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From: rsk@stat-l (Wombat)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Jimi Hendrix (Some of us remember.)
Message-ID: <309@stat-l>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 11:43:48 EST
Article-I.D.: stat-l.309
Posted: Tue Feb 19 11:43:48 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Feb-85 08:24:50 EST
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Organization: Purdue University
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	I find it hard to believe that people are comparing Prince to Jimi
Hendrix...to me, this is not unlike comparing Ripple to Dom Perignon '52.

	Jimi Hendrix was, and still is, unquestionably, the greatest guitarist
of the rock era.  His technical skills were awesome; his creative use of
studio (and live) effects has been copied by nearly every guitarist since.
His science-fiction blues ("House Burning Down", "1984 (A Merman I Should
Turn to be)" and so on) was entirely his own invention; and he was the first
of the guitar showmen of rock.  While his lyrics were occasionally obscure,
and some of his recordings sound a bit muddy, the raw power of his work
and the social statements it made ("Machine Gun", "Pali Gap") comes through
on every cut of every album.  Folks like Clapton, Beck, Page, Trower, and
S.R. Vaughan all have built on the foundations that Hendrix laid...Hendrix's
influence in modern rock is equaled only by Dylan, the Stones, and the Beatles.

	Prince is a showman, to be sure; but his songs are all glitter and
sexual innuendo, with no substance; his musicianship is merely passable; and
his poetic sense leaves much to be desired.  In other words, he's another
curiousity, with nothing substantial to say and little impact on the overall
direction of rock.  His oozing androgyny attracts many; but his over-slick,
commercial attitude repels others.  On balance--he's not bad, but he has no
lasting value.

	So go out, buy yourself a copy of "Purple Rain" and listen to it.

	Then go find a beat-up old copy of "Electric Ladyland" or "Rainbow
Bridge" or "Cry of Love" or "Crash Landing", and listen to that.

	Maybe you'll wish as much as I do that Jimi hadn't left us so soon.
-- 
Rich Kulawiec @ Purdue Unix Wombat Group	rsk@purdue-asc.arpa
(decvax,ihnp4,uiucdcs)!pur-ee!rsk.uucp (decwrl,hplabs,ucbvax)!purdue!rsk.uucp

May you live in interesting times.  -- Ancient Chinese Curse