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I like them both. Noel Redding is really underrated imo, he was the anchor Jimi and Mitch would periodically return to. No doubt Billy Cox is a more accomplished bass player, and he brought some funk and a bit more life to the mix. I think both were right for the time they were with Jimi.
I agree.. People don’t know ‘ the Jimi hendrix experience’ was tighter band altogether. Noel and Mitch take the stage if Jimi needed break. Watching the Isle of Wight towards the end of jimis set. Jimi nods toward billy cox “ like come up front so I can break from spotlight”. Billy stands back and chews gum. I like band of gypsies but I heard band the women in jimis audience at that time saying,” where’s the white boys jimis band. Lmao!
I disagree and the recordings tell the story Noel held him back imo and got jealous eventually and even seems to play bad on purpose at times. Billy allowed Jimi to open up musically. Burning Desire at the Fillmore is a great example of where they were taking it and of course Machine Gun. The best thing I think Noel ever did was Third Stone from the Sun which is a good bass line
I disagree with you all, Noel was the better Bassist, he was technically advised and was Guitarist. Just listen to his Bass solo in "If six were nine" Billy wouldn't begin to know how to play rhythmic chordal structures like that, Billy was more of a hard driving Rock Bassist.
Yeah, he’s documented as having played bass on a bunch of songs on Ladyland and Axis. I guess we’ll never know, but so many bass parts, even on Experienced, sound like what Jimi would have had in mind when composing the songs. Nothing wrong with that. Noel wasn’t egotistical; I can imagine him agreeing to whatever resulted in the best recordings.
i really love the difference between their bass playing. billy is more funky sounding and noel is more straight forward rock sounding. this is a great video man
I learned to play bass largely through playing along with Noel's bass lines in the early days. Were just so easy to hear, as they can seem a song's only structural element at points, and are not overly complex or technical. Those bass notes carry real weight. Essentials.
I recently spoke to Pasi Heikkila, the person behind Hevisaurus' bass work, and now you have reasons to cover Muffi Puffi. 1. Knowing when to keep it simple 2. Walkups 3. Octave slides at the end of a bar 4. Triads 5. Fills with weird rhythms
Mr. Cox is a really down brother and truly the "Last Gypsy". He lives here in the 'Ville and is always willing to share stories of Jimi and chat. I'm so glad to have met him. Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles...Band Of Gypsys forever. Stay Free!!!
I like both Redding’s and Cox’s bass styles. Each contributed to Hendrix’s music. As a bassist myself, play classical string bass and play electric bass finger style for jazz , rock ,country and other styles.Both Redding and Cox contributed to Hendrix’s trail blazing style.
Noel Redding and Billy Cox were both great bass players for Jimi Hendrix, different in some ways and I think it influenced the music to a great extent. A big part of the reason we talk about Jimi Hendrix, I think, is that there was a bit of pop sensibility mixed in with the blues and psychedelia on the first records. With Billy Cox there was more of an understanding of where Hendrix’s music came from and that was great for what I think was the intention of the songs but maybe not as accessible to a Caucasian record buying public.
Not accessible for US Caucasians maybe.😁 The ones in the UK were generally more fascinated with black music from the US. For example, the Funk Brothers were astonished to find out that they had a fanbase when they landed in the UK. They mentioned it in their documentary. 🙂
In fact, Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history
Thank you for mentioning Noel’s Yard. He was a real part of a stand out player who broke so many boundaries that hopefully we can still hang on too. All the best Paul
Anybody who doubts Noel's ability should listen to Come On Part 11 on Electric Ladyland. Noel Redding provides some solid backing to Jimi's soloing and and rhythm playing but also keeps it interesting - Tommy Shannon of SRV and Double Trouble would be one of the very few that could equal Noel's handling of this 12 bar blues.
That's Jimi playing bass on Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland). Noel walked out during most of the recording of most of this album and spent his time drinking in a bar across the street from the studio while Jimi and Mitch did multiple takes that drove Noel crazy. For example, Jimi and Mitch did 41 takes of the guitar and drums basic track to Gypsy Eyes before Jimi was satisfied. Noel would leave and Jimi would track a bass part. That's Jimi using Noel's 8-string Hagstrom bass on All Along the Watchtower. On Are You Experienced Jimi would give Noel bass parts he wanted him to play then on Axis he would show him the basic outline of the songs but gave him the freedom to come up with his own parts. By 1968 Noel wanted to front his own band on guitar and vocals while Jimi wanted to work with other musicians who could expand the sound of the music he was beginning to write at that time. Noel formed the band Fat Mattress which opened for the Experience on their last US tour with Noel playing in both bands. They recorded 2 albums and broke up in 1970.
Nice to see Noel Redding getting some props. His contributions tend to get overlooked because Jimi and Mitch Mitchell were both these powerfully flashy styled players. One of the best examples I've seen (or heard) of him playing live is the ever disappearing and reappearing 1969 Royal Albert Hall show. You can really hear his playing and how it added to the overall sound. Listening to Billy Cox here, especially in the tunes featured in the vid, he was a bit more funky in feel. Both fit well with wherever Jimi was at the time.
Noel's warm loud bass tone in live performances was really the anchor of the band's sound when Jimi and Mitch would often go off on tangents. He was also the guy who would challenge Jimi's sometimes odd studio behavior. I don't think it's a coincidence The Experience unraveled quite quickly after Noel left.
@@firstlast5350 Jimi was a visionary, the experience was just the tip of what he hoped to achieve. Playing hey joe and foxy lady as much as the crowd wanted to hear just was getting old
@@leanidis300 The experience accomplished a hell of a lot more than Hey Joe and Foxy Lady. Are you Experienced, Axis Bold as Love and Electric Lady Land were absolutely superb classics. Nothing which followed quite matched them. The Band of Gypsys Album was relatively naff in my opinion. It is said that he aspired to get back to a more Experience like sound. Such a pity that never materialised.
@@firstlast5350 The Experience & Axis Bold as Love were all recorded in studios, Jimi and The Band of Gypsy's (live) never lived long enough to reach Jimi's full creative vision..
For me...Noel Redding!! Why? I like his work on the first 3 albums, especially on "Third Stone from the Sun" and then on ""Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" ." However, there was a third bassist..."Jack Casady!! GREAT bass player and he played on Jimi's third album (Electric Ladyland) on the track "Voodoo Chile." Actually, I see two separate bands here: (1) Jimi Hendrix and the Experience, and (2) Band of Gypsys. Jimi was going in another direction and both are great. Speaking of great, super awesome video here Paul! Thanks for posting!
You are aware than Jimi replace many of Noel's parts...especially on Axis. Jimi also play most of Electric Ladyland . Noel Redding was not capable of growing with Hendrix which u believe is why he never tried to get him back Honestly Reading just sounds like he is playing what Jimi told him to play...without the ability or imagination to 8mprive on it.. Redding is by far the weakest bass player of his era....not in the same league as Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, John Entwistle or McCartney. I love those early Hendrix records it not for the bass.
LOL!.....Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history
I liked them both, and if I were a Bassist, I'd probably pick Billy.... but when I listen to all the old LIVE recordings, the band, on some songs, sounded like more than a trio with Noel. When Billy plays I only hear 3 instruments. Noel had a way of being able to lay back and sometimes even incorporate feedback with Jimi. Noels simplicity made it easy to groove throughout the song. As a musician, I can really appreciate what Billy brought to the table, but I could also tell that many audience members couldn't follow some to the complex, intricate playing when it got really busy. I'm mostly saying this about their LIVE sound. The studio recordings, with overdubs, were fantastic with either bassist. Even Jack Cassidy's bass on the long Voodoo Chile, was very simple yet perfect for that song.
Just subscribed. Appreciate your in depth analysis on something I was interested in music that no one else has really covered like this. As a young music player I enjoyed you going into the music theory and explaining the era of music and the play styles of the time in relation to the band. Amazing to think jimmy didnt know music theory and just wailed these amazing songs all through feeling and instinct..and a lot of guitar playing. Thank you
I usually LISTEN to this video while driving, like a podcast. But today I am watching it again (I'm fascinated by Billy Cox.... I was not aware Jimi changed bassists until watching this video earlier this year!! 😅🤯). Anyway, in WATCHING it today I noticed the subtle Double Dragon reference 😊. LOVE that! I'm a big retro games player/fan❤🤜🤛 Good work all round dude! 😎
Just a little mistake, it's Jimi that is playing bass on have you ever been (to electric ladyland), like on gypsy eyes and 1983 (he also plays drums on that one).
@@leniclenic Noels Bass on Red House live was spot on ,he played in that British Blues rock style.Billys Bass on Red House was more American ethinic style.
82 year old Billy Cox is probably the most underrated Bassist of our lifetime. He was the perfect foil for the greatest guitarist. I know people tire of this or that, but Hendrix should have kept Noel on guitar.
Why???? He was no better in guitar than he was in bass. Barely ADEQUATE. Larry Lee was the man. Listen to the first guitar solo on " jam back at the house" st Woodstock. That Larry Lee we playing lead while Jimi played rhythm. Redding, like most British guitarist except Page and Townsend, was a lousy rhythm player and his lead sucked as well. Listen to his solo groups.
Yeah mr.lee made the rounds, but even though he was featured on a song or two at Woodstock, someone said at the time folks didn't come to Woodstock to hear Lee play.
Noel is the era of Hendrix I first grew up with, having the first three albums. I really dig that era more because it was the first one for me. But i'm a drummer first Mitch Mitchell is a really great drummer
I agree with you. Noel was great for his time with Jimi and Billy had that American soul/funk background that slotted in so well with Jimi in the later years. His playing on the Band if Gypsies is exemplary.
Billy is My Man. He and Jimi were not onmy Friends, they met and served in the 101st Airborne together. In fact When gking to England, he wanted Billy Cox a d called him to join. It obviously didn't work out/ happen. Jimi promised Billy that when he made jt, he was going to send for him. True to his word and indicative of his true character, jimi finally got Billy. He was a schooled and Versatile Bassist. He and jimi forged their chops in the notorious "Chitlin Circuit "
Incredible vidéo, beautiful montage with great informations and the choice of JH Expérience 's music is so instructive.⭐⭐⭐have an happy new year and keep on the good job.💘☮️💟🙏
When you hear round wound bass with a pick it is Redding, when you hear flat wound bass with a pick it is Hendrix playing bass on many Axis and Electric Ladyland songs when you hear flat wound bass with fingers it is Billy Cox.
I began playing bass on January 4th, 1970. I frequently played along with my favorite songs on his albums. My playing and style was strongly influenced by both Redding and Cox. While both are good, Cox’s style fit mine more. I wore out two Band of Gypsies albums playing his songs with Cry of Love taking a beating as well.
Noel Redding was an adequate and proficient bass player in the context of Jimi's early albums, however, I don't think he would be able to handle more challenging material, like Freedom and Power of Soul, nor create complex lines over a few chords, as in Message to Love, for example. In my opinion, Billy had a better understanding of what Jimi wanted to do, and his interaction with Mitch was something supernatural... Lastly, Billy's tone is unparalleled, so much so that when I started listening to Jimi Hendrix, a long time ago, one of the first things that caught my attention was the sound of Billy's bass, he's one of those few guys that you can identify on the first listen
It is very clear on the live recordings, Billy pushed Jimi. Propelling licks beyond what Jimi began with, Noel was keeping up but always fell to that "Redding riff" when Jimi went all Jimi.
The difference between the 2 Noel was really a guitar player that was stuck playing bass( hence his playing was not very solid but tended to work off what the the guitar was doing). Noel didn't really play in the pocket with the drummer. Cox on the other hand was a bass player who tended to play in the pocket and not play in the guitar space- he worked closer to the drummer to keep the basic grove going.
Part of why bands like Boston sounded so different live was because the guitarist laid the bass tracks down while an actual bassist would play live. Live bass in Boston and Rolling Stones concerts were incredible
Noel was a guitarist thrust into a bassist position and thought/played like a rhythm guitarist.Billy was a born bassist. He thought and played like one. Fit in more on the Jimi "caravan". That said both likely played what Jimi either verbally or musically suggested. Billy probably had a tighter intuition with Jimi tho.
The Redding Bass lines are extremely fun to play and give a much needed tight feeling to the songs, Cox indeed had more soul and groove, it could be due the songwriting itself but I prefer Noel's style, at least for those particular songs, There's also some talk about what Redding actually did or didn't play on the Axis sessions, I think that's him on most of the album, and there are quite a few live or unreleased songs where he could be really inspired and melodic But this being said, it's hard to imagine anyone else but Cox on let's say "Valleys Of Neptune", the bass on this song really has everything you want to hear from the instrument Both great musicians :)
Another great video! Your videos have a way of summarizing the essence of many things in a direct and original way. Jumping off another comment below, I thought Jimi did a lot of bass himself (including Dolly?) so maybe u can do a video tracking that, thanks!
It's interesting that so many lead guitar players get most all of the credit. The bass player makes or breaks a song ,but some are great at both. Keith Richards is one very underrated bass player and even lead guitar . I had a bass player research how many songs Keith took over on bass. One song of many is " If you can't rock me" . Amazing bass. Lennon even commented highly of his bass skills. Lennon chose Keith on bass for the " Super group" or the band " Dirty Mac" for the LP Rock-'n'-roll circus. Keith hung out with Jimmy and I wonder if there's some lost jam track with both . 😎
I thought Jimi played bass on "Electric Lady Land" (the song). As mentioned, Jimi did replace some of Noel's bass playing (on the album by the same name) I, but I really thought that the title track was Hendrix.
LOL!.....Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history
Billy Cox said that Hendrix called him from England and wanted him to be the bass player in the Experience. This was before Noel was chosen. Billy said it might not go over so great having 2 black guys in the band so he declined.
Redding was a guitarist who picked up the bass. Cox was already an accomplished bassist. I think Cox playing was more funky and precise like an r and b player.
Great great video!! Although I like both players‘ sound, I’d consider Cox more of a „real“ bass player than Redding. But you got to love that „Redding-lick“! It may be simple but in the mix, it just sounds very cool!
Billy was in my fave lineup..Billy , Mitch and Jimi.The original Experience was a bit disjunct, and Billy Cox and Buddy Miles played well together, but a bit boring at times.Jimi was out there , so was Mitch and Billy held down the beat.
@@geraldfriend256 ...what you call "boring" is actually called playing " in the pocket". It's a musical tradition in a lot of black music. It's where Jimi came from and he needed Buddy and Billy to make it work because Noel had NO GROOVE...at all. Billy and Mitch is my favorite lineup as well I saw the opening show of their last tour in LA. FAR FAR better live than the Experience. Billy Cox really made. HUGE difference as compared to Noel's fuzzy buzzy sound.
Bobby was a typical groove bassist but Noel brought something really special and different. I thought that Jimmy lost it when he started going down the normal route with a funky bassist. Noel totally underrated and mistreated. Sad!
@@kelvynification Noel was the typical one. You just wanted Hendrix to stay the same.... Many did. I'll go with Jimi on this one. Once Noel was gone Hendrix never wanted him back. So many tracks on Axis and Electric Ladyland are actually Jimi playing bass..according to Mitch and Eddie Kramer. I saw both bands and the one with Mitch and Billy was far superior live. Noel had a terrible fuzzy sound on stage. As a bassist...he sucked. No imagination and no GROOVE. He was a frustrated guitarist and he sounded like one...especially live.
I love how you did both of them. I prefer Billy's bass work. "Freedom" is such a fun song to play. Hopefully there will be no issue with copyright (their usually strict with that when it comes to Hendrix).
BILLY COX ,ADDED THE SOUL TO JIMI,S GUITAR PLAYING AND SONG WRITHING.NOEL WAS JUST A BASIC BACK UP, BILLY COX WAS A TRUE BASS GUITAR PLAYER.😎🎸🔊🎶☮️ BOB.
This was great 👍 I'm 40 and been playing guitar and listening to hendrix since I was 11 I am ashamed to admit I never gave Noel much thought other than he was a guitar player playing bass and she's so fine was cool and the music is always choice also I always kinda thought he was tool because he wasn't happy and u can see it live some times like dude your playing with hendrix a man who learned how to play guitar hundreds of years in the future and traveled back to teach us and blow our minds and Noel isn't happy.... lol dude 🤣 Band of gypsies is my shit and favorite is who knows and machine-gun that shit is LAVA
Billy is probably my favourite bassist of all time. His playing, fluidity and creativity on tracks like "Dolly Dagger", "Room Full of Mirrors" or "Freedom" - to name but a few - is unsurpassable. That's just my opinion, of course. I mean no offence to Noel. His performances on the re-recorded version of "Stone Free" or even "Highway Chile" show that he was proficient. However, whenever I listen to those basslines, I can almost hear where Billy would have improved on them, added a run or so on. What a shame that Billy was otherwise indisposed when Jimi called him in 1966 from London!
I think Noel was a better fit with Mitch's loose, yet busy playing style. Billy's solid groove was paired perfectly with Buddy Miles' funky playing IMO. The degree in which they were locked in together was impressive to say the least. I never sensed that same musical communication between Billy and Mitch.
I don't think that any one of them is "better". They were both good for the music at the time. I don't think those songs could or should have been improved otherwise. Though it was nice to see Billy Cox jamming on the older Jimi material.
One bassist I'd love to see covered on here one day is Bruce Foxton from The Jam and Stuart Morrow from New Model Army, both incredible bassists who were fundemental to the sound of the respective bands.
William was a much solid bassist than Noel IMHO.. What wasn't mentioned in this video that William played in the house band, let by guitarist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown for the Texas R&B TV show "The Beat." The video clips are available on UA-cam. Also, William played bass on a lot of R&B / Soul recordings in the early-mid 60s, before replacing Noel. Oddly, this video didn't play any of the Band Of Gypsys live performance from the Fillmore East. ( Who Knows, Machine Gun, Power Of Soul, etc; )
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I like them both. Noel Redding is really underrated imo, he was the anchor Jimi and Mitch would periodically return to. No doubt Billy Cox is a more accomplished bass player, and he brought some funk and a bit more life to the mix. I think both were right for the time they were with Jimi.
Agreed!
Excatly. I think Noel gave some rock in to songs and Billy blues & soul stuff. Awesome songs with all of them!
I agree.. People don’t know ‘ the Jimi hendrix experience’ was tighter band altogether. Noel and Mitch take the stage if Jimi needed break. Watching the Isle of Wight towards the end of jimis set. Jimi nods toward billy cox “ like come up front so I can break from spotlight”. Billy stands back and chews gum. I like band of gypsies but I heard band the women in jimis audience at that time saying,” where’s the white boys jimis band. Lmao!
I disagree and the recordings tell the story Noel held him back imo and got jealous eventually and even seems to play bad on purpose at times.
Billy allowed Jimi to open up musically.
Burning Desire at the Fillmore is a great example of where they were taking it and of course Machine Gun.
The best thing I think Noel ever did was Third Stone from the Sun which is a good bass line
I disagree with you all, Noel was the better Bassist, he was technically advised and was Guitarist. Just listen to his Bass solo in "If six were nine" Billy wouldn't begin to know how to play rhythmic chordal structures like that, Billy was more of a hard driving Rock Bassist.
Jimi was actually a damn good bass player.
Yeah, he’s documented as having played bass on a bunch of songs on Ladyland and Axis. I guess we’ll never know, but so many bass parts, even on Experienced, sound like what Jimi would have had in mind when composing the songs. Nothing wrong with that. Noel wasn’t egotistical; I can imagine him agreeing to whatever resulted in the best recordings.
I prefer Noel because, by default, he was pretty much invisible .
Yes Jimi was a bass player
as well.
Celebrate Mr.Cox. He is the last surviving member of Jimi's two main bands. When he is gone, a whole universe of memory and experience goes with him.
i really love the difference between their bass playing. billy is more funky sounding and noel is more straight forward rock sounding. this is a great video man
I learned to play bass largely through playing along with Noel's bass lines in the early days. Were just so easy to hear, as they can seem a song's only structural element at points, and are not overly complex or technical. Those bass notes carry real weight. Essentials.
I recently spoke to Pasi Heikkila, the person behind Hevisaurus' bass work, and now you have reasons to cover Muffi Puffi.
1. Knowing when to keep it simple
2. Walkups
3. Octave slides at the end of a bar
4. Triads
5. Fills with weird rhythms
Mr. Cox is a really down brother and truly the "Last Gypsy". He lives here in the 'Ville and is always willing to share stories of Jimi and chat. I'm so glad to have met him. Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles...Band Of Gypsys forever. Stay Free!!!
I like both Redding’s and Cox’s bass styles. Each contributed to Hendrix’s music. As a bassist myself, play classical string bass and play electric bass finger style for jazz , rock ,country and other styles.Both Redding and Cox contributed to Hendrix’s trail blazing style.
Band Of Gypsys is my favorite Hendrix record: it's just so badass!!!
Noel Redding and Billy Cox were both great bass players for Jimi Hendrix, different in some ways and I think it influenced the music to a great extent. A big part of the reason we talk about Jimi Hendrix, I think, is that there was a bit of pop sensibility mixed in with the blues and psychedelia on the first records. With Billy Cox there was more of an understanding of where Hendrix’s music came from and that was great for what I think was the intention of the songs but maybe not as accessible to a Caucasian record buying public.
Not accessible for US Caucasians maybe.😁 The ones in the UK were generally more fascinated with black music from the US.
For example, the Funk Brothers were astonished to find out that they had a fanbase when they landed in the UK. They mentioned it in their documentary. 🙂
And Buddy Miles on Drums was the Icing on the Cake.
In fact, Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history
Thank you for mentioning Noel’s Yard. He was a real part of a stand out player who broke so many boundaries that hopefully we can still hang on too. All the best Paul
Their concert at the Filmore East is easily one of the best live performances of Hendrix's career.
Anybody who doubts Noel's ability should listen to Come On Part 11 on Electric Ladyland. Noel Redding provides some solid backing to Jimi's soloing and and rhythm playing but also keeps it interesting - Tommy Shannon of SRV and Double Trouble would be one of the very few that could equal Noel's handling of this 12 bar blues.
i PRAY this video doesn't get taken down, your analysis here is superb
So glad you covered both. 👏🏻👍🏼🙏
Redding and Dewar. My 2 favs.
Apples and oranges. They were both great.
That Double Dragon nod took me back
That's Jimi playing bass on Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland). Noel walked out during most of the recording of most of this album and spent his time drinking in a bar across the street from the studio while Jimi and Mitch did multiple takes that drove Noel crazy. For example, Jimi and Mitch did 41 takes of the guitar and drums basic track to Gypsy Eyes before Jimi was satisfied. Noel would leave and Jimi would track a bass part. That's Jimi using Noel's 8-string Hagstrom bass on All Along the Watchtower. On Are You Experienced Jimi would give Noel bass parts he wanted him to play then on Axis he would show him the basic outline of the songs but gave him the freedom to come up with his own parts. By 1968 Noel wanted to front his own band on guitar and vocals while Jimi wanted to work with other musicians who could expand the sound of the music he was beginning to write at that time. Noel formed the band Fat Mattress which opened for the Experience on their last US tour with Noel playing in both bands. They recorded 2 albums and broke up in 1970.
This was really interesting. Thank you for posting it. 😎
Nice to see Noel Redding getting some props. His contributions tend to get overlooked because Jimi and Mitch Mitchell were both these powerfully flashy styled players. One of the best examples I've seen (or heard) of him playing live is the ever disappearing and reappearing 1969 Royal Albert Hall show. You can really hear his playing and how it added to the overall sound. Listening to Billy Cox here, especially in the tunes featured in the vid, he was a bit more funky in feel. Both fit well with wherever Jimi was at the time.
Noel's warm loud bass tone in live performances was really the anchor of the band's sound when Jimi and Mitch would often go off on tangents. He was also the guy who would challenge Jimi's sometimes odd studio behavior. I don't think it's a coincidence The Experience unraveled quite quickly after Noel left.
I think Billy laid down the Bass lines that fit perfect in the direction Jimi was heading with the Band of Gypsy's grooves..
Never liked Band of Gypsy's as much as the Experience.
@@firstlast5350 Jimi was a visionary, the experience was just the tip of what he hoped to achieve. Playing hey joe and foxy lady as much as the crowd wanted to hear just was getting old
@@leanidis300 The experience accomplished a hell of a lot more than Hey Joe and Foxy Lady. Are you Experienced, Axis Bold as Love and Electric Lady Land were absolutely superb classics. Nothing which followed quite matched them. The Band of Gypsys Album was relatively naff in my opinion. It is said that he aspired to get back to a more Experience like sound. Such a pity that never materialised.
@@firstlast5350 The Experience & Axis Bold as Love were all recorded in studios, Jimi and The Band of Gypsy's (live) never lived long enough to reach Jimi's full creative vision..
Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, What a Trio!
I give them a B+
Noel, Mitch, Jimi A+
@@johnthonig8832 Nah, the Real "SOUL" Came Out with Cox and Miles, Jimi said so His Self!
I say jimi mitch and cox
For me...Noel Redding!! Why? I like his work on the first 3 albums, especially on "Third Stone from the Sun" and then on ""Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" ." However, there was a third bassist..."Jack Casady!! GREAT bass player and he played on Jimi's third album (Electric Ladyland) on the track "Voodoo Chile." Actually, I see two separate bands here: (1) Jimi Hendrix and the Experience, and (2) Band of Gypsys. Jimi was going in another direction and both are great. Speaking of great, super awesome video here Paul! Thanks for posting!
Wasn't really Band of Gypsys without Buddy Miles on drums. I actually prefer the Mitchell/Cox era to any other, but that's just me
@@dylandenney3980 Mitch and Billy my favorite too.
You are aware than Jimi replace many of Noel's parts...especially on Axis.
Jimi also play most of Electric Ladyland . Noel Redding was not capable of growing with Hendrix which u believe is why he never tried to get him back
Honestly Reading just sounds like he is playing what Jimi told him to play...without the ability or imagination to 8mprive on it..
Redding is by far the weakest bass player of his era....not in the same league as Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, John Entwistle or McCartney.
I love those early Hendrix records it not for the bass.
LOL!.....Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history
Can't wait!
I liked them both, and if I were a Bassist, I'd probably pick Billy.... but when I listen to all the old LIVE recordings, the band, on some songs, sounded like more than a trio with Noel. When Billy plays I only hear 3 instruments. Noel had a way of being able to lay back and sometimes even incorporate feedback with Jimi. Noels simplicity made it easy to groove throughout the song. As a musician, I can really appreciate what Billy brought to the table, but I could also tell that many audience members couldn't follow some to the complex, intricate playing when it got really busy. I'm mostly saying this about their LIVE sound. The studio recordings, with overdubs, were fantastic with either bassist. Even Jack Cassidy's bass on the long Voodoo Chile, was very simple yet perfect for that song.
Just subscribed.
Appreciate your in depth analysis on something I was interested in music that no one else has really covered like this.
As a young music player I enjoyed you going into the music theory and explaining the era of music and the play styles of the time in relation to the band.
Amazing to think jimmy didnt know music theory and just wailed these amazing songs all through feeling and instinct..and a lot of guitar playing.
Thank you
I usually LISTEN to this video while driving, like a podcast. But today I am watching it again (I'm fascinated by Billy Cox.... I was not aware Jimi changed bassists until watching this video earlier this year!! 😅🤯).
Anyway, in WATCHING it today I noticed the subtle Double Dragon reference 😊. LOVE that! I'm a big retro games player/fan❤🤜🤛
Good work all round dude! 😎
Love the bass parts, but i love playing Spanish castle magic.
Just a little mistake, it's Jimi that is playing bass on have you ever been (to electric ladyland), like on gypsy eyes and 1983 (he also plays drums on that one).
In the Studio,Jimi Hendrix played Bass on a lot of the tracks on the first 3 Albums.
@@mocheck Indeed
@@leniclenic Noels Bass on Red House live was spot on ,he played in that British Blues rock style.Billys Bass on Red House was more American ethinic style.
Oh dear God , the poster had forgotten about the youtube experts !
@@kenmorley2339 I'm a hendrixolist (and there is no god)
82 year old Billy Cox is probably the most underrated Bassist of our lifetime.
He was the perfect foil for the greatest guitarist.
I know people tire of this or that, but Hendrix should have kept Noel on guitar.
Why????
He was no better in guitar than he was in bass.
Barely ADEQUATE.
Larry Lee was the man. Listen to the first guitar solo on " jam back at the house" st Woodstock. That Larry Lee we playing lead while Jimi played rhythm. Redding, like most British guitarist except Page and Townsend, was a lousy rhythm player and his lead sucked as well.
Listen to his solo groups.
Yeah mr.lee made the rounds, but even though he was featured on a song or two at Woodstock, someone said at the time folks didn't come to Woodstock to hear Lee play.
Enjoyed this one very much!
I always learn something from these. Thanks for making them!
Noel is the era of Hendrix I first grew up with, having the first three albums. I really dig that era more because it was the first one for me. But i'm a drummer first Mitch Mitchell is a really great drummer
Great awesome super group
I agree with you. Noel was great for his time with Jimi and Billy had that American soul/funk background that slotted in so well with Jimi in the later years. His playing on the Band if Gypsies is exemplary.
Excellent commentary job well done my friend.
It was through friendship.
Something that's rare.
Billy is My Man. He and Jimi were not onmy Friends, they met and served in the 101st Airborne together. In fact When gking to England, he wanted Billy Cox a d called him to join. It obviously didn't work out/ happen. Jimi promised Billy that when he made jt, he was going to send for him. True to his word and indicative of his true character, jimi finally got Billy. He was a schooled and Versatile Bassist. He and jimi forged their chops in the notorious "Chitlin Circuit "
Billy is my favorite but Noel was great too. Billy is funky, which wins me over 9 times out of 10
Let's gooo!!
Incredible vidéo, beautiful montage with great informations and the choice of JH Expérience 's music is so instructive.⭐⭐⭐have an happy new year and keep on the good job.💘☮️💟🙏
When you hear round wound bass with a pick it is Redding, when you hear flat wound bass with a pick it is Hendrix playing bass on many Axis and Electric Ladyland songs when you hear flat wound bass with fingers it is Billy Cox.
I began playing bass on January 4th, 1970. I frequently played along with my favorite songs on his albums. My playing and style was strongly influenced by both Redding and Cox. While both are good, Cox’s style fit mine more. I wore out two Band of Gypsies albums playing his songs with Cry of Love taking a beating as well.
Do Bill Wyman!!!
Burke Shelley as well
This was excellent and very thorough. Love Billy, respect Noel. Billy work on "Ange" was his best, IMO. "and both their names ended with an X". LOL
Dig it!
I gotta try that Cox Box
Noel Redding was an adequate and proficient bass player in the context of Jimi's early albums, however, I don't think he would be able to handle more challenging material, like Freedom and Power of Soul, nor create complex lines over a few chords, as in Message to Love, for example. In my opinion, Billy had a better understanding of what Jimi wanted to do, and his interaction with Mitch was something supernatural... Lastly, Billy's tone is unparalleled, so much so that when I started listening to Jimi Hendrix, a long time ago, one of the first things that caught my attention was the sound of Billy's bass, he's one of those few guys that you can identify on the first listen
The bass on have you ever been was and is still magic to me 😍
Sounds like Jimi on bass there... he did a lot bass on Ladyland...
@@kleptogiver don't know if it was jimi or noel. But it sounds dark and growls in the background 😃
Like both of them, as well as the one on All Along The Watchtower 😏😄😎
again, sounds like Jimi on that one...
Haha! That" Wack A Mole" clip got me
both awesome... just different styles
Noel redding if 6 was 9 was the best walking bassline he made.
Noel played on the vast majority of Hendrix' best tracks, so he must have been doing something right.
the double dragon reference was really hilarious.
Oh yeah
It is very clear on the live recordings, Billy pushed Jimi. Propelling licks beyond what Jimi began with, Noel was keeping up but always fell to that "Redding riff" when Jimi went all Jimi.
Excellent video, thank you!
The difference between the 2 Noel was really a guitar player that was stuck playing bass( hence his playing was not very solid but tended to work off what the the guitar was doing). Noel didn't really play in the pocket with the drummer. Cox on the other hand was a bass player who tended to play in the pocket and not play in the guitar space- he worked closer to the drummer to keep the basic grove going.
Part of why bands like Boston sounded so different live was because the guitarist laid the bass tracks down while an actual bassist would play live. Live bass in Boston and Rolling Stones concerts were incredible
Noel was a guitarist thrust into a bassist position and thought/played like a rhythm guitarist.Billy was a born bassist. He thought and played like one. Fit in more on the Jimi "caravan". That said both likely played what Jimi either verbally or musically suggested. Billy probably had a tighter intuition with Jimi tho.
On "The Experience" Album, that's Jimi... playing bass.
The Redding Bass lines are extremely fun to play and give a much needed tight feeling to the songs,
Cox indeed had more soul and groove, it could be due the songwriting itself but I prefer Noel's style, at least for those particular songs,
There's also some talk about what Redding actually did or didn't play on the Axis sessions, I think that's him on most of the album, and there are quite a few live or unreleased songs where he could be really inspired and melodic
But this being said, it's hard to imagine anyone else but Cox on let's say "Valleys Of Neptune", the bass on this song really has everything you want to hear from the instrument
Both great musicians :)
I think most fans know that Jimmy played the bass part on most all of his records .
Another great video! Your videos have a way of summarizing the essence of many things in a direct and original way. Jumping off another comment below, I thought Jimi did a lot of bass himself (including Dolly?) so maybe u can do a video tracking that, thanks!
Hello Paul
Both are good in their own way.
Cox had the feel of a soul player who was leaning into early funk playing.
Countdown to a countdown ha
It's interesting that so many lead guitar players get most all of the credit. The bass player makes or breaks a song ,but some are great at both. Keith Richards is one very underrated bass player and even lead guitar . I had a bass player research how many songs Keith took over on bass. One song of many is " If you can't rock me" . Amazing bass. Lennon even commented highly of his bass skills. Lennon chose Keith on bass for the " Super group" or the band " Dirty Mac" for the LP Rock-'n'-roll circus. Keith hung out with Jimmy and I wonder if there's some lost jam track with both . 😎
Another request for Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse.
I thought Jimi played bass on "Electric Lady Land" (the song). As mentioned, Jimi did replace some of Noel's bass playing (on the album by the same name) I, but I really thought that the title track was Hendrix.
Both excellent bassists, imho.
LOL!.....Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history
Both Billy and Noel were great Jimi would'nt have it any other way Period .
Billy Cox said that Hendrix called him from England and wanted him to be the bass player in the Experience. This was before Noel was chosen. Billy said it might not go over so great having 2 black guys in the band so he declined.
Redding was a guitarist who picked up the bass. Cox was already an accomplished bassist. I think Cox playing was more funky and precise like an r and b player.
Great great video!! Although I like both players‘ sound, I’d consider Cox more of a „real“ bass player than Redding. But you got to love that „Redding-lick“! It may be simple but in the mix, it just sounds very cool!
Bobby performed better than Noel. He WAS a bassist, not a guitarist who decided to switch. Could bring the funk too.
Billy was in my fave lineup..Billy , Mitch and Jimi.The original Experience was a bit disjunct, and Billy Cox and Buddy Miles played well together, but a bit boring at times.Jimi was out there , so was Mitch and Billy held down the beat.
@@geraldfriend256 ...what you call "boring" is actually called playing " in the pocket". It's a musical tradition in a lot of black music. It's where Jimi came from and he needed Buddy and Billy to make it work because Noel had NO GROOVE...at all.
Billy and Mitch is my favorite lineup as well
I saw the opening show of their last tour in LA.
FAR FAR better live than the Experience.
Billy Cox really made. HUGE difference as compared to Noel's fuzzy buzzy sound.
Bobby was a typical groove bassist but Noel brought something really special and different. I thought that Jimmy lost it when he started going down the normal route with a funky bassist. Noel totally underrated and mistreated. Sad!
@@kelvynification Noel was the typical one. You just wanted Hendrix to stay the same.... Many did.
I'll go with Jimi on this one. Once Noel was gone Hendrix never wanted him back.
So many tracks on Axis and Electric Ladyland are actually Jimi playing bass..according to Mitch and Eddie Kramer.
I saw both bands and the one with Mitch and Billy was far superior live. Noel had a terrible fuzzy sound on stage. As a bassist...he sucked. No imagination and no GROOVE. He was a frustrated guitarist and he sounded like one...especially live.
I like Noel better which was more raw. Probably because I like Hendrix's earlier music and I'm a guitarist that plays bass occasionally.
You forgot Jimi's 3rd bass player Jimi. A Mermen should I Turn to be and much of Axis Bold as Love.
And "All Along the Watchtower."
Noel was known to be resentful of not being the lead guitarist
I think he was resentful of being the weakest member of the band be and knowing it.
@@FramrodLiggins seriously… Billy Cox had no issue as he was on par 😁
I love how you did both of them. I prefer Billy's bass work. "Freedom" is such a fun song to play. Hopefully there will be no issue with copyright (their usually strict with that when it comes to Hendrix).
Dude next you should do a How To Play Bass on Mark Mendoza of Twisted Sister
BILLY COX ,ADDED THE SOUL TO JIMI,S GUITAR PLAYING AND SONG WRITHING.NOEL WAS JUST A BASIC BACK UP, BILLY COX WAS A TRUE BASS GUITAR PLAYER.😎🎸🔊🎶☮️ BOB.
This was great 👍
I'm 40 and been playing guitar and listening to hendrix since I was 11 I am ashamed to admit I never gave Noel much thought other than he was a guitar player playing bass and she's so fine was cool and the music is always choice also I always kinda thought he was tool because he wasn't happy and u can see it live some times like dude your playing with hendrix a man who learned how to play guitar hundreds of years in the future and traveled back to teach us and blow our minds and Noel isn't happy.... lol dude 🤣
Band of gypsies is my shit and favorite is who knows and machine-gun that shit is LAVA
Billy is probably my favourite bassist of all time. His playing, fluidity and creativity on tracks like "Dolly Dagger", "Room Full of Mirrors" or "Freedom" - to name but a few - is unsurpassable. That's just my opinion, of course. I mean no offence to Noel. His performances on the re-recorded version of "Stone Free" or even "Highway Chile" show that he was proficient. However, whenever I listen to those basslines, I can almost hear where Billy would have improved on them, added a run or so on. What a shame that Billy was otherwise indisposed when Jimi called him in 1966 from London!
Excellent analysis as always. Still hoping for Ronnie Lane
I think Noel was a better fit with Mitch's loose, yet busy playing style. Billy's solid groove was paired perfectly with Buddy Miles' funky playing IMO. The degree in which they were locked in together was impressive to say the least. I never sensed that same musical communication between Billy and Mitch.
I just think Cox had a better sense of groove than Redding did. That's the only major difference between the two, but it's, like, major.
I think it's because redding was a guitarist at first. Cox has always been a bassist. And bassist have usualy a better sens of groove than guitarists
Hagstrom 8-string - Spanish Castle Magic...
I don't think that any one of them is "better". They were both good for the music at the time. I don't think those songs could or should have been improved otherwise. Though it was nice to see Billy Cox jamming on the older Jimi material.
One bassist I'd love to see covered on here one day is Bruce Foxton from The Jam and Stuart Morrow from New Model Army, both incredible bassists who were fundemental to the sound of the respective bands.
Mick Karn, Pino Palladino, Greg Lake
But on many of these tracks jimi Hendrix was playing the bass. He often did the final bass track
The “Redding” lick most likely came from gospel influences where it’s used all over the place.
William was a much solid bassist than Noel IMHO.. What wasn't mentioned in this video that William played in the house band, let by guitarist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown for the Texas R&B TV show "The Beat." The video clips are available on UA-cam. Also, William played bass on a lot of R&B / Soul recordings in the early-mid 60s, before replacing Noel. Oddly, this video didn't play any of the Band Of Gypsys live performance from the Fillmore East. ( Who Knows, Machine Gun, Power Of Soul, etc; )
Billy knew Jimi before he
became famous.
Is there a Jack Bruce video?