Overview
Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision is a feature-length documentary film chronicling the creation of Electric Lady Studios, rising from the rubble of a bankrupt, Greenwich Village nightclub to the state of the art recording facility inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s vision and becoming the first ever, artist owned commercial recording studio.
On limited cinema release prior to the full box set release in early October, which will contain not only the documentary, but also 38 previously unreleased tracks by Jimi Hendrix, and 20 new mixes of other tracks, Electric Lady Studios is the latest release from the Experience Hendrix LLC team that covers the creation and construction of the famous studios that was conceived as a home-studio for the legendary artist. The documentary from longtime archivist and documentarian for the Hendrix estate, John McDermott, explores what the legacy of the studio means to the music industry, and how it redefined what the idea of a recording studio was.
Utlising the talking heads documentary approach, this film is a fascinating insight into how an old abandoned nightclub which Hendrix saw as a project for a place to simply hang out and jam evolved into a dedicated studio unlike any other where Jimi’s creativity and sound could be allowed freedom to express in every way possible. Producer and engineer Eddie Kramer, who worked with Jimi through his career, was a key figure in the concept of the studio, and speaks through the documentary about what makes this studio so different and special. Intermixed with snippets of music, and chats with friends and colleagues of Hendrix, as well as those who worked on the construction, to give insight into the problems that were encountered, the ideas that were thrown out, and the passion that won through in the end to bring the studio to life, this is a fascinating documentary for fans and non-fans alike.
As someone who has always been fascinated with the locations that are used to record music, and any documentaries that tell us what it is that makes each venue so special to artists who record there, this was right up my alley. Being a fan of Hendrix was just the icing on the cake, making this, much like McDermott’s other works, essential viewing.
Packed with names such as Steve Winwood, Buddy Guy, Dave Palmer, Mitch Mitchell, and more, using new interviews and old archive footage, as well as some previously unreleased footage of Hendrix himself, this is another great testament to the legacy of music that Jimi brought, and how through the studio itself his impact is still felt.