Plant, New York, April 20 & 24, 1968
Originally issued as part of Electric Ladyland
Walking Through The Garden 4:43
Recorded: Record Plant, New York, May 5, 1968
Previously Unreleased Recording
She's So Fine 2:38
Recorded: Olympic Studios, London, May 4, 1967
Previously Unreleased Alternate Recording
Little, Little Girl 3:01
Recorded: Record Plant, New York, May 4, 1968
Previously Unreleased Recording
How Can I Live? 4:38
Recorded: Record Plant, New York, August 27, 1968
Previously Unreleased Recording
Noel's Tune [Take 1] 4:00
Recorded: Olympic Studios, London, February 1969
Previously Unreleased Recording
Noel's Tune [Take 2] 4:00
Recorded: Olympic Studios, London, February 1969
Previously Unreleased Recording
Little Miss Strange 2:52
Recorded: Record Plant, New York, April 20 & 21, 1968
Previously Unreleased Alternate Recording
She's So Fine 2:37
Recorded: Olympic Studios, London, May 4, 1967
Originally issued as part of Axis: Bold As Love
Dream 2:19
Recorded: Olympic Studios, London, December 20, 1967
Previously Unreleased Recording
Red House 5:39
Recorded Live: L'Olympia Theatre, Paris, France, January 29, 1968
Originally issued as part of Stages.

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