Jimi Hendrix - Loose Ends (1973)

 (U.S 1963 - 1970)

'Loose Ends' is a posthumous compilation album by American guitarist Jimi Hendrix, released in February 1974 in the UK. It was the fourth and last Hendrix studio album released posthumously by manager Michael Jeffery. The album features a collection of outtakes and jams, with the exception of "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" which is the sole authorized track by Hendrix, in a new stereo mix by Eddie Kramer. 

The album was engineered, mixed and compiled by John Jansen, who is listed on the record's sleeve as "Alex Trevor" because he did not wish his name to be on the album's credits. Additional engineering was provided by Eddie Kramer, Dave Palmer, Kim King, Gary Kellgren, Jack Adams, Tom Flye and Jim Robinson. Reprise Records (Jimi Hendrix' label at the time), declined to issue this album in the US and Canada as they considered the material below standard. 

Jimi With Eddie Kramer

All the tracks on this album have been subsequently re-released on other official albums, in some form, except "Blue Suede Shoes". The UK, French, and German releases had different covers, as shown at the bottom of this post.

I bought this LP in the late 1970's after wanting it for a long time (seemed like I looked forever at the local new & used record shop), I eventually found a Japanese pressing at Reading Records in Carlton, Melbourne and paid a small fortune for it at the time but was not disappointed after playing it.

Mostly outtakes and loose jams with one authorized track that came out in Jimi's lifetime (The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice). The main reason I bought Loose Ends was to get this track. I loved that track back then, probably because it was rare. There wasn't a lot of posthumous releases at that point in time so any Hendrix album that had some decent tracks would be snapped up by fans. I believe "The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice" was originally going to be on 'War Heroes' but was pulled and added to Loose Ends to flesh out the weaker album. Another outstanding track on this for me is "Drifter's Escape". 

I prefer the mix on this lp rather than the one on the Jimi Hendrix Experience box set. I think it's a tighter mix, and the fuzz guitar part at the end was just striking the way it came to an abrupt end (much like Jimi's too short life), and on the box set it gets marred by Billy Cox's bass.

Michael Jeffrey (see left with Jimi backstage), who was Jimi's manager during the later part of his career, was still able to put out product to make money off of Jimi's name. Considered by some to be an awful release, it was only put out in the U.K. in February, 1974 on the Polydor label because Warner Bros. (who were Jimi's record company at the time) refused to release it in the U.S & Canada, saying it was of inferior quality. This was the last Michael Jeffrey release.

Most of this LP has been put out on different Experience Hendrix releases, since it's release back in 1974:

• "Come Down Hard on Me Baby" appears on the The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set in a slightly different version
• "Jam 292" appears on Hear My Music in a longer version
• "The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice" appears on South Saturn Delta
• "The Drifter's Escape" appears on South Saturn Delta in Hendrix' own mix
• "Burning Desire" appears on The Baggy's Rehearsal Sessions
• "Born A Hoochie Coochie Man" appears on The Baggy's Rehearsal Sessions
• "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" appears on the The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set

John Jansen (Studio Assistant)

I think the problem with Loose Ends was that the tapes were in the hands of sound engineers and a twat (read: Mike Jeffrey). None of them were musicians, producers or visionaries. Jansen was Kramer's studio assistant for cryin' out loud. There was nobody with any musical knowledge or integrity to put an album together correctly, particularly as Eddie Kramer refused to participate after "War Heroes" (which according to him was "really scraping the barrel"!)

The left-over tapes needed Jimi to sort them out or someone like Chas. Jeffrey didn't have a clue or a care apart from making a buck. Tragically, after the disaster that was "Loose Ends" they brought in Douglas who simply further massacred what was left in the vault (he did redeemed himself with some of the live releases of later on though, before finally crashing with 'Voodoo Soup')

Alan Douglas (Producer)

I believe that Jeffrey did not have access to some of the tapes when Loose Ends was compiled. When Alan Douglas gained access to more tapes of course he was unhappy with some of the original contributions of Redding, Mitchell , Cox and Miles so he overdubbed new musicians instead of utilizing the original tracks.

I agree these posthumous albums could have been compiled better and Jeffrey actually ordered Kramer and Mitchell to hold some better tracks back for future albums. "The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice" is just one example as it was replaced with tracks like Three Little Bears or Peter Gun Catastrophe on 'War Heroes'.

There is also the possibility that both Kramer and Jansen had not combed all the tapes to the degree one would expect. Douglas subsequently had access to additional tapes, but it appears Kramer and Jansen still had access to plenty of tapes and simply missed and overlooked viable release possibilities. Ironically, the last couple of Experience Hendrix single disc archival compilations very much have a "loose ends" vibe.

While Jeffery was working on 'War Heroes' and 'Loose Ends', I don't think it dawned him what a goldmine he was sitting on with all the live soundboard he had the rights to. But then again, back in the early 70's most of the rock consumers wanted studio recordings, not live ones.

Loose Ends was first released back when there was no internet, wealth of choice in legitimate issues and before the Hendrix estate got it's house in order. I bought it as a rare import and it was to me, entertaining and I think valued by most fans. I can still listen to it today and enjoy it and I still prefer it to the only other options of the day: crappy sounding bootlegs on crappy normal bias tapes.

Jimi with Buddy Miles

I actually love this album.  It may not be the best stuff ever put to tape, but it still shows the talent that Hendrix was. And, how does one not love "Blue Suede Shoes"?, even with it's flaws and somewhat embarrassing dialogue by Jimi with Buddy.  I look at this release as basically a legitimate bootleg release with excellent sound quality and gives the fans an opportunity to hear things that were never intended for release, but shows an artist in a more relaxed setting playing with ideas and just having fun in the studio.

In summary, I find 'Loose Ends' to be an enjoyable listen. It's not a major work, by any means, but it was never presented as a major work, hence the title. I tend to have a more favorable opinion of the early (70's -80's) Hendrix archival releases over the recent Electric Hendrix  releases. Some of this may be due to nostalgia, but I'll take the original 'Hendrix in the West' over the Frankenstein version released by Electric Hendrix any day of the week.

I looked upon this collection of out-takes to be a cool rarity - it was only available as an import after all - back then, imports were quite cool! This was true particularly for releases that were not available domestically. Musically I also liked Loose Ends for providing a fly on the wall view into the Hendrix experience along with the rare tracks. 

Finally, one HUGE bonus with the my Japanese pressing was the inclusion of an amazing poster inside the cover, that shows every musical connection that Hendrix made during his short musical career. (See right - select and open image to view full display)

This post consists of freshly ripped FLACS from my prized Japanese Vinyl which is still in its original shrink wrap (almost 50 years old) 

Full album artwork for vinyl and CD are included along with label scans and post photos.   

Please also note the alternative front covers for this release on the right

Track Listing

01 Come Down Hard On Me Baby  2:58

02 Blue Suede Shoes  3:56

03 Jam 292   3:47

04 The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice   4:20

05 The Drifter's Escape   3:02

06 Burning Desire   9:30

07 Born A Hootchie Kootchie Man   5:57

08 Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)   1:31

Jimi Hendrix - Guitar, Vocals

Mitch Mitchell - Drums

Billy Cox - Bass

Noel Redding - Bass on (The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice)

Buddy Miles - Drums & Background Vocals on (Burning Desire, Hoochie Kootchie Man, Blue Suede Shoes)

Loose Ends Link (232Mb)