In February of 1968, Jimi Hendrix’s album Axis: Bold As Love hit #3 on the charts in the United States. While still dominated by experimentation, both in terms of the music and in studio production, the album highlighted Hendrix’s lyrics and songwriting abilities to an extent not seen before. Critics often describe the foot-tapping single “Up From The Skies” as a narrative from the point of view of a visiting alien from outer space who seems fascinated by the problems of humanity—its “cages tall and cold” and “the smell of a world that has burned.” The singer’s social and political consciousness is complemented on this tight track by drummer Mitch Mitchell’s jazz-style brushes and Jimi’s funky wah-wah guitar.
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