JIMI HENDRIX – ARE YOU EXPERIENCED: FRENCH 2ND PRESS (CD)

Description

☆A flat transfer version you can only hear here! This is the superb “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED” version that completely overturns the reputation that the mono version of this album has poor sound quality! A must-listen version that combines the punchy sound of mono with the high sound quality of flat transfer!

Like many artists of the 1960s, Jimi Hendrix’s first two albums were mixed in both mono and stereo. While “AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE” was officially released on CD last year, his first album, “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED,” was quietly released in the US only in 2020 as a stereo-coupled SACD.

The reason it hasn’t been talked about as much as you’d expect is that it was only released on SACD. Furthermore, the compatibility with mono is not so good, and the sound pressure inherent in mono tends to become thin when converted to SACD. And because it was released in the US, the album was also released in the US version. This means that “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED” doesn’t include “Red House” and “Can You See Me.”

Because of these circumstances, this work has yet to be released on CD, but the LP itself is no easy feat either. The mono LP versions of “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED” released at the time, including the UK original, were poorly cut, resulting in surprisingly mediocre sound quality. It is said that this is because Brian Carroll, who was in charge of cutting, cut the high frequencies and significantly compressed the range of the sound when cutting the record, fearing that the needle would skip on the inexpensive players of the time. Unlike other artists and groups of the 1960s, “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED” was branded as a record whose original mono recording from the UK was not necessarily of high quality.

So, which mono recording of this album is the best? The French label Barclay is currently attracting attention among enthusiasts as an unexpected answer to this question. The label reissued many of Jimi’s albums and singles after his death, and as part of that effort, only the second pressing of “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED” had superb sound quality!

Like many of the Jimi Hendrix releases from Barclay around this time, this second pressing featured a photo of a live performance at the Isle of Wight, which had nothing to do with “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED.”

On its own, it would seem like a standard def jacket, typical of overseas releases, but the contents are truly remarkable. For this second pressing, Barclay forgot the cutting process instructed by Track Record in the UK, pressing the record as a flat transfer from the original tape without EQ or compression! This misunderstanding has led to the release of a mono version with superior sound quality compared to the original LP from the 1960s. (Note that even among the French mono pressings of this album, the first and third pressings were cut according to Track Record’s instructions in the UK, so only this second pressing has a flat transfer.)

Prof. Stoned has meticulously transferred this hidden gem of an LP to CD. Their previous work, the 1972 Spanish release of the Stones’ “AFTERMATH (EXPANDED MONO EDITION),” was known for its superior sound quality compared to the 1960s LPs. This release is once again exceptional. Not only is there no scratch noise, but the sound is super clean, completely free of distortion or murkiness, capturing the superb sound quality of a non-EQ, non-compressed LP. Speaking of the mono version of “ARE YOU EXPERIENCED,” a gift CD-R featuring a meticulous transfer of the original UK pressing was previously highly acclaimed, but it simply cannot compare to this French Barclay second pressing. The flat, non-EQ, non-compressed transfer of the Barclay second pressing boasts an astounding clarity of sound, with excellent bass.

The mono mix also shows its distinct differences. While “Red House” cuts off at the end of the performance when Jimi speaks, this version includes Chas Chandler’s response. “Fire” is pitched higher, bringing each vocal part to the forefront more than stereo. “I Don’t Live Today” and the title track feel even more chaotic than stereo, making this a super clean, mono version.

Of course, the Barclay version also features the Isle of Wight decal jacket, faithfully recreated! This is the starting point for the “best sounding” Jimi Hendrix! A must-have!

(39:47)
01. Foxy Lady
02. Manic Depression
03. Red House
04. Can You See Me
05. Love or Confusion
06. I Don’t Live Today
07. May This Be Love
08. Fire
09. Third Stone from the Sun
10. Remember
11. Are You Experienced