release - 1968
album art - Karl Ferris (U.S. version)
David Montgomery (U.K. version)
cover front / U.S. version
Hendrix wrote to Reprise Records describing exactly what he wanted for the cover art. He expressly asked for a colour photo by Linda Eastman of the group sitting with children on a sculpture from Alice in Wonderland in Central Park. He even draw a picture of it for reference.
The company instead used a blurred red and yellow photo of his head, taken by Karl Ferris, without band- and albumname. Just Jimi.
cover back / U.S. version
The back cover of the U.S. version depicts a photo of the bandmembers with Jimi in centre. In here starts a front/back confusion. Against all odds, the back finally reveals the band- and albumname. It also includes the tracks list of this double album.
cover front / U.K. version
Track Records had its own art department, which produced a cover depicting nineteen nude women lounging in front of a black background taken by photographer David Montgomery.
cover back / U.K. version
In interviews, Hendrix often expressed displeasure and embarrassment with this 'naked lady' cover. It will, at the request of his family, no longer be used, and the version for the U.S. is considered the only official.
inner gatefold / U.K. version
Despite the criticism about the 'nude women cover', the inner gatefold is a famous shot by Montgomery of 'Hendrix in the mist!'
artist
James Marshall 'Jimi' Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century.
Hendrix favoured overdriven amplifiers with high volume and gain, and was instrumental in utilizing the previously undesirable sounds caused by guitar amplifier feedback. He helped to popularize the use of a wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock, and was the first artist to use stereophonic phasing effects in music recordings.
His third and final studio album, Electric Ladyland, reached number one in the US.
also in gallery
Axis: Bold as Love - spotify