the_slackening's review
2.0
It had some interesting things in it. There were long, passionate thoughts from the author on the historical issues of race and music, soul and jazz influences, what rock is and where it's from, how white people influenced Jimi Hendrix's fame, etc. I didn't really like it, however, because it often strayed into unconvincing, rambling territory. Not to mention that there was not that much on Hendrix! I was trying to find a good biography on him, but it just doesn't cut it.
muninnherself's review
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I was a bit worried about this as it was originally published in 1989 (revised in 2012) and 1989 is a looong time ago, particularly when considering all kinds of things that might, as it were, raise their heads in a book (mostly) about Hendrix and black musicians more generally. But actually although it would be interesting to see how this would be written now, it was fine. Loads of people were still alive in 1989 as well, who have subsequently died, and Murray spoke to lots of them, so that's a good thing. This is very well researched and there's a lot of stuff about jazz which I might not otherwise have read about, since I wouldn't (probably?) choose to read a book about Miles Davis/Ornette Coleman/Charlie Parker. Loads of stuff about the blues as well, which I'd be more likely to read about anyway what's my point? My point is this is a good all round introduction to what Hendrix's influences were and also what he influenced. No one would talk about the people in 'that stupid club' if they weren't hugely influential, and if their early deaths hadn't robbed us of more good stuff, so there's always an air of melancholy with these things.
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