Hendrix arrived in England in October 1966, and auditions were launched to find him a backing band. Noel Redding was chosen for the bass spot. Even though he had never played bass before auditioning (he was a guitarist), Hendrix liked his look and attitude. Mitch Mitchell was a seasoned London drummer who brought jazz chops and a lead style of playing to the table. He would prove to be Hendrix's most valuable musical partner.
Though initially conceived as Hendrix's backing band, The Experience soon became much more than that. Along with Cream, they were the first group to popularize the "power trio" format, which essentially strips a rock band lineup down to the essentials: bass, guitar and drums. This smaller format also encourages more extrovert playing from the players involved, often at very high volumes. In the case of The Experience, Hendrix mixed lead and rhythm guitar duties into one, while also making use of then-revolutionary guitar effects such as feedback and wah-wah.
Mitchell played hard-hitting jazz-influenced grooves that often served a melodic role as much as they did timekeeping. Redding was the eye of the storm, playing deceptively simple bass lines that helped to anchor the band's sound. Visually, they decked themselves out in matching psychedelic costumes and permed afros.
The lineup first came to prominence during the Monterey Pop Festival, one of the first major music festivals. The band delivered a stellar performance, that ended with Hendrix famously setting his guitar on fire. The moment was immortalized in a photograph which was used as a cover of Rolling Stone[1] magazine. The appearance was also filmed and put into the documentary film Monterey Pop. This brought them to the attention of North American audiences. They were then asked to go on tour with The Monkees as the opening act. They abruptly left the tour after only a few dates. It was later revealed by Chas Chandler as being a publicity stunt.
With the band, Hendrix recorded his three most successful albums, Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland. In June of 1969, he decided to break up the group. Deteriorating relations with Redding had come to a head, and he also felt stilted by the trio format. He used a larger band lineup for his Woodstock concert in August 1969.
Hendrix would revert back to the trio format with Buddy Miles on drums and Billy Cox on bass and called themselves the Band of Gypsys. A live self-titled album was released in March 1970. This line up only lasted a couple of months. From early 1970 they were back to the original The Jimi Hendrix Experience, except Noel Redding was replaced by Billy Cox on bass.
This line up continued until Jimi Hendrix died in London, England from a drug overdose on the 18th September 1970.
Little Miss Strange
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Lyrics
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Maybe she's a devil in disguise
I can tell by looking in her eyes
Little Miss Strange
Little Miss Strange
Little Miss Strange came into my parlor
I don't remember what we did after
Little Miss Strange
Little Miss Strange
Little Miss Strange came out of the darkness
Walked across my head, I stood beneath the light
I'm talkin' 'bout the dream I had the other night
Little Miss Strange
Little Miss Strange
The Jimi Hendrix Experience's song "Little Miss Strange" is an enigmatic track with lyrics that hint at a mysterious female character. The opening lines suggest that the singer is unsure of her origins, hinting at her being somewhat supernatural or otherworldly. There is a sense of danger and intrigue associated with her, with the suggestion that she might be a devil in disguise.
The chorus, with its repetition of "Little Miss Strange," gives the song a haunting quality, drawing attention to the enigmatic figure at the centre of the song. In the second verse, she seems to have appeared in the singer's parlor, leaving him unsure of how to engage with her. The lyrics suggest a dreamlike quality, with the singer struggling to remember what they did together. The final verse, described as a dream the singer had, further highlights the surreal quality of the song.
Overall, "Little Miss Strange" is a captivating track with lyrics that hint at a mysterious and otherworldly female character. The sense of dreamlike unreality adds to the song's haunting nature, leaving the listener to make their own interpretation of the meaning behind the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
No one knows where she comes from
Her origins are shrouded in mystery and unknown to everyone.
Maybe she's a devil in disguise
It is possible that she is mischievous or deceitful, pretending to be harmless.
I can tell by looking in her eyes
Her intentions and character can be inferred through her gaze or expression.
Little Miss Strange
This enigmatic woman is unusual and unpredictable.
Little Miss Strange came into my parlor
She entered his abode, potentially uninvited and unexpected.
I don't know just what to ask her
Uncertainty and confusion arise in his mind regarding how to converse with her.
I don't remember what we did after
The events or activities that followed are unclear or forgotten.
Little Miss Strange came out of the darkness
She emerged from an obscure or ominous space or situation.
Walked across my head, I stood beneath the light
She traversed across his head, while he remained in a bright, visible area.
I'm talkin' 'bout the dream I had the other night
These events are a recollection of a previous dream he experienced.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Noel David Redding
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind