Burning of the Midnight Lamp
| "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Jimi Hendrix Experience | ||||
| B-side | "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" | |||
| Released | August 19, 1967 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | July 7 and 20, 1967 at Mayfair Studios in New York | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock | |||
| Length | 3:39 | |||
| Label | Track | |||
| Writer(s) | Jimi Hendrix | |||
| Producer | Chas Chandler | |||
| The Jimi Hendrix Experience singles chronology | ||||
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"Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, first released as a mono single b/w "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" in the United Kingdom on August 19, 1967 (peaking at #18).[1] It later appeared on the band's final studio album, Electric Ladyland. The single features more sophisticated instrumentation and production than his earlier 1967 releases, and anticipates the richness and detail of Axis: Bold as Love (1967) and Electric Ladyland. Both songs feature the wah-wah guitar effect, a first for Hendrix and later to become a regular element of his playing. The song is also one of the few on which Hendrix plays keyboard.
Recorded July 7 and 20, 1967 at Mayfair Studios, "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" opens with a delicate melody played on an electric harpsichord and wah-wah guitar that is soon joined by bass and drums. During the verses, the rhythm section playing is insistent, in contrast to the angelic background vocals and harpsichord that provide a crescendo to each verse. According to engineer Eddie Kramer, the vocals are by Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations.[citation needed] The mandolin effect is produced by recording two or more guitars playing the same part slowly, then speeding it up so that it plays at double speed on the record, effecting a unique timbre. The building instrumentation is repeated for each verse.
[edit] References
- ^ The Jimi Hendrix Experience in the UK Charts, The Official Charts.
