The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced

The debut album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and the first album on the Track Record label, Are You Experienced was initially issued in mono and then 'enhanced stereo' on later issues. Recordings had already begun in late October 1966, with the band producing material that does not appear on this album, but was released as singles leading up to its release (A common marketing practice at that time); (Hey Joe/Stone Free [Polydor, Dec 66], Purple Haze/51st Anniversary [Track, Mar 67] & The Wind Cries Mary/Highway Chile [coinciding with album issue].
These tracks appear on later releases.

The Sleeve & Tracks:
The UK Track cover photography was by Bruce Flemming. This design was used in Australia, New Zealand & Japan by Polydor, all mono. Polydor releases in Europe had the words "Jimi Hendrix" placed above the title. This text was Green in , Red in Italy & Yellow in Spain. These later issues were 'enhanced stereo', with tracks listed on the back. The Polydor issue in South Africa, conscious of apartheid at that time, is simply text on a red background. The Barclay Records issue () employed a French TV show image of Hendrix on the cover, with a question mark after the title & psychedelic graphics.

The USA & Canadian issues were released by Reprise Records after the band appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, along with Track Record compatriots The Who. Art directed by Ed Thrasher this August '67 release cover uses a Karl Ferris infra-red fish-eye photo, with purple psychedelic text on yellow. There is a key difference to the tracks on this album, with some removed and replaced by the singles, plus a change to the running order. Released in mono & a remixed & remastered stereo version. The spelling "Foxey Lady" appears in some of these issues. The 'controversially produced' Alan Douglas issue on MCA in 1993 presented the tracks chronologically and two subsequent MCA reissues in 1997 each had differing track order. The editing of the Hendrix Family's MCA 1997 vinyl is more faithful to the original than its CD counterpart.

In South Africa the album was released by Polydor on 12 May 1967 in mono. At the time (during the Apartheid Government of the National Party) the South African censors periodically censored releases where the covers contained images of Black artists or where the songs were anti - apartheid or contained sexual innuendo. No tracks on the album were replaced or left out, but Polydor did not put an image of Jimi Hendrix on the sleeve because the record company feared that this might lead to the banning of the LP and result in a financial loss. The LP was released with a pink and black cover and with no photographs or drawings on either side. See SA Release

The Recording:
Ex The Animals musician & entrepreneur Chas Chandler had brought Hendrix to the UK, teaming him up with drummer Mitch Mitchell (ex Coronets, Blue Flames) and guitarist, turned-bass-guitarist, Noel Redding (ex The Loving Kind). Early recordings were done at De Lane Lea Studios, London [engineer Dave Siddle* & CBS Studios, Bond Street, London [engineer Mike Ross**, with the main thrust of work completed at Olympic Studios, London - where the future working relationship between engineer Eddie Kramer† and Hendrix was forged. Chandler was both band manager and producer of the album.

*Siddle: Manic Depression, Can You See Me, I Don't Live Today, , Hey Joe, 51st Anniversary, The Wind Cries Mary, Fire, Love Or Confusion, Purple Haze.
**Ross: Foxy Lady, Red House, 3rd Stone From The Sun.
†Kramer: May This Be Love, Are You Experienced, Highway Chile. Plus additional engineering on the last 3 tracks by Siddle and the last track by Ross.