Song of the day for November 16 2023

Today’s song is Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by Jimi Hendrix. On this day in 1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience topped the US album chart with Electric Ladyland. The double LP, which marked their third and final title, featured the group’s iconic cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” as well as songs like “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” “Gypsy Eyes” and “Crosstown Traffic.” While the release was initially met with mixed reviews, it has since been hailed as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It contains improvised guitar and a vocal from Jimi Hendrix, backed by Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The song is one of Hendrix’s best known; it was a feature of his concert performances throughout his career, and several live renditions were recorded and released on later albums.

After his death in 1970, Track Records released the song as a single in the United Kingdom using the title “Voodoo Chile” (see confusion over title). It became Hendrix’s only number one single on the UK Singles Chart, reaching the top position during the week of November 15, 1970. Several artists have performed or recorded versions of the song. Rolling Stone magazine included it at number 101 on their original 2004 list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”