Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)

"Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" (often shortened to "Electric Ladyland") is a song by psychedelic rock band The Jimi Hendrix Experience, featured on their 1968 third studio album Electric Ladyland. Written and produced by vocalist and guitarist Jimi Hendrix (who also played bass on the song), "Electric Ladyland" is written as a tribute to the women in his life who inspired him – "electric ladies", as Hendrix chose to refer to them.^[1][2] The song is the title track of the album, and also shares its name with that of the recording studio designed by Hendrix in 1969 – Electric Lady Studios. It was recorded in April 1968 at the newly opened Record Plant Studios in New York City.^[3][4]

Compared structurally to the more well-known "Little Wing",^[1][2] the song is described, by Denise Sullivan of allmusic, as a "soulful ballad" featuring "fluid and always excellent [guitar] playing" which produces a "dreamlike quality".^[2] "Have You Ever Been" has also been described as "in the spirit of 'Spanish Castle Magic' and 'The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice'";^[1] the vocal performance in particular, "Jimi harmonising falsetto with himself",^[1] has also been identified as a highlight of the song – a "magic carpet ride".^[2]

An alternate take of "Electric Ladyland", recorded on 14 June 1968, was released on the posthumous studio album Loose Ends in 1974 under the title "Electric Lady Land";^[4] a previously unreleased instrumental demo of "Electric Ladyland" was featured on the 2000 compilation box set The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Personnel

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

• Jimi Hendrix – vocals, guitars, bass, production
• Mitch Mitchell – drums, tambourine

Additional personnel

• Gary Kellgren – engineering

References

• Shapiro, Harry; Glebbeek, Caesar (1995). Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0312130627 

Notes