Record Replay- Jimi Hendrix “Freedom” [VIDEO]

Every year when we get close to Independence Day, the requests for "The Star Spangled Banner" by Jimi Hendrix come pouring in. Jimi performed the song at Woodstock on the final morning of the festival, complete with machine gun guitar stabs that represented the turmoil the country was going through at the time. By the time Jimi played on Max Yasgur's farm in August 1969, Noel Redding had quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Jim himself was searching for something new. Before forming the Band of Gypsies later that year, he was kicking around with many musicians and was moving away from the psychedelic sounds of his first couple of albums towards a blues/jazzy direction.

During this time he recorded quite a lot, including this great song, "Freedom," eventually released after Jimi's death on the album The Cry of Love (1971). Jimi retained Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and recruited his old Army buddy Billy Cox on bass for this one. Whatever you do this holiday weekend, enjoy your freedom and do it safely.