Jimi Hendrix Songs Ranked
Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His mainstream career lasted only four years, but he is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in history and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music”. Hendrix was inspired by American rock and roll and electric blues. He favored overdriven amplifiers with high volume and gain, and he was instrumental in popularizing the previously undesirable sounds caused by guitar amplifier feedback. He was also one of the first guitarists to make extensive use of tone-altering effects units in mainstream rock, such as fuzz tone, Octavia, wah-wah, and Uni-Vibe. He was the first musician to use stereophonic phasing effects in recordings. Holly George-Warren of Rolling Stone writes: “Hendrix pioneered the use of the instrument as an electronic sound source. Players before him had experimented with feedback and distortion, but Hendrix turned those effects and others into a controlled, fluid vocabulary every bit as personal as the blues with which he began. Here are all of Jimi Hendrix’s songs ranked.
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20. Hear My Train a Comin’ (Rainbow Bridge, 1971)
“Undoubtedly the best guitar track I’ve ever heard. Sweet bluesy riffs and soloing, jimi does not fall even slightly short of perfect on this number with his guitar.”
19. Highway Chile (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“The most unbelievable guitar solo ever…the tone, the feel, the choice of notes, the fluid link throughout the entire solo is just a wall of sound unlike I have ever heard before or since.”
18. If 6 Was 9 (Axis: Bold as Love, 1967)
“You are so right. Ahead of his time? Man, keep in mind this was almost fifty years ago and his guitar playing sounds like something that hasn’t even been invented yet, esp. On “if 6 was 9″‘ “Night Bird Flying” and “Bold as Love”. The best ever, period, exclamation point, end of discussion.”
17. Spanish Castle Magic (Axis: Bold as Love, 1967)
“He is a blues guitarist and this cries out the blues. Yeah the psychedelic and popular stuff is cool but this is by far his best work feeling wise and meaning wise.”
See more: Jimi Hendrix Studio Albums Ranked
16. Star Spangled Banner (Rainbow Bridge, 1971)
“This is not only one of the most iconic Hendrix performances, but it was also delivered one of the most important messages our country needed to hear. By intermittently interrupting the national anthem with simulated sounds of gunfire and women screaming, he told the country that no matter the war or turmoil we face our country will still overcome it because in the past we have done the same thing numerous times. It is truly powerful, and it doesn’t even contain any lyrics. I consider this one of the greatest musical achievements of the 1960s, and for a very good reason.”
15. Angel (The Cry of Love, 1971)
“This song is so beautiful because it doesn’t show off Hendrix’s flashiness with the guitar, but instead shows it through his lyrics. Mitch Mitchell’s intense drumming style and Noel Redding’s bass licks give this song the emotional boost it needs for me to consider it Hendrix’s best song.”
14. Red House (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“The first song of Hendrix I listened to and GOD that was good! And lyrics are kinda funny! One of the most beautiful songs you will hear. No more needed to be said.”
13. 1983… (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) (Electric Ladyland, 1968)
“Jimi Hendrix’s best song, and one of the greatest songs of all time. It is a psychedelic masterpiece, with the instrumental section near the end (Moon, Turn the Tides…Gently, Gently Away) being underrated. Everyone says All Along the Watchtower and Purple Haze are the best, and they are amazing, but this is the best. Along with Bohemian Rhapsody, Stairway to Heaven, and Free Bird, this should be considered a rock anthem.”
12. Manic Depression (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“Great opening followed by a great solo which in my opinion is one of Hendrix’s greatest guitar solos, a true masterpiece on the guitar.”
11. Bold as Love (Axis: Bold as Love, 1967)
“No doubt, best song, not only jimi’s, we are talking about the best song ever, the best part is the end, for me is the expression of psychedelia, a distorted guitar that screams ” they all bold as love”. The lyrics are perfect too, he talks About colours and finishes the speech saying ” a rainbow like you” in this song, we can appreciate jimi is not a just the best guitarist ( no slash or others, jimi is the best guitarist, we all agree right?”
10. Castles Made of Sand (Axis: Bold as Love, 1967)
“Castles made of sand is one of the deepest and most musically inclined of Hendrix’s repertoire. Such a masterpiece. This song sends your mind afloat.”
9. Crosstown Traffic (Electric Ladyland, 1968)
“Super catchy and great, absolutely love this song Just an awesome combo of lyrics and guitar work.”
8. Fire (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“Not the best, but should definitely be higher! The drumming and singing is awesome! An incredibly groovy song Has one of my favorite lines from any Jimi song – “Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!”
7. Foxey Lady (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“I love it when ZZ TOP plays Foxy Lady and tells the story of how Jimi taught Billy Gibbons to play it when they were all very young.”
See more: Love Albums Ranked
6. The Wind Cries Mary (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“To me this song means so much, it makes me think about life and how short jimi’s was. The solo is very powerful”
5. Hey Joe (Are You Experienced, 1967)
“Jimi Hendrix is the best! Enough said. Hey Joe has so much pation thrown into this marvalous song that you can’t even rate it according to normal bystanders”
4. Little Wing (South Saturn Delta, 1997)
“This song should be number one for its guitar work. It highlights much of Jimi’s style with chordal hammer ons, pull offs and slides. The haunting melody and words are magical and deserve a good listen. Sharing this song with younger players might inspire them.”
3. Purple Haze (Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More, 1970)
“Little wing, voodoo child, all along the watchtower are all beautiful and full of vibe but purple haze is simply so hard and “to the point” that no matter where its played or who listens to it, its always an instant hit.”
2. Voodoo Child (Electric Ladyland, 1968)
“Above all other work that the magic of the Experience put out, never had there been a song to shake the scene of not only psychedelic music but the Rock foundation in general. Honestly, “Watchtower” is as good as it gets, but something about “Voodoo Child” just speaks, and speaks damn loud. One of Hendrix’s most biting riffs and the solo is legendary, almost impeccable. I do believe this should top this list.”
1. All Along the Watchtower (Electric Ladyland, 1968)
“This song, Hendrix’s cover of Dylan’s poetry, is just simply so great! I can not see Dylan disagreeing that it raised his piece to outstanding heights of peak artistic talent, in dynamic ways! If I were in Dylan’s spot, I would be astounded, I could have been interpreted so greatly!”