| "Stepping Stone" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys | ||||||||||
| from the album War Heroes | ||||||||||
| B-side | "Izabella" | |||||||||
| Released | April 8, 1970 | |||||||||
| Format | 7" vinyl | |||||||||
| Recorded | February 15, 1970 at Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York, USA | |||||||||
| Genre | Rock, funk rock | |||||||||
| Length |
4:05 (single version) 4:11 (album version) |
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| Label | Reprise | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Jimi Hendrix | |||||||||
| Producer | Jimi Hendrix | |||||||||
| Jimi Hendrix US singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Stepping Stone" is a song by American psychedelic rock musician Jimi Hendrix, featured on his 1972 third posthumous studio album War Heroes. It was originally released as a single in the United States backed with "Izabella" on April 8, 1970 – the last single released by Hendrix before his death. Written and produced by Hendrix, the song was recorded early in 1970 with the short-lived Band of Gypsys lineup of Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles.
"Stepping Stone" first appeared, in part, when Gypsy Sun and Rainbows performed at Woodstock Festival on August 18, 1969, as Hendrix incorporated its rhythm into their long rendition of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". The band made an attempt at recording the song (which was then known as "Sky Blues Today") in the studio on August 30, and it was next touched on during a long studio jam session with Buddy Miles on November 14[1] (see Morning Symphony Ideas). "Stepping Stone" was first played live during the second show at the Fillmore East on December 31, 1969 by the Band of Gypsys, and again during the first show of January 1, 1970.[2] These turned out to be the only live performances of the song.
Into 1970 the band continued work on the song at Record Plant Studios, recording three takes with the name "I'm a Man" on January 7, the third of which provided the basic track with which they would work.[2] They revisited the take on January 20, adding guitar overdubs and renaming it "Sky Blues Today", and another mix was prepared on January 22.[2] More mixing was completed on February 12, and on February 15 the master take, which was later renamed "Stepping Stone" was recorded and subsequently prepared for release with "Izabella".[2] The single, credited to 'Hendrix Band of Gypsys' was released on April 8, 1970 by Reprise Records.
Hendrix, being the perfectionist that he was, did not entirely accept the final mix of "Stepping Stone". On June 26, 1970, he and Mitch Mitchell, who had rejoined the band, recorded new guitar and drum parts respectively. With these changes, the song was later released on War Heroes in 1972 and First Rays of the New Rising Sun in 1997.