Stone Free
| "Stone Free" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Jimi Hendrix Experience | |
| A-side | "Hey Joe" |
| Released | December 16, 1966 |
| Format | 7-inch 45 rpm record |
| Recorded | November 2, 1966 |
| Studio | De Lane Lea, London |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:36 |
| Label | Polydor (no. 56139) |
| Writer(s) | Jimi Hendrix |
| Producer(s) | Chas Chandler |
"Stone Free" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and the second song recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It has been described as a "counterculture anthem, with its lyrics praising the footloose and fancy-free life", which reflected Hendrix's restless lifestyle. Instrumentally, the song has a strong rhythmic drive provided by drummer Mitch Mitchell with harmonic support by bassist Noel Redding. "Stone Free" was issued on December 16, 1966, as the B-side of the Experience's first UK single "Hey Joe" and later included on the Smash Hits compilation album.
In April 1969, Hendrix recorded a revised rendition of the song for possible release as a single. However, it was not used and Reprise Records issued the original recording as a single in the U.S. on September 15, 1969. Hendrix often played "Stone Free" in concert using extended arrangements, sometimes lasting over fourteen minutes. The revised song and several live recordings were later released.
With the first Experience song, "Hey Joe", completed on October 23, 1966, the group needed a second number for their debut single. Hendrix suggested another cover song, but producer Chas Chandler encouraged him to come up with an original in order to receive song publishing royalties. Hendrix wrote "Stone Free", his first Experience composition on October 24 after a jam at a London club. ("Look Over Yonder", recorded by the Experience in 1968, began in 1966 as "Mr. Bad Luck", written and performed by Hendrix with his band Jimmy James and the Blue Flames in Greenwich Village, New York). The group rehearsed the song, with Chandler (formerly a bassist with the Animals) showing Redding, a guitarist who was new to the bass, some bass lines. "Stone Free" was recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in London on November 2, 1966. According to Chandler, it was completed in an hour.Overdubbing was minimal, consisting of a cowbell part by Mitchell and an additional guitar line and harmony vocals by Hendrix.
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