Josh mentioned to me that he had a record I might like and was going to bring it in for me. We have a lot of musical taste in common, with average divergence in the fringe area, so I was stoked to see what he was going to bring.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I approached my desk the next morning.

Hendrix!

“Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold As Love”… all snug in a thick plastic record sleeve. Hendrix. No way!

I never owned this on vinyl. In fact very few Hendrix albums I have owned have been vinyl. I had a lot of tapes and CD’s, but I only ever had “War Heroes”, “Smash Hits”, “The Essential Vol 1” and “The Essential Vol 2” on vinyl, so this one is prized. Definitely a display item. On top of that it’s a great album! I had this as a dub tape that I recorded from Paul Beck back in the dorms. It was a favorite, the extra time on the tape I filled with songs from “Smash Hits”. I have loved Hendrix for a long time. I remember several friends tried to turn me on to Jimi, and either I wasn’t ready for it, or they chose songs that though great in retrospect were not beginner songs. I remember someone telling me that Hendrix was amazing and then sitting me down and making me listen to him play “The Star Spangled Banner”. Too much too fast as an introduction to Hendrix. I did end up becoming accustomed to standard fare like “Purple Haze” ,  “Hey Joe”, “The Wind Cries Mary” and “All Along The Watchtower” from the radio and trying to select 12 LP’s for the record club took a chance on the 3 for 2 “The Essential Jimi Hendrix Vol I and II”. It changed me forever.    Hendrix.   Don’t even get me started.

Under the Hendrix there was more.

“The Rolling Stones – 12 x 5”

Mono version. Also snug in a thick plastic record sleeve.

I have never owned this one either. In fact, I think the only Stones album I have ever owned was “The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You”.  I went through a huge Stones phase and got everything the library owned and dubbed it all. I recall working in the garage at the duplex and being blown away by the full version of “Midnight Rambler” and digging “Monkey Man” before it got used for a TV show and suddenly everyone loved it again. I can’t wait to listen to this one.

There was also this.

“Simon and Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme”

I heard Simon and Garfunkel a lot growing up. I didn’t really connect that much back then. I do recall walking around with Jeff and John Baun, Wooley and Russell from Junior High playing “Cecilia” on a big boom box on someone’s shoulder like a bunch of fools. When Simon and Garfunkel split and Paul Simon started his solo career I began picking up on him. I saw him on Saturday Night Live when he was doing “One Trick Pony” and I really dug it. He was funny too! I do recall getting “Simon and Garfunkel – Greatest Hits” and at an older age being able to appreciate it more. When Paul Simon did his “Graceland” album with Ladysmith Black Mambazo it was everywhere and I liked the sound. Love the video for “You Can Call Me Al” with Chevy Chase.

I think I may be in a place where I can really appreciate this older stuff.

But seriously, what the hell is he wearing?

Thanks for the vinyl Josh !