Hardcore Hendrix fans have searched since 1970 for any Jimi remnants, buying poorly recorded bootlegs and rare European import recordings. Many of the gems, found in unfinished format, were created during the sessions for Jimi’s New Rays From an Ancient Sun, his never-released double album that he and engineer Eddie Kramer were working on at the time of his death. Some of the tunes were later released on albums like War Heroes and The Cry of Love, but it somehow wasn’t the same and never quenched the thirst for more Hendrix music for millions of fans over the past 30 years.

I admit that I had reservations about this Hendrix box set. MCA, which recently got control over the Hendrix catalogue with the support of Al and Janie Hendrix (Jimi’s father and step-sister) and Eddie Kramer, had beautifully remastered the three studio records. 1993’s Box Set was a lot of rehashed material, mainly designed for new fans or those who didn’t own many of Jimi’s recordings. It only took one spin of the first disc of this new Box Set to allay my concerns. The MCA Box Set is a tasteful collection of rare studio tracks and live outtakes that spell out Hendrix’s career and give insights into his musical genius and songwriting talent. The Box Set has an entertaining flow to it and the recordings, many of which have never been released, are all very good. Together, they have a cadence that flows nicely from solid gold hits like "Purple Haze" to lesser-known tunes and studio outtakes.

Disc One
Disc One predictably starts out with "Purple Haze," but quickly transitions into live performances from Paris in 1966, long before Jimi and The Experience broke through in the US. Track Six is previously unreleased audio of Jimi working on the vocal track for "Hey Joe" in October 1966. Chas Chandler, who discovered Jimi at the Café Wha? in Greenwich Village earlier in that year, was in the process of producing Are You Experienced? on a limited budget. You can hear on this cut how many of the musical tracks had been recorded earlier. Jimi shows his classic sense of humor when he just obliterates the first vocal line of the tune. It is hard not to grin when you hear Jimi’s easygoing laugh, having no idea that the tune he was recording would be his first hit, the one that would launch him to immortal rock star status. The next cut is a studio outtake called "Title 3," which has overtones of the tune "Third Stone From The Sun," which follows it on the album. Later on Disc One, you’ll find some of the most incredible live recordings ever made of Jimi at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, specifically the cover of Bob Dylan’s signature tune "Like A Rolling Stone." The performance starts with lots of Jimi-speak (as I call it), with the Master of the Strat-o-Caster babbling about "fat mattresses and Bob Dylan’s grandmother." For me, listening to Dylan records is nothing short of torture, yet hearing Jimi bring a Dylan tune to life has taught me that Dylan was one hell of a songwriter.

Disc Two
Many rock legends of the 1960s were intimidated by Jimi Hendrix’s prodigal talent and flamboyant style. The Beatles were not. George Harrison and Paul McCartney were reportedly in attendance when Jimi performed "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" in September 1967. Sgt. Pepper’s had only been released for a short while, but Jimi had already taken the tune and re-interpreted it. This cut was on some hard-to-find Jimi Hendrix live LPs, but it was not easily found on CD and makes the entire Box Set worth the price for me. "Bold As Love" is, in my opinion, the definitive track on Axis Bold As Love – one of my three favorite records of all time (Sgt. Pepper’s and Van Halen’s 1984 are the other two, in case you were wondering). This cut is take 20 out of 27 of the epic composition. Jimi was reportedly trying to work out the arrangement for the ending with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. His Fuzz Face-laden solo is nothing short of spectacular. I was left speechless upon hearing it.

Other tracks of note on Disc Two include a rare outtake on "(Have You Ever Been to) Electric Ladyland," a down-tempo R&B masterpiece previously only found on a rare record called Loose Ends. You can hear Eddie Kramer call into the studio to find out what Jimi had on his mind. The last tune on Disc Two is a recording of "The Star Spangled Banner," months before Jimi would etch his name in American history forever at Woodstock. This version of the anthem is very produced and slower than the performance at Woodstock. It can also be found on the posthumous album, Rainbow Bridge.

Disc Three
"Stone Free" was included on the U.K. release of Are You Experienced?, but Reprise, Jimi’s U.S. label, decided to leave it off the U.S. record. This version is an alternate take that Jimi and The Experience added many overdubs and vocal tracks to garner a more produced sound. Reprise ultimately released the U.K. version of "Stone Free" on a Greatest Hits record called Smash Hits. This version has never been released.

In preparation for sold-out 1969 performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Jimi booked time at Olympic Studios so that he and the Experience could practice new, more exciting arrangements of his standard tunes. This version of "Spanish Castle Magic," originally found on Axis Bold As Love, is flamin' hot, with a prolonged intro, insane harmonics and an almost heavy metal feel to the hardened chords. From the Royal Albert Hall performances comes Track Nine, "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)." Voodoo is an appropriate way to describe the effect of the sounds Jimi elicits from his Strat and Marshalls. His tone is simply on fire. The vocals are little off, but the energy is there and that makes the cut.

Disc Four
Disc Four starts off with unreleased studio tracks from Jimi’s new Band of Gypsies, featuring Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums. It includes songs like "Message To Love," "Earth Blues" and "Astro Man." Another single cut worth the asking price of this Box Set is Jimi’s cover of Chuck Berry’s "Johnny B. Goode" from the extra-rare Hendrix in the West album. I own a copy of Hendrix in the West on LP and I have heard rumors that the masters have been badly damaged, thus there may never be another release of it. This version of a rock ‘n’ roll classic is needed to complete a true Hendrix fan’s collection. The Hendrix version is way up-tempo, with mind-blowing solos and choppy rhythm action. The other notable cover on Hendrix in the West is the Carl Perkins tune "Blue Suede Shoes," which was originally made famous by Elvis. The Jimi version is a loose jam with a soulful swagger and many an interpreted chord.

Jimi Hendrix is both a musical and a historical icon. His music transcends time and inspires generations as few artists and composers can do. This Box Set achieves its lofty goal of assembling rare material and tasty alternate takes to give a real Hendrix junkie the Jimi smack they jones for. In my life, I have purchased easily 40 Hendrix recordings, trying to find just one gem. Many times I got nothing but pre-Are You Experienced? blues jams. This Box Set has no filler or garbage. Each cut is musically important for one reason or another. It is a rare occasion that I give a "10" for performance for any CD we review at AudioRevolution.com, but the Jimi Hendrix Box Set gets a perfect score. It has the juice I need to go home and break out the Strat all over again.