ion of his intimate familiarity with the blues, ethnic background, the years he spent as an R&B sideman, and his exposure to new musical styles and scenes. The development of Hendrix’ music to our modern perception of it occurred after his move to New York City and the formation of Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, where a young producer named Chas Chandler discovered his act, which by then included Hendrix’ famous playing with his teeth and behind his back. Chandler brought Jimi to London, where blues-based bands such as John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, and Chandler’s old group, The Animals were immensely popular and on the cutting edge. Hendrix and Chandler auditioned a number of musicians to be in the new band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and decided upon a trio with Hendrix on guitar and vocals, Mitch Mitchell on drums, and Noel Redding on bass (Fairchild, “Are You Experienced” 3). The first album was recorded and released as Are You Experienced? on May 12, 1967 in England and after its initial success there, it was released on August 26, 1967 in the United States (Fairchild, “Are You Experienced?” 5-6). On Are You Experienced?, Hendrix shows for the first time in a studio album the heavy bluesy-rock and extraordinary guitar playing that Chandler observed an embryonic form of in Greenwich Village. However, the album definitely has a commercial feel to it, probably necessitated by Chandler’s desire to collect on his investment and Jimi’s lack of experience in being the leader of a band. Of the single “Hey Joe,” which was the first song recorded for Are You Experienced?, Hendrix said: “It’s a commercial record,...but everyone found that better for the first time. It’s just a phase, it’s only a very small part of us” (Fairchild, “Are You Experienced?” 7). On the other hand, another track on the album, “Red ...
