Various Artists - 1993 "Stone Free" - A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix

Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix is a 1993 album recorded by various artists in tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The artists were drawn from many genres of popular music. Contributors include his classic rock contemporaries Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, blues man Buddy Guy, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, alternative pop/rock bands Belly and Spin Doctors, hip hop artists P. M. Dawn, among others. According to the liner notes, the "artists were encouraged to not only record one of their own personal favorites but to also place their stamp on Jimi's songs." Several artists recorded radically different interpretations, particularly, P. M. Dawn, The Cure, Nigel Kennedy and Pat Metheny. Some artists, on the other hand, recorded versions that were rather similar to the originals.

The band M.A.C.C. is made up of Mike McCready (guitarist from Pearl Jam), Jeff Ament (bassist from Pearl Jam), Matt Cameron (drummer for Soundgarden and later for Pearl Jam), and Chris Cornell (singer of Soundgarden and later Audioslave). The cover of "Hey Baby (Land of the New Rising Sun)" is their only known recording. All four members of this group had previously worked together on the Temple of the Dog project, and the song "Hey Baby (Land of the New Rising Sun)" was added to Temple of the Dog's live set in 2016.

Eric Clapton's backing group on the title track includes the three original core members of Chic (Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson) and is the last recording on which all three played together.

I had forgotten about this one and someone made reference to Jimi Hendrix and rockers of the 70's during a radio spot - and I found this gem on Amazon. I owned it on cassette way about the time it came out in 1993 - and what a trip down Memory Lane! The Cure singing "Purple Rain", Buddy Guy's cover of "Red House", The Spin Doctors doing "Spanish Castle Magic" - and of course - The Pretenders with "Bold As Love". What I loved most about this compliation is that you hear Jimi Hendrix's unique compositions and lyrics very clearly, with the added extra of what made these newer bands so special twenty years after Hendrix's passing. If you're a Hendrix fan, you're really going to love this CD.

Not wanting to go song by song, I'll just say that the Paul Rodgers/Slash collaboration on "I Don't Live Today" is worth the price alone. PM Dawn's take on You Got Me Floain' is a favorite, and Buddy Guy brought it with "Red House". Jeff Beck and Seal did the same on "Manic Depression". And Body Count doing "Hey Joe"... ok, I'm going song by song. If you like Jimi, you'll love this!

I had this way back when it first came out on cassett. There are some real gems on here including, Jeff Beck & Seals version of Manic Depression and M.A.C.C.s Hey Baby. There are a lot of other great renditions of Jimis work as well. Some are done very differently but still are interesting to listen to. This is probably my favorite tribute album so far. You can pick it up for next to nothing used so there is nothing to lose and a lot of cool music to gain.

On February 9, 2015, the album was released for the first time on vinyl by Music on Vinyl.

https://jazz-rock-fusion-guitar.blogspot.com/search?q=Jimi+Hendrix

Track listing / Artists:

All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix, except track five (by Billy Roberts).

01. "Purple Haze" (produced by Robert Smith and Bryan "Chuck" New) The Cure 5:19
02. "Stone Free" (produced by Nile Rodgers) Eric Clapton 4:25
03. "Spanish Castle Magic" (produced by Eddie Kramer) Spin Doctors 4:06
04. "Red House" (produced by Eddie Kramer) Buddy Guy 3:48
05. "Hey Joe" (produced by Ernie C) Billy Roberts Body Count 4:28
06. "Manic Depression" (produced by Jeff Beck, Eddie Kramer and Seal) Seal and Jeff Beck 5:11
07. "Fire" (produced by Nigel Kennedy) Nigel Kennedy 4:39
08. "Bold as Love" (produced by Stephen Street) Pretenders 3:23
09. "You Got Me Floatin'" (produced by P. M. Dawn) P.M. Dawn 4:49
10. "I Don't Live Today" (produced by Eddie Kramer) Slash, Paul Rodgers and Band of Gypsys 4:32
11. "Are You Experienced?" (produced by Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade) Belly 3:38
12. "Crosstown Traffic" (produced by Ron Saint Germain) Living Colour 3:10
13. "Third Stone from the Sun" (produced by Pat Metheny) Pat Metheny 6:00
14. "Hey Baby (Land of the New Rising Sun)" M.A.C.C. 5:26