Red House (song)
Encyclopedia
"Red House" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix
and originally recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
in 1966. The song, a slow twelve-bar blues
, "is one of the most traditional in sound and form of all his official recordings". It was developed during his pre-Experience days while Hendrix was performing in Greenwich Village and was inspired by earlier blues songs. Hendrix recorded several studio and live versions during his career; later, "Red House" has been recorded by a variety of blues and other artists.
described "Red House" as "Jimi's way of using his musical roots, everything he knew and understood best, in a pop context". The song is a slow twelve-bar blues, usually notated in 12/8 time in the key of B (although played in fingered key of B, Hendrix usually tuned his guitar 1/2 step lower resulting in a pitch of B).
The theme of "Red House" is "as old as the blues itself—the singer's woman doesn't love him any more and has moved". According to Noel Redding
, Hendrix told him "the song was written about his old high school girlfriend Betty Jean Morgan", although her house was reportedly brown. It has been suggested that Linda Keith's (who brought Hendrix to the attention of Chas Chandler
) friend's New York apartment with "the red velvet walls and decor influenced Jimi's writing". However, for Billy Cox "As far as I know, 'Red House' didn't have any significance in reference to a particular person, place or thing. It was just a blues number that Jimi put together".
According to Hendrix biographers, "Red House" was inspired by blues songs that Hendrix was performing while he was with Curtis Knight and the Squires in 1965 and 1966. One calls the Knight/Hendrix version of Albert King
's "Travelin' to California" (from his The Big Blues
album, later re-recorded as "California" for Door to Door) as "a dead ringer, both in structure and mood, for his 1967 perennial 'Red House'". The song (sometimes listed as "California Night") featured an early vocal performance by Hendrix and in one version he reminded the band "B" before counting off the song. Another calls Knight's/Hendrix's arrangement of Jimmy Reed
's "You Got Me Running" (also known as "Baby What You Want Me to Do
") "closely parallel[ing] that of 'Red House', down to the parallel-harmony bass part and the loping rhythmic feel".
', 'Kind Hearted Woman
', and '32-20 Blues
'". After the four-bar intro, Redding and Mitch Mitchell
come in while Hendrix solos up to the vocal at bar thirteen. After two twelve-bar vocal sections, Hendrix solos for twelve bars, then finishes up with another vocal section. The song's most prominent characteristic is Hendrix's guitar. John Lee Hooker
commented "That 'Red House', that'll make you grab your mother and choke her! Man, that's really hard, that tears you apart. He could get down, he could mash it, yeah, Lord! He had so many blues".
The song was recorded with Noel Redding playing the bass part on an electric guitar (tuned down 1/2 step), with the tone controls set to resemble a bass guitar. According to Redding, "I had borrowed a terrible old hollow-body electric guitar from someone at the studio...because I liked to play along on rhythm to familiarise myself with a sequence, not being quite at home on the bass yet".
A monaural recording from December 13, 1966 at the CBS Studios in London was issued on the UK version of Are You Experienced
. Despite Hendrix's complaints, the song was omitted from the US release of the album, because the recording company reportedly argued that "America does not like blues". However, a second take of the song with additional overdubbing by Hendrix in early 1967 was issued on the 1969 American Smash Hits compilation. This stereo version was later released on the 1984 Kiss the Sky
compilation, making it available outside the US. The original mono take became available in the US and Canada when it was released (minus most of the chat at the end) on the 1994 Blues album.
, choosing mostly a Gibson Flying V
and occasionally a Gibson SG
Custom. Later versions of "Red House" include (all live, except where noted):
recorded it for Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
. A version by John Lee Hooker in his own style appears on Variation on a Theme. Live versions include those by Johnny Winter
, Leslie West
, Boz Scaggs
with Slash
, Paul Gilbert
, Ben Harper
, Walter Trout
and Gary Moore
.
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and originally recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
in 1966. The song, a slow twelve-bar blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, "is one of the most traditional in sound and form of all his official recordings". It was developed during his pre-Experience days while Hendrix was performing in Greenwich Village and was inspired by earlier blues songs. Hendrix recorded several studio and live versions during his career; later, "Red House" has been recorded by a variety of blues and other artists.
Background
"Red House" has "the twelve-bar structure, the lyrics, the accompaniment, and the arrangement [that] are more or less conventional" with Hendrix's guitar performance setting it apart. Billy CoxBilly Cox
William "Billy" Cox is an American bassist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix.-Early years:Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Cox was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Schenley High School. He first met Jimi Hendrix in the early 1960s, when they were both in the United States...
described "Red House" as "Jimi's way of using his musical roots, everything he knew and understood best, in a pop context". The song is a slow twelve-bar blues, usually notated in 12/8 time in the key of B (although played in fingered key of B, Hendrix usually tuned his guitar 1/2 step lower resulting in a pitch of B).
The theme of "Red House" is "as old as the blues itself—the singer's woman doesn't love him any more and has moved". According to Noel Redding
Noel Redding
Noel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
, Hendrix told him "the song was written about his old high school girlfriend Betty Jean Morgan", although her house was reportedly brown. It has been suggested that Linda Keith's (who brought Hendrix to the attention of Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
) friend's New York apartment with "the red velvet walls and decor influenced Jimi's writing". However, for Billy Cox "As far as I know, 'Red House' didn't have any significance in reference to a particular person, place or thing. It was just a blues number that Jimi put together".
According to Hendrix biographers, "Red House" was inspired by blues songs that Hendrix was performing while he was with Curtis Knight and the Squires in 1965 and 1966. One calls the Knight/Hendrix version of Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
's "Travelin' to California" (from his The Big Blues
The Big Blues
The Big Blues is a blues album by Albert King, released in 1962 by King Records. Featuring mostly songs composed by Albert King himself, this was his first album and the only one before he signed with Stax Records, where he would record most albums along his career.The album is a collection of...
album, later re-recorded as "California" for Door to Door) as "a dead ringer, both in structure and mood, for his 1967 perennial 'Red House'". The song (sometimes listed as "California Night") featured an early vocal performance by Hendrix and in one version he reminded the band "B" before counting off the song. Another calls Knight's/Hendrix's arrangement of Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
's "You Got Me Running" (also known as "Baby What You Want Me to Do
Baby What You Want Me to Do
"Baby What You Want Me to Do" is a blues song that was written and recorded by Jimmy Reed in 1959...
") "closely parallel[ing] that of 'Red House', down to the parallel-harmony bass part and the loping rhythmic feel".
Original song
"Red House" was one of the earliest songs recorded by the Experience. The song opens with a diminished 7th chord frequently found in blues songs, as "heard at the start of Robert Johnson tunes like 'Dead Shrimp BluesDead Shrimp Blues
"Dead Shrimp Blues" is a song written by Robert Johnson.It is from the recording sessions of November 26 and 27, 1936, in San Antonio, Texas along with "32-20 Blues", "They're Red Hot", "Cross Road Blues", "Walkin' Blues", "Last Fair Deal Gone Down", "Preaching Blues" and "If I Had Possession Over...
', 'Kind Hearted Woman
Kind Hearted Woman Blues
"Kind Hearted Woman Blues" is a blues song recorded on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas by legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. The song was originally released on 78 rpm format as Vocalion 03416 and ARC 7-03-56. Johnson performed the song in the key of A, and recorded two takes, the first...
', and '32-20 Blues
32-20 Blues
"32-20 Blues" is a blues song by Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, recorded during his second recording session in San Antonio, Texas on November 26, 1936. The song was originally released on 78 rpm format as Vocalion 03445, in April the following year. The title refers to the .32-20 Winchester...
'". After the four-bar intro, Redding and Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell
John Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
come in while Hendrix solos up to the vocal at bar thirteen. After two twelve-bar vocal sections, Hendrix solos for twelve bars, then finishes up with another vocal section. The song's most prominent characteristic is Hendrix's guitar. John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
commented "That 'Red House', that'll make you grab your mother and choke her! Man, that's really hard, that tears you apart. He could get down, he could mash it, yeah, Lord! He had so many blues".
The song was recorded with Noel Redding playing the bass part on an electric guitar (tuned down 1/2 step), with the tone controls set to resemble a bass guitar. According to Redding, "I had borrowed a terrible old hollow-body electric guitar from someone at the studio...because I liked to play along on rhythm to familiarise myself with a sequence, not being quite at home on the bass yet".
A monaural recording from December 13, 1966 at the CBS Studios in London was issued on the UK version of Are You Experienced
Are You Experienced
Are You Experienced is the debut album by English/American rock band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Released in 1967, it was the first LP for Track Records...
. Despite Hendrix's complaints, the song was omitted from the US release of the album, because the recording company reportedly argued that "America does not like blues". However, a second take of the song with additional overdubbing by Hendrix in early 1967 was issued on the 1969 American Smash Hits compilation. This stereo version was later released on the 1984 Kiss the Sky
Kiss the Sky (Jimi Hendrix album)
Kiss the Sky is a compilation album by American rock guitarist, singer–songwriter Jimi Hendrix; released through Polydor Records in November 1984. The idea for this release was from producer Alan Douglas' favorite Hendrix songs...
compilation, making it available outside the US. The original mono take became available in the US and Canada when it was released (minus most of the chat at the end) on the 1994 Blues album.
Later versions
"Red House" was a staple of Jimi Hendrix's concerts, however, he usually performed much longer versions of the song at a slower tempo with Redding playing his signature Fender Jazz bass. Several versions were collected on Variation on a Theme: Red House, a music reference with analyses and transcriptions; others were released on various live and compilation albums. "Red House" was one of few songs that Hendrix sometimes used a guitar other than a Fender StratocasterFender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
, choosing mostly a Gibson Flying V
Gibson Flying V
-External links:*, , , , and , from the Gibson website*, a June 2001 article from Guitar Collector magazine*, a tribute site that lists all models and re-issues and most notable players**...
and occasionally a Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
Custom. Later versions of "Red House" include (all live, except where noted):
- October 9, 1967 at L'Olympia Theatre in Paris from Paris 1967/San Francisco 1968Paris 1967/San Francisco 1968Paris 1967/San Francisco 1968 is a posthumous live album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on April 24, 2003 by Dagger Records. The album contains songs from The Jimi Hendrix Experience's performances at the Olympia in Paris, France on October 9, 1967 and Winterland in San Francisco,...
. - January 29, 1968 also at L'Olympia from StagesStages (Jimi Hendrix album)Stages is a box set consisting of live performances by Jimi Hendrix covering four years of his career. Disc One is the September 5, 1967 concert in Stockholm. Disc Two is the January 29, 1968 concert in Paris; this was later released on Dagger Records as part of Live in Paris & Ottawa 1968. Disc...
and Live in Paris & Ottawa 1968Live in Paris & Ottawa 1968Live in Paris & Ottawa 1968 is a posthumous live album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on September 5, 2008 by Dagger Records. The album contains songs from the band's performances at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France on 29 January 1968 and the Capitol Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada...
. For this version, Redding played the bass part on a Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
Custom guitar, borrowed from Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
. - March 1968 at a jam at The Scene Club later released on Woke Up This Morning and Found Myself DeadWoke Up This Morning and Found Myself DeadWoke Up This Morning and Found Myself Dead is a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix released in Canada 1980 by Stony Plain Recording Co. and in the USA by Red Lightnin' Records...
. Unlike his other versions, Hendrix used a guitar figure similar to CreamCream (band)Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
's "CrossroadsCross Road Blues"Cross Road Blues" is a song by Delta Blues singer Robert Johnson; released on a 78 rpm record in 1936 by Vocalion Records, catalogue 3519. The original version remained out of print after its initial release until the appearance of The Complete Recordings in 1990...
". - October 29, 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood from Blues. The song was performed in the style of "Voodoo ChileVoodoo Chile"Voodoo Chile" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded in 1968, closing Side 1 of The Jimi Hendrix Experience album Electric Ladyland. The song is Hendrix's longest studio recording and features additional musicians in what has been described as a "studio jam"...
" with organist Lee MichaelsLee MichaelsLee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:...
. - February 17, 1969 at Olympia Studios in London from Valleys of NeptuneValleys of Neptune-Recording details:All recording details are included in the Valleys of Neptune booklet, except for the Target tracks, which are listed on the inside of the Digipack behind the CD.Target bonus tracks-Album artwork:...
. - May 14, 1969 at the San Diego Sports Arena from Hendrix in the WestHendrix in the WestHendrix in the West was a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix, released in January 1972 by Polydor Records, and later in February by Reprise Records...
and The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set. - August 18, 1969 at Woodstock from WoodstockWoodstock (Jimi Hendrix album)-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – lead guitar, vocals*Mitch Mitchell – drums*Billy Cox – bass guitar*Larry Lee – rhythm guitar*Juma Sultan – percussion*Jerry Velez – percussion...
and Live at WoodstockLive at WoodstockThe remastered 2010 "Experience Hendrix" DVD includes the following on the second disc titled "A Second Look":"Road To Woodstock: Hendrix performance footage, interview with Woodstock promoter Michael Lang and Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Larry Lee, Juma Sultan and others."Jimi Hendrix: Live At...
. The song did not appear in the theatrical film release. - July 17, 1970 at Randall's Island from The Jimi Hendrix ConcertsThe Jimi Hendrix Concerts-Recording details:*Tracks 1 and 10 recorded at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, USA on October 12, 1968 *Track 6 recorded at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, USA on October 12, 1968...
and Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix CollectionVoodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix CollectionVoodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection is a two-disc set compilation. The first disc contains studio recordings and the second disc contains live recordings. It contains many alternate recordings of studio tracks, and previously unavailable and unreleased recordings...
. - August 30, 1970 at the Isle of Wight from Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of WightBlue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of WightBlue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight is a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix released on November 12, 2002, and re-released in 2004 as a 3-disc 'Deluxe Sound & Vision Edition' in a special box and slip cover format as part of Experience Hendrix's plan to re-release most of Jimi Hendrix's...
.
Versions by other artists
"Red House" has been performed by many blues and other musicians. Albert King, whose "Travelin' to California" has been cited as inspiring Hendrix, recorded a version for his last studio album, Red House. Buddy GuyBuddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
recorded it for Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix is a 1993 album recorded by various artists in tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The artists were drawn from many genres of popular music. Contributors include his classic rock contemporaries Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, blues man Buddy Guy, classical violinist Nigel...
. A version by John Lee Hooker in his own style appears on Variation on a Theme. Live versions include those by Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, Leslie West
Leslie West
Leslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
, Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
with Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
, Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert
Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr...
, Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
, Walter Trout
Walter Trout
Walter Trout is an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Trout's career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he became a sideman for Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones...
and Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
.