Imagine hearing Hendrix in the day for the first time. The solo in Purple Haze had to sounded like it was delivered from another world, hell, it still does. To be in swinging London at this period had to have been amazing.

A perfect debut that never lets up with its soulful psychedelic rock. Mitch Mitchell’s amazing jazz style isn’t talked/written about enough.

Richie Unterberger at Allmusic writes: One of the most stunning debuts in rock history, and one of the definitive albums of the psychedelic era. On Are You Experienced?, Jimi Hendrix synthesized various elements of the cutting edge of 1967 rock into music that sounded both futuristic and rooted in the best traditions of rock, blues, pop, and soul. It was his mind-boggling guitar work, of course, that got most of the ink, building upon the experiments of British innovators like Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend to chart new sonic territories in feedback, distortion, and sheer volume. It wouldn't have meant much, however, without his excellent material, whether psychedelic frenzy ("Foxey Lady," "Manic Depression," "Purple Haze"), instrumental freak-out jams ("Third Stone from the Sun"), blues ("Red House," "Hey Joe"), or tender, poetic compositions ("The Wind Cries Mary") that demonstrated the breadth of his songwriting talents. Not to be underestimated were the contributions of drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding, who gave the music a rhythmic pulse that fused parts of rock and improvised jazz. Many of these songs are among Hendrix's very finest; it may be true that he would continue to develop at a rapid pace throughout the rest of his brief career, but he would never surpass his first LP in terms of consistently high quality. [The British and American versions of the album differed substantially when they were initially released in 1967; MCA's 17-song reissue did everyone a favor by gathering all of the material from the two records in one place, adding a few B-sides from early singles as well.

Are You Experienced is the debut album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, a band that revolutionized rock music with their innovative and experimental approach to electric guitar playing. The album was released in 1967, and it is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. It features some of Jimi Hendrix’s most original and iconic songs, such as “Purple Haze”, “Foxy Lady”, “Hey Joe”, and “The Wind Cries Mary”.

The album was recorded in London, where Hendrix moved in 1966 after being discovered by former Animals member Chas Chandler. Chandler became Hendrix’s manager and producer, and helped him form the Jimi Hendrix Experience with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. The band signed with Track Records, a new label founded by the Who’s managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.

The album was completed in 16 recording sessions at three different studios: De Lane Lea, CBS, and Olympic. Hendrix used various techniques and effects to create his distinctive guitar sound, such as feedback, distortion, wah-wah, fuzz, and octavia. He also experimented with different tunings, string gauges, and amplifiers. He played a Fender Stratocaster guitar, which he often set on fire during his live performances.

The album was released in two different versions: the UK version and the US version. The UK version came out first, on May 12, 1967. It contained 11 tracks, including the title track “Are You Experienced?”, which was a psychedelic song with a drone-like quality inspired by Indian classical music. The UK version did not include the band’s first three singles: “Purple Haze”, “Hey Joe”, and “The Wind Cries Mary”, which were already top ten hits in the UK.

The US version came out later, on August 23, 1967. It contained 11 tracks as well, but with some changes. It replaced three songs from the UK version (“Red House”, “Can You See Me”, and “Remember”) with the three singles mentioned above. It also changed the order of the tracks and the cover art. The US cover featured a more psychedelic design by photographer Karl Ferris, who used a fisheye lens to create a distorted image of the band.

The album was a critical and commercial success in both countries. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart, where it stayed for 33 weeks. It also reached number five on the US Billboard 200, where it stayed for 106 weeks. It sold over five million copies worldwide and was certified platinum by the RIAA. It also received several accolades from various publications and organizations. For example, Rolling Stone ranked it number 30 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2020.

Are You Experienced is a landmark album that influenced many generations of musicians and fans. It showcased Jimi Hendrix’s genius as a songwriter, guitarist, and performer. It also introduced a new direction in rock music that combined elements of blues, jazz, soul, and psychedelia. It is an album that deserves to be experienced by anyone who loves music.