When died on 18 September 1970 he had released three studio albums, one live album and a hits collection. Since then there have been literally hundreds of Hendrix albums issued, to the point where it seemed like every time he strapped on his guitar somebody pressed record. In the aftermath of Hendrix’s death the management and record company rummaged through the piles of tapes at his Electric Lady studio in New York where Hendrix had spent over a year recording a new album and hastily compiled a series of cash-in albums – and – with little rhyme or reason and certainly without reference to Hendrix’s intentions.
Then they started combing through the innumerable outtakes and jams, sometimes arbitrarily replacing the rhythm section on discredited albums such as and . They also sifted through the live tapes but seemed to play more attention to the status of the gig than the quality of the performance. His highest profile shows – at and the Isle Of Wight – were both disappointing performances.
Meanwhile, the bands with whom Hendrix had played as a sideman before moving to England in late 1966 – including and the Isley Brothers among many others – were checking their tapes for signs of Hendrix, prompting a flood of dubious releases that may or may not have included the incipient genius. Approach anything recorded before 1967 with extreme caution. Not until the Hendrix family regained Jimi’s estate and set up the Experience Hendrix label was some semblance of order.