According to recording engineer Eddie Kramer, Jimi Hendrix’s classic Electric Ladyland LP was originally to be titled At Last…The Beginning. As it stands, that phrase became the title of a recent DVD documenting the making of the 1968 album—one of rock’s greatest— that was to be Hendrix’s last “official” recording during his short lifetime.
Hendrix Documentary Extended With Musician Interviews, Live Footage
At Last…The Beginning: The Making of Electric Ladyland was first produced in 1997 for the hour-long Classic Albums television series. More than 40 minutes of interviews, music and footage have been added to this extended version under the guidance of Forever Hendrix, a company led by Janie Hendrix, the guitarist’s half-sister.
Because little footage exists of in-studio playing, most of what the viewer sees in At Last…The Beginning is a combination of live Hendrix concert performance (of non-album songs) and photographs from the sessions (of which there were plenty). The producers have done a good job recreating the feel of the sessions.
Song-by-Song Tour of the Recording of Electric Ladyland
Besides the rare footage, one of the real strengths of this film is its chronological, song-by-song review of the recording of Electric LadyLand, led by engineer Kramer and interspersed with interviews and commentary by the various musicians who played on each track.
Hendrix’s bandmates from The Jimi Hendrix Experience were at odds by this point. Although its members Noel Redding (bass) and drummer Mitch Mitchell played on most of the tracks, so did numerous other musicians. Quite a bit of the commentary comes from Redding and Mitchell, the musicians who knew Hendrix best, and while it is clear they admired the man, not all of their views are positive, particularly regarding these sessions, which had become circus-like in atmosphere.
For the first time, Jimi was his own producer, so there was nobody really in charge during the Electric Ladyland sessions. While this led to a lot of free-form musical experimentation (from which the album benefited greatly), it was also responsible for the party atmosphere inside New York's Record Plant studio. Hendrix often invited a dozen or two people along to the sessions. Occasionally, a cab driver joined in on a track. Hallucinogens contributed as well.
Steve Winwood & Buddy Miles Among Contributors to Hendrix DVD
Other commentary comes from Traffic’s Dave Mason and Steve Winwood, Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady, drummer Buddy Miles (all of whom performed), and former manager Chas Chandler. Their sharp recollections lend a great deal of insight and give the film credibility.
It is Eddie Kramer behind the soundboard, however, that really gives the viewer a feel for the sessions and recording process. The engineer tour-guides his way through each song, explaining how various sounds were achieved and demonstrating the mix.
At one point he tells of Hendrix using a pocket comb and wax paper to achieve a kazoo-like sound on "Crosstown Traffic," then plays it from the soundboard. Tidbits like these are just one of many aspects that make At Last…The Beginning a satisfying documentary that fans of Jimi Hendrix and music/recording aficionados will want to see/hear more than once.
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