Episode 12: Machine Gun

Jimi’s astonishing, supernatural talent was forged in poverty and neglect as he grew up in Seattle. We talk about that, and about the night Elvis came to town. After a short stint in the Army comes to a humiliating end, Jimi takes it on the road and spends the next four years paying his dues as a sideman.

We then take a look at two wars: a shooting war in Vietnam, and a cultural war in America. As we hurtle towards the closing years of the decade, Rock N Roll is reflecting and absorbing the events of the time.

We end up in London for the liftoff. We close with some commentary about the man, the music, and the price of stardom.

Songs

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Fire,” from Are You Experienced? 1967 Track Records

Glenn Miller Orchestra: “American Patrol,” (written by F.W. Meacham), single released 1942, RCA Victor Records

The Andrews Sisters: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” (written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince), single released 1941, Decca Records

Elvis Presley: “Don’t Be Cruel,” (written by Otis Blackwell), single released 1956, RCA Victor Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Castles Made of Sand,” from Axis: Bold as Love, 1967 Track Records

Sam Cooke: “Twistin’ the Night Away,” single released 1962, RCA Victor Records

John Lee Hooker: “Boogie Chillun’,” single released 1948, Modern Records

Barry McGuire: “Eve of Destruction” (written by P.F. Sloan), single released 1965, RCA/Dunhill Records

SSgt Barry Sadler: “Ballad of The Green Berets” (written by Robin Moore and SSgt Barry Sadler), single released 1966, RCA Victor Records

Jimi Hendrix: “Machine Gun,” from Band of Gypsys, 1970 Capitol Records

Buffalo Springfield: “For What It’s Worth,” from Buffalo Springfield, 1967 Atco Records

Albert King: “Crosscut Saw” (written by Tommy McClennan), single released 1967, Stax Records

Isley Brothers: “Shout!” single released 1959, RCA Victor Records

Don Covay “Mercy Mercy,” (written by Don Covay and Ronald Alonzo Miller) single released 1964, Rosemart Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Stone Free,” from Smash Hits, 1969 Reprise Records (American Release)

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Wait Until Tomorrow,” from Axis: Bold as Love, 1967 Track Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Little Wing,” from Axis: Bold as Love, 1967 Track Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Purple Haze,” from Are You Experienced? 1967 Track Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Foxey Lady,” from Are You Experienced? 1967 Track Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Like a Rolling Stone” (written by Bob Dylan), from Jimi Live at Monterey, 2014 Legacy Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Hey Joe,” from Are You Experienced? 1967 Track Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Sunshine of Your Love,” (written by Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton), from Valleys of Neptune 2010 Legacy Records

Jimi Hendrix Experience: “The Wind Cries Mary,” from Are You Experienced? 1967 Track Records

Books

Caputo, Phillip (1977) A Rumor of War

Cross, Charles (2005) Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix

Gitlin, Todd (1987) The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage

Hendrix, Leon (2012) Jimi Hendrix: A Brother’s Story

Marcus, Greil (1975) Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music

Roby, Steven and Schreiber, Brad (2014) Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London

Sheehan, Neil (1988) A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam

Shelton, Robert (1986) No Direction Home: The Life and Music of Bob Dylan

Films and Television Programs

Full Metal Jacket, directed by Stanley Kubrick: 1987 Warner Bros. Pictures

Monterey Pop, directed by D.A. Pennebaker: 1968 Leacock Pennebaker

NBC Nightly News with David Brinkley, broadcast date August 23, 1966. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evA7dA-wvVQ&feature=youtu.be

Ronald Reagan speech from 1966 California Gubernatorial campaign. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCr3nL78qWs

Online Sources, by topic in order of appearance

Excerpts from the US Army Discharge Summary for James Marshall Hendrix: retrieved from The Smoking Gun: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/jimis-private- parts

Draft statistics: retrieved from the US Selective Service System website: https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And- Records/Induction-Statistics

American Public Opinion and the Vietnam War: http://www.gallup.com/vault/191828/gallup-vault-hawks-doves- vietnam.aspx