Electric Ladyland

Released in the US on Reprise, with the UK edition on Track nine days later, it credits Hendrix as producer. Chandler was reportedly unhappy with the credit. Sessions resumed at the Record Plant in New York on 18 April 1968, and the engineers were Eddie Kramer and Gary Kellgren. Everything is by Hendrix except Little Miss Strange by Redding, Come On (Part 1) by Earl King and All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan.

Hendrix recorded over fifty takes of Gypsy Eyes, sang from behind screens, and did his own backing vocals on the title track and Long Hot Summer Night. Chandler grew frustrated and the working relationship ended. Redding, who had joined Fat Mattress, was often absent, so Hendrix played much of the bass himself. It is the only Experience album mixed entirely in stereo. Guests included Al Kooper on piano, Steve Winwood on Hammond and Jack Casady on bass for Voodoo Chile, Buddy Miles on drums, Chris Wood on flute, Brian Jones on percussion and the Sweet Inspirations on backing vocals.

Rolling Stone reported in 2018 that the Sweet Inspirations, led by Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, sang on Burning of the Midnight Lamp. The same feature said the solo on Crosstown Traffic is laced with a kazoo that Hendrix made from a comb and cellophane, and that on Voodoo Chile he wanted the feel of an after-hours jam at the Scene club, so audience sounds were added. Brian Jones tried to play piano on All Along the Watchtower, failed, and was moved to percussion.

Reception

It went to number one in the US for two weeks and in Canada, and to number six in Britain. Melody Maker called it mixed-up and muddled but praised All Along the Watchtower as a masterpiece. Tony Glover in Rolling Stone in 1968 valued its energy flow, and Christgau in Stereo Review praised the stereo as the best he knew for its own sake. He gave it five stars in Blender in 2005. The 2018 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition scored 97 on Metacritic. The album entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Rolling Stone ranked it fifty-fourth in 2003 and fifty-third in 2020.