Axis: Bold as Love (Prof. Stoned, v1.1)

~ Release by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (see all versions of this release, 48 available)

Annotation

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love (US Stereo Legacy 2010)
24bit/96kHz (High Resolution Audio)

01 - EXP
02 - Up From The Skies
03 - Spanish Castle Magic
04 - Wait Until Tomorrow
05 - Ain't No Telling
06 - Little Wing
07 - If 6 Was 9
08 - You Got Me Floatin'
09 - Castles Made Of Sand
10 - She's So Fine
11 - One Rainy Wish
12 - Little Miss Lover
13 - Bold As Love

Produced by Chas Chandler
Engineers: Eddie Kramer with George Chkiantz, Andy Johns & Terry Brown (Olympic Studio)
Remastered by Eddie Kramer & George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York City

Line up:
Jimi Hendrix: Vox, Guitars
Noel Redding: Bass, Backing Vox
Mitch Mitchell: Drums

Sources:
Side 1: 88697623961-A STERLING 18782.1(3) / Side 2: 88697623961-B STERLING 18782.2(3)

Hardware:
- Technics 1210mk2 Turntable
- Jelco SA-750D Tonearm (w/ JAC 501 cable)
- Audio Technica 150MLX stylus
- Yamaha CA-1010 amplifier
- RME ADI-2 A/D Interface (conversion to 24 bit, 96kHz)

Software:
- Audition 3.0 used for adjusting DC bias, editing, (incl. manual removal of clicks
and pops), adding gain and making the cue points.
- Click Repair used with setting Cl: 5, Cr: 0
- CueListTool v1.7 & Mediaval CueSplitter used for generating the .cue's & .m3u's.

Vinyl Transfer & Restoration by Prof. Stoned

v1.0: 21-04-2010
v1.1: 19-05-2020 (same rip and restoration, EQ curve applied to re-balance the sound of the Audio Technica 150MLX for a more neutral presentation)


Notes from 2010:

Prof sez:

Finally after many years Experience Hendrix has offered us all-analog vinyl versions of Hendrix first three masterpieces. So following my previous Hendrix drops, which I believe attempted to present these recordings in their best sonic incarnation, I've now decided to tackle these three titles. But not without extensively listening & comparing the sound quality with previous issue's, of course. I have to say, considering the limitations of the source material, I'm very pleased with the Legacy's. For the record, I'm talking about the US pressings only. The Music on Vinyl label that covers the European market has not been using the same metal parts from Sterling Sound and apparently insisted on cutting their own metal parts. The results are significantly less stunning than their US counterparts and the question whether they used analog sources is debatable.

This is the second time in one year time that 'Axis: Bold As Love' has gotten an all-analog vinyl cutting directly from the mastertapes. The Universal/Back2Black vinyl reissue from last year contains a different mastering than the Legacy. I did buy the B2B when it came out but returned it to the store after one listen. The reason was a huge boost in the low-end which had previously not been there. The mastering was done by Ray Janos, an engineer who works at Sterling Sound. But now, an ample year later, EH fortunately has corrected this problem with a sublime new mastering.

IMO, this is the best sounding version of the stereo mix so far. But it is a close match. Most of the previous vinyl (or CD) releases sound excellent, in contrast to 'Electric Ladyland and especially 'Are you experienced?'. If you want to pick up a vintage pressing, the ones on Reprise (original up to mid 80's) are your best bet IMO. They sound much like the Legacy but are a little more shy on the mids. The original UK Track is ok but has some funky EQ'ing going on in the lower-mids in an attempt to give it somewhat more body. All copies on Polydor (UK, German, Dutch, etc.) contain an entirely different stereo mix, which is another story altogether.

This was transferred from a NM copy. The records are breathtakingly quiet and after a light declick and some manual restoration work, I think I've achieved an almost tape like quality. One side 1, you also may hear a soft frequency tone inbetween the songs which is on the mastertapes (i.e. not there because of my equipment). However, there is a mastering flaw in the Legacy pressing that does not appear on any other version. Right after 'it didn't really have to stop' in Tr. 9 there is this 'unmusical' noise in the left channel. I thought it was so distracting that I have replaced this part with 5 seconds of a late 70's Reprise pressing. Luckily it sounded almost identical and to my ears it's impossible to hear the edit but you can see the exact positions of the patch when viewing the Hi-Rez version with a frequency analyser. The first 5000 copies of the Legacy are numbered. Mine is No.1683.

Enjoy!

Annotation last modified on 2023-09-25 16:10 UTC.

Tracklist

1Digital Media
#TitleRatingLength
1EXP
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
spoken vocals [Announcer]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
spoken vocals [Mr. Corusoe]:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
EXP
composer:
Jimi Hendrix
21:55
2Up From The Skies
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
Up From the Skies
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Bella Godiva Music
32:58
3Spanish Castle Magic
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set):
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
Spanish Castle Magic
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Bella Godiva Music and Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.
sub-publisher:
ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
4.253:05
4Wait Until Tomorrow
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
produced at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (on 1967-10-26)
recording of:
Wait Until Tomorrow
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
3.553:02
5Ain't No Telling
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
Ain't No Telling
composer:
Jimi Hendrix
3.11:50
6Little Wing
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer) (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set):
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others) (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
electric bass guitar:
Noel Redding (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
electric guitar and glockenspiel and lead vocals:
Jimi Hendrix (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
produced at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
part of:
Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (2026-05-04) (number: 18), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 188) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 358)
recording of:
Little Wing (from 1967-10-25 until 1967-10-28)
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., Interworld Music Ltd., Six Continents Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Yameta Co., Ltd. and Bella Godiva Music (in 1967)
4.32:30
7If 6 Was 9
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
foot stomps:
Graham Nash and Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
If 6 Was 9
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. and Interworld Music Ltd.
3.75:37
8You Got Me Floatin'
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
background vocals:
Trevor Burton (guitarist and founding member of The Move), Graham Nash and Roy Wood (multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, The Move, ELO & Wizzard)
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
You Got Me Floatin’
composer:
Jimi Hendrix
3.22:50
9Castles Made Of Sand
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
produced at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1966-10)
recording of:
Castles Made of Sand
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Bella Godiva Music, Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. and Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019)
4.32:49
10She's So Fine
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
electric bass guitar [bass guitar] and lead vocals:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
She's So Fine
composer:
Noel Redding
3.52:42
11One Rainy Wish
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
One Rainy Wish
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
3.253:45
12Little Miss Lover
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others)
electric bass guitar [bass guitar]:
Noel Redding
vocals:
Jimi Hendrix
recording of:
Little Miss Lover
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Sea-Lark Enterprises, Inc.
3.752:26
13Bold As Love
engineer:
Eddie Kramer (engineer) (on 1967-10-29)
producer:
Bryan “Chas” Chandler
drums (drum set):
Mitch Mitchell (UK drummer for Jimi Hendrix Experience, many others) (on 1967-10-29)
electric bass guitar:
Jimi Hendrix (on 1967-10-29) and Noel Redding (on 1967-10-29)
electric guitar, harpsichord and lead vocals:
Jimi Hendrix (on 1967-10-29)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (on 1967-10-29)
recording of:
Bold as Love (on 1967-10-29)
lyricist and composer:
Jimi Hendrix
publisher:
Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.
3.454:11