If you love Jimi Hendrix, you probably also love the song “Hey Joe”. But what’s the real story behind the song, specifically Hendrix’s version? Unsurprisingly, “Hey Joe” was the song that changed everything for Hendrix and caught the attention of the right people. Without this mysterious tune, Hendrix may have not gotten the mainstream, international attention he deserved.
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“Hey Joe” is not actually a Jimi Hendrix original. Rather, “Hey Joe” is considered a rock standard that originated in the early 1960s. It has been performed, rearranged, and recorded by a wealth of artists, including Jimi Hendrix in 1966.
The origins of the song, though, are murky. The authorship of “Hey Joe” has been the subject of controversy for quite some time. The song itself was copyrighted in the United States by Billy Roberts in 1962. Dino Valenti is also a potential author of the song, while others consider it a “traditional song” with no known author.
The Story Behind “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix
Despite the track’s mysterious origins, most associate it with Jimi Hendrix. And for good reason.
The song is a simple tune about a man on the run who plans to escape to Mexico after shooting his unfaithful wife. Its lyricism isn’t exactly what makes it such an iconic song, though. It is Hendrix’s subtle changes to the tune that make it stand out among similar blues rock renditions.
Jimi Hendrix was looking for a more rock-leaning sound in 1966 with his band, Jimmy James And The Blue Flames. He played “Hey Joe” regularly by that time. Hendrix’s version of the song featured a slower tempo and obviously more focus on guitar work.
Chas Chandler of The Animals heard Hendrix perform “Hey Joe”, and he became very interested in promoting Hendrix’s version of the song. And so, he whisked Hendrix away to England that autumn, and Hendrix’s career took off from there.
Jimi Hendrix and The Experience released their recorded version of the song in late 1966, and it became a massive hit in the UK. Surprisingly, it didn’t hit as well in the US. Either way, it has since become one of the greatest songs of all time and is often listed as one of Hendrix’s best productions. It was the song he chose to close out his legendary Woodstock 1969 performance, and it was a wise choice.
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
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