"Voodoo Child" is a song recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1968 that
appears on the Electric Ladyland album released that year. It contains much
improvised guitar and a vocal from Hendrix, backed by Noel Redding on bass
and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The song is one of Hendrix's best known; it was a
feature of his concert performances throughout his career and several live
renditions were recorded and released on later albums.
After his death in 1970, "Voodoo Child", using the title "Voodoo Chile" was
released in the UK and became Hendrix's only number one single in the British
record charts. Several artists have performed or recorded versions of the
song. Rolling Stone magazine included it at number 102 on their list of the "500
Greatest Songs of All Time". Origins and recording
"Voodoo Child" was developed from "Voodoo Chile", recorded May 2, 1968,
during a studio jam with Steve Winwood on organ and Jack Casady on bass. The
next day, Hendrix returned to the studio with Redding and Mitchell for the
filming on a short documentary by ABC television. Noel Redding explained, "We
learned that song in the studio ... They had the cameras rolling on us as we
played it". Hendrix added, [S]omeone was filming when we started
doing [Voodoo Child]. We did that about three times because they wanted to film
us in the studio, to make us—'Make it look like you're recording, boys'—one of
them scenes, you know, so, 'OK, let's play this in E, a-one, a-two, a-three',
and then we went into 'Voodoo Child'. According to Hendrix biographer Steven
Roby, eight takes of the song were recorded by Hendrix, Redding, and
Mitchell, and the final one was chosen as the master, which appeared on
Electric Ladyland. Lyrics and Interpretation
Author Charles Shaar Murray examines Hendrix's use of the term "Voodoo Child"
in his book Crosstown Traffic. He notes that "Voodoo symbolism and reference
resound through the country blues, and through the urbanized electric county
blues of the Chicago school ... In Hendrix’s case, this is pure metaphor.
He certainly was not a Voodoo inititate in any formal sense ... Both with
‘Voodoo Chile’—and, most specifically, with the West African
even-before-Bo-Diddley beat he percussively scratches from his guitar
and wah-wah pedal at the beginning of ‘Voodoo Chile’ [sic]—he is announcing as
explicitly as possible that he is a man of the blues, and one who honours,
respects and understands its deepest and most profound traditions". Except for
the chorus, the lyrics of "Voodoo Child" are different from "Voodoo Chile":
Well I stand up next to a mountain, and I chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well I pick up all the pieces and make an island, might even raise just a
little sand 'Cause I'm a voodoo child, Lord knows
I'm a voodoo child During a January 1, 1970 performance
with the Band of Gypsys, Hendrix introduces the song as the "Black
Panther's national anthem". At the time, he was being pressured to make a
statement about racial issues in the U.S.
Personnel Jimi Hendrix — vocals, guitars
Noel Redding — bass Mitch Mitchell — drums
The recording was engineered by Eddie Kramer and produced by Chas Chandler.
Live recordings "Voodoo Child" became a staple of
Hendrix's concert performances and would vary in length from seven to eighteen
minutes. Recordings from the Winterland Ballroom, Royal Albert Hall, Woodstock,
and the Fillmore East were later released on The Jimi Hendrix Concerts,
Hendrix in the West, Woodstock, and Live at the Fillmore East. Many more
recordings have also appeared. Critical reception and recognition
In an AllMusic song review, "Voodoo Child" was described as "a perfect
example of how Hendrix took the Delta blues form and not only psychedelicized
it, but cast an even more powerful spell by delivering the lyric in the voice of
a voodoo priest". Also noted is Hendrix's guitar work: "Opening with a
simple riff on the wah-wah pedal, the song explodes into full sonic force, the
guitarist hitting the crunching chords and taking the astral-inspired leads for
which he became infamous. The real guitar explorations happen midway
through the song, while the basic, thundering riff is unrelenting". Rolling
Stone magazine included the song at number 102 on their list of the 500
Greatest Songs of All Time. Recordings by other artists
A variety of musicians have recorded "Voodoo Child", sometimes using the
shortened title "Voodoo Child"; some of these include:
Stevie Ray Vaughan on the album Couldn't Stand the Weather and Live Alive. His
version received a nomination for Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental
Performance Divididos on Acariciando lo Áspero
Kenny Wayne Shepherd as a bonus track on his "Blue on Black" single
Angélique Kidjo on Oremi Yngwie Malmsteen on The Genesis
Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen on G3: Live in Denver.
Pop Mašina on Antologija 1972–1976 Gary Moore on Blues for Jimi
Brick + Mortar See also
List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1970s
Notes References
Henderson, David. 'Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky: The Life of Jimi Hendrix.
Bantam Book. ISBN 0-553-01334-3. McDermott, John; Kramer, Eddie; Cox,
Billy. Ultimate Hendrix. Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-938-5.
Murray, Charles Shaar. Crosstown Traffic. St. Marten's Press. ISBN
0-312-06324-5. Roby, Steven. Black Gold: The Lost
Archives of Jimi Hendrix. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7854-X.
Shapiro, Harry; Glebbeek, Cesar. Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy. St. Martin's
Press. ISBN 0-312-05861-6.