Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision
Documentary Set For August Release From Abramorama
By Harvey Kubernik
Abramorama has announced that they have acquired
global theatrical distribution rights to the full-length
documentary Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix
Vision from Experience Hendrix L.L.C. Abramorama previously
distributed two other Jimi Hendrix documentaries, Electric Church and
the 2022 Grammy nominated Music, Money, Madness: Jimi Hendrix Live In
Maui. An August release is planned, starting in New York City at
the Quad on August 9, 2024, followed by a global roll out.
Evan Saxon, Abramorama’s President and Head of
International Distribution states, “Abramorama is honored to once again
collaborate with Experience Hendrix L.L.C, this time to share an
insightful and never before seen documentary about one of the most famous
recording studios in the world. Listen to an hour’s worth of music
on your favorite playlist, DSP or radio station and odds are at least one
of the songs was recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios.”
Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision chronicles
the creation of the studio, rising from the rubble of a bankrupt
Manhattan nightclub to becoming a state-of-the-art recording facility
inspired by Hendrix’s desire for a permanent studio. Electric Lady
Studios was the first ever artist owned commercial recording studio.Hendrix had first envisioned creating
an experiential nightclub. He was inspired by the short-lived
Greenwich Village nightspot Cerebrum whose patrons donned flowing robes
and were inundated by flashing lights, spectral images and swirling
sound. Hendrix so enjoyed the Cerebrum experience that he asked its
architect John Storyk to work with him and his manager Michael
Jeffery.
Hendrix and Jeffery wanted to transform what had once been
the Generation Club into ‘an electric studio of participation’.
Shortly after acquiring the Generation Club lease however, Hendrix was
steered from building a nightclub to creating a commercial recording
studio.
In 2020, My brother Kenneth and I wrote the critically
acclaimed Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child.I conducted an interview with architect and acoustician John
Storyk, who oversaw the conversion and designed each structural detail
for the facility.
“Jimi wanted essentially
similar things that he had seen at Cerebrum but he wanted a lot of
curves, even the stage was curved,” Storyk told me in a 2019 interview
first published on www.cavehollywood.com.
“The ceiling had this
curving shape.It was of course in
the basement down the stairs. One of the ideas that Jimi and Eddie both
had was that in the back of the club there would be a control room that
would record everything that was happening in the club. Jimi came down
and made us replace the rectangular windows with round windows and also
replace all the doors. The studio design world of course really didn’t
really exist in 1969. Essentially, I was making with Eddie was a project
studio. 20 years before the term was even invented. It was a studio for
Jimi and musicians. The control room had full ambient lighting, colored
lights on the ceiling.
“Jimi would come down to
the construction site, usually late afternoons. That’s the only time I
would spend with Jimi,” volunteered Storyk. “I didn’t socialize with him.
I went to his shows, Band of Gypsys at the Fillmore. I saw the quiet,
respectful almost shy Jimi. Jimi would point out certain things but he
would let Eddie and I do what we wanted to do. He was very happy and had
input. He didn’t read architectural drawings very well but he had ideas
what he wanted.”
The room’s first machine
was a 16-track Ampex MM1000, wired for 24, soon converted to a 24-track
console.
On August 26, 1970, Jimi
Hendrix hosted the grand opening of his studio to friends and fellow
musicians. Attendees included Stevie Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood and
Patti Smith.
During a
session held August 27, 1970, Hendrix cut his last studio recording, an
instrumental titled “Slow Blues.”He then left with Billy Cox on
an Air India flight to London to join Mitch Mitchell for their headlining
spot at the Isle of Wight.
The Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision documentary
includes never-before-seen footage and photos as well as track breakdowns
of Hendrix classics such as “Freedom,” “Angel” and “Dolly Dagger” by
recording engineer Eddie Kramer who was awarded an Emmy for his work
on the film "Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin'."
A news release from publicist Bob Merlis provides
additional details.
“Award-winning producer / engineer and longtime Jimi
Hendrix collaborator,Eddie Kramer stated, “Jimi loved
jamming at The Generation night club in the Village and when it went
bankrupt, he and [manager] Mike Jeffery purchased it with a view to
making it a place for him and his friends to relax and possibly record
their jams on an 8-track tape machine in the corner. Soon thereafter I
was asked to evaluate the space. I remember walking down the stairs
to a demolition site as they had started to tear stuff down to see how
much bigger they could make it. I knew at once that a club would be
disastrous. I remember saying something like “You guys must be out your
#$%^&ing minds! Do you have any idea of what Jimi spends in studio
time in a year? Let’s build the best studio in the world for him so when
he walks in, he can relax and record whenever he wants. The club
idea was scratched, and Electric Lady Studios was born. By June of
the next year (1970) Studio A was completed and after a few test
sessions, Jimi came in to record in HIS studio. Man was he proud of
it. He loved the way it sounded and its vibe. We recorded many
tracks for a new album over the next 4 months which became Cry of
Love. The legacy of what Jimi wanted endures to this day: a place
where one could create without being interrupted. Every artist who
comes to Electric Lady Studios feels the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, a spirit
that helps them create their own music!”
“Directed by John McDermott and produced
by Janie Hendrix, George Scott and McDermott, the film
features exclusive interviews with Steve Winwood (who joined
Hendrix on the first night of recording at the new studio), Experience
bassist Billy Cox and original Electric Lady staff members who
helped Hendrix realize his dream. The documentary includes
never-before-seen footage and photos as well as track breakdowns of
Hendrix classics such as “Freedom,” “Angel” and “Dolly Dagger”
by Eddie Kramer.
“The documentary explains in depth that while Jimi
Hendrix’s death robbed the public of so much potential music, the
continued success of his recording studio provides a lasting legacy
beyond his own music. John Lennon, The Clash, AC/DC, Chic, David
Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and hundreds
more made records at Electric Lady Studios, which speaks to one of Jimi’s
lasting achievements in an industry that has radically changed over the
course of the last half century.
“Janie Hendrixreflects, “Jimi’s creative mind
was always filled with next level ideas. He was never content with the
ordinary but was driven by the burning desire to create something
incredible that hadn’t been done before. That was the catalyst for
Electric Lady Studios. The film, Electric Lady Studios: A
Jimi Hendrix Vision, brings to light just how forward-thinking and
inventive Jimi was in every aspect of his music, including production and
recording. It was at Electric Lady Studios where he pushed beyond the
musical limits of what was known, and he then opened the door to other
musicians, allowing them the space to realize their own artistic hopes
and dreams. My brother conceived something so amazing and so big that it
has lived on for decades since its inception, serving as a passageway for
hundreds of artists to bring their creativity to a waiting world
audience. This is what Jimi envisioned when he founded the New York
brainchild, and his prophecy is fulfilled through the countless,
brilliant musicians who have tapped into the energy of the studio Jimi
created. Legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, David
Bowie, U2, Prince, Jon Batiste, Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, D’Angelo
and so many others have produced their finest work in the inspired
recording house. This film tells the story of how the dream of a
visionary, who dared to think outside the musical box, can have a
limitless reach, generation after generation. It tells Jimi’s story with
his Electric Lady.”
An absolutely massive box set featuring Bob Dylan and
The Band performing on tour together in 1974 will be released on September 27th.
Boasting 27 discs and 431 tracks (!), it captures most of their live performances
made on that 21 city / 40 concert tour.(For all of you out there who just have to have all 27 performances of
these same songs, this box is for you!!!And, all things considered, it’s pretty darn cheap … Amazon’s got it
listed at only $129.98, which works out to just under $5 per disc.In all, the box encompasses a little over 29
hours of music, 417 tracks of which have never been commercially released
before.
The release commemorates the 50th
Anniversary of this legendary tour.
You’ll find a glowing review (and complete track
listing) here:
Jethro Tull Frontman Ian Anderson Limited Edition 10LP
Limited Box Set “8314 Boxed” Available August 23rd on Madfish Label
Included first time vinyl releases
of “Divinities: Twelve Dances With God”, “The Secret Language of Birds” and
“Rupi’s Dance”
Reissue specialist label Madfish
have shared details of “8314 Boxed”, a limited-edition deluxe box set tribute
to Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson’s treasured solo works. The package, set
for release on 23rd August, will include:
Includes exclusive first-time vinyl
releases of “Divinities: Twelve Dances with God”, “The Secret Language of
Birds” (2LP), and “Rupi’s Dance” (2LP)
“Walk Into Light”, “Divinities:
Twelve Dances with God” and “Homo Erraticus” remastered at half speed by Air
Studio
“Roaming in the Gloaming” LP offers previously unreleased live recordings from
1995-2007
Beautiful side D etchings on 3 of
the 10 records
96-page book with foreword by Ian
Anderson, extensive liner notes by Paul Sexton and exclusive pictures
Ian Anderson’s solo albums explore
different sonic landscapes and instrumental line-ups, each record in this box
set standing as a testament to his versatility. From the electronic
experimentation in “Walk Into Light” and the profound narratives of “Homo
Erraticus”, to the acoustic serenity of “The Secret Language of Birds”, these
albums are a reflection of Anderson's unending creativity and his ability to
seamlessly blend diverse musical styles into cohesive, captivating works.
“8314 Boxed” 10LP breakdown:
“Walk Into Light” (1983) – half-speed remaster
“Divinities: Twelve Dances with God” (1995) – first time on vinyl, half-speed
remaster
“The Secret Language of Birds” (2LP) (2000), etching on side D – first time on
vinyl
“Rupi’s Dance” (2LP) (2003), etching on side D – first time on vinyl
“Thick as a Brick 2” (2LP) (2012), etching on side D
“Homo Erraticus” (2014) – half-speed remaster
“Roaming in the Gloaming” (previously unreleased live shows from 1995-2007)
“Hey, but someone has to try
oddball things, don’t they? Might as well be me...” - Ian Anderson
Ian Anderson’s mind as a listener,
which would mature into a lifetime of format-blurring creative ingenuity, was
opened when he was a mere six-year-old. By then, already relocated with his
family from his birthplace in Dunfermline to Edinburgh, he heard an old family
78 rpm disc of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra's irresistible gem of 1939, “In
The Mood”.
“My father had a few treasured
wartime records, mostly big-band stuff,” he told Prog magazine. “I
remember having an epiphany, because ‘In The Mood’ introduces you to the
elements of blues, effectively. That was my first moment of thinking: ‘Hmm,
this music is something special.’”
A word from Ian Anderson on “8314
Boxed”:
“Since 1983, I have made a few solo albums, not as dissatisfaction with
fellow musicians or the group identity but usually just to try something a bit
different, whether sonically, stylistically or in terms of instrumental
line-up. These records all stand out for me as being quite different from each
other and in some ways demonstrate a broader depth of my songwriting. The flute
instrumental Divinities record is one of my favourites to this day”.
Paul McCartney (who turned 82 years old a couple of weeks
ago) now has 20 dates booked for his “Got Back” tour when it resumes in October,
running thru the end of the year. And more foreign dates are expected to be added ... perhaps as early as later this week!
Which begs the question ...
Will McCartney come back to The States before heading home?
Speculation is “YES” …
The “Got Back” tour kicked off here back in 2022 … and this
latest leg takes him all over South America, Mexico and Europe before heading
back to Great Britain …
But 2025 is wide open as of right now …
So fans are hopeful that Macca will make one more trek
across The United States before heading home.
Paul McCartney 2024
Tour Dates (so far)
10/1: Montevideo, Uruguay @ Estadio Centenario
10/5: Bueno Aires, Argentina @ River Plate Stadium
10/11: Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Monumental
10/15, 10/16: Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Allianz Parque
10/19: Florianopolis, Brazil @ Estádio da Ressacada
10/23: Cordoba, Argentina @ Mario Alberto Kempes
10/27: Lima, Peru @ Estadio Nacional
11/1: Bogota, Colombia - Estadio EMPIN
11/8: Monterrey, Mexico @ Estadio BBVA
11/12: Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP Seguros
11/17: Mexico City, Mexico @ Corona Capital
12/4, 12/5: Paris, France @ La Défense Arena
12/9, 12/10: Madrid, Spain @ WiZink Center
12/14, 12/15: Manchester, UK @ Co-Op Live
12/18, 12/19: London, UK @ O2 Arena
The Beatles / Cirque Du Soleil "Love" extravaganza that's been playing at The Mirage Showroom in Las Vegas for the past eighteen years held their final performance Sunday Night (7/7).
The show was the brainchild of George Harrison ... and the stats are really quite remarkable:
The official Beatles LOVE soundtrack album,
released in 2006 (marking the final album from producer Sir George
Martin prior to his death in 2016) features 26 tracks of remixed
versions of classic Beatles songs — but at least 120 different songs
from the Beatles’ catalog were utilized in the creation of that
soundtrack, which won the Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best
Surround Sound Album Grammy Awards in 2008. It was George's son Giles who took over the reigns on this one ... and he has been behind all of The Beatles' box set reissues ever since.
In all,14,454 costumes were used onstage by 60 actors over the course of the show’s 18-year run, 11 of whom stayed with the production for its entire run.
Between June 2nd, 2006 and July 7th, 2024, The Beatles LOVE presented 7,813 performances to over 11.5 million guests from June 2, 2006 – July 7, 2024. Its final performance took place on what just happened to be Ringo Starr's 84th birthday.
The Mirage closes its doors permanently next week ... and then will be demolished to make way for a brand new Hard Rock Cafe Hotel, expected to open in 2027. (kk)
I first discovered Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” quite
by accident about a month ago while flipping thru the channels on my car radio.
I just happened to catch it on WXRT here in Chicago and was so knocked out by
it, I had to go home and download the track.
Well, apparently I wasn’t the only one …
“Stick Season” just passed over ONE BILLION streams
last week!!!
If you haven’t heard it, you can check it out here …
Guys,
Hoping garage music star Mike
Markesich sent you his new radio idea. Today, all music of all genres
from 1968 THIS MONTH! I’m diggin’ it. Hits and misses, pop and
rock, jingles, commercials.
The concert that America performed at The Hollywood Bowl on August 3, 1975, will soon be released as a new CD entitled “America – Live From The
Hollywood Bowl, 1975.”They feature the legendary George Martin conducting
the orchestra that night. (You may recall that Sir George cleaned up and produced tracks for another live concert from this venue for another well known band that took a dozen years to see the light of day. He had just produced America's last two albums ... so he made for the perfect choice for such a prestigious event.) The tapes have
been restored and remastered and represent the band at the height of their
career.
All twenty tracks that America performed that night are included on the new CD, including: "Miniature";"Tin
Man";"Muskrat
Love";"Baby
It's Up to You"; "Moon
Song"; "Old
Man Took";"Old
Virginia";"I
Need You";"Lonely
People"; “Don't
Cross the River"; "Ventura
Highway"; "Glad
to See You"; "Woman
Tonight"; "The
Story of a Teenager"; "Midnight"; "Company"; "Hollywood"; "Daisy
Jane"; "Sister
Golden Hair" and "A
Horse With No Name." The end result is their full 80-minute concert.
The songs come from America’s first five studio
albums, “America” (aka the “Horse With No Name” album … to keep the “H”
trajectory going), “Homecoming,” “Hat Trick,” "Holiday" and “Hearts.” Martin produced those last two LP's, both engineered by Beatles' Engineer Geoff Emerick(kk)
NOTE: These tracks were originally released as part of a 2-LP vinyl set, exclusively produced for Record Store Day. This is their first time appearing on CD. (kk)
Kent,
Your showing of the WLS survey for May 7, 1965,
the one record that stuck out with me was the one that was charted at #33,
MAGIC TRUMPET by the University Orchestra. In OKC, that record peaked at #27
for the week of June 16, 1965. On the survey, the artist was listed as Compares
Universitaria De La Laguna.
Now my question I am going to throw out is,
how many of your readers are familiar with that record or even remember it? I
hadn't thought of it in years until I saw it listed on WLS. Still don't
remember how it goes.
Larry Neal
Well, I can help you there!
Believe it or not, that record bubbled under on all three
major trade magazine charts in May of 1965.The highest it got was #102 in Cash Box Magazine. Billboard put at #107
while it peaked at #105 in Record World … so I guess SOMEBODY was buying
it!!!(kk)
>>>Dropping
down to the very bottom of the chart, we find "She's The One" by a new
group called The Chartbusters (who sound an AWFUL lot like The Beatles
on this one!) kk
Yeah, I was waiting for the "1, 2, 3, 4" at the beginning.
Shelley
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
7/11/64 – The Beatles appeared live on the television
program “Lucky Stars (Summer Spin),” during which time they performed “A Hard
Day’s Night,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Things We Said Today” and “You Can’t Do
That.”
