Third Stone from the Sun
Encyclopedia
"Third Stone From the Sun" is a song written and originally recorded by Jimi Hendrix
and released as "3rd Stone From The Sun" on the 1967 Are You Experienced
album by Jimi Hendrix Experience. It is mostly an instrumental, but includes pieces of spoken word, performed by Hendrix, over the music.
Because the song mixes the styles of rock and jazz, it is often cited as one of the earliest examples of fusion
. The title is a direct reference to Earth
, which is the third planet away from the Sun
in the Solar System
.
The song features slowed-down voices and dialogues between Hendrix and his manager Chas Chandler
. They wanted to reproduce the spacy sounds from Star Trek
. The word "Stone" in the title was a way to depict the Earth from an alien point of view.
On the original mono version (titled "3rd Stone From The Sun") the last line is buried by a normal speed overdub of Jimi saying "War, speak water" followed by a very quiet "Speak" (he later used this unusual phrase in 'Freedom' - "You've got my heart, speak electric water"); this was removed from the stereo version in favor of revealing the last line - "I think we should take a look".
The later stereo mix reveals more slowed talk, e.g. "Yeah, a acid drop can make people fly", etc.
Towards the end of the song, which was the only instrumental on the album, Hendrix, in what has been popularly perceived to be a taunt to the popular music of the period, says, "To you I shall put an end, then you'll never hear surf music again." However, according to popular surf musician Dick Dale
in the liner notes of Better Shred Than Dead: The Dick Dale Anthology, the line "Then you'll never hear surf music again" was Hendrix's reaction upon hearing that Dale was battling a possibly terminal case of colon cancer, intended to encourage his comrade to recuperate. Dale, in gratitude to his late friend, later covered this song as a tribute to Hendrix. This interpretation is given some credence in the aforementioned overdub sessions which reveal two additional sentences:
recorded a cover of "Third Stone from the Sun" for the 1993 album Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
. "Third Stone", along with "Purple Haze
", was frequently covered live by Jaco Pastorius
. Part of the guitar chorus melody has been quoted on other records, amongst them The Amboy Dukes
("Baby, Please Don't Go
"), Cozy Powell
("Dance with the Devil"), Weather Report
("Slang"), The Allman Brothers ("Mountain Jam
"), Devo
(a cover of Hendrix's "Are You Experienced"), Stevie Ray Vaughan
, Bruno Blum
("Bruno Blum Bruno Blum Bruno Blum") and Right Said Fred
("I'm Too Sexy
"). Punk band The Cortinas
included the riff in live performances of "Gloria".
"Third Stone from the Sun" figures prominently in the soundtrack of the 2003 film, "The Dreamers," directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and released as "3rd Stone From The Sun" on the 1967 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...
album by Jimi Hendrix Experience. It is mostly an instrumental, but includes pieces of spoken word, performed by Hendrix, over the music.
Because the song mixes the styles of rock and jazz, it is often cited as one of the earliest examples of fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
. The title is a direct reference to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, which is the third planet away from the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
in the Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
.
The song features slowed-down voices and dialogues between Hendrix and his manager Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
. They wanted to reproduce the spacy sounds from Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. The word "Stone" in the title was a way to depict the Earth from an alien point of view.
Dialogues
With the track sped-up by a factor of two (or playing the 33⅓ RPM LP at 45 RPM), one can clearly hear what is said, especially at the beginning of the song. The version heard on The Jimi Hendrix Experience: 1966–1967 begins with the overdub session for the dialogue, including Hendrix and Chandler's first "verse" at regular speed, including two incomplete outtakes:- Hendrix : Star fleet to scout ship, please give your position. Over.
- Chandler : I am in orbit around the third planet of star known as sun. Over.
- Hendrix : May this be Earth? Over.
- Chandler : Positive. It is known to have some form of intelligent species. Over.
- Hendrix : I think we should take a look, (Jimi then makes vocal spaceship noises).
On the original mono version (titled "3rd Stone From The Sun") the last line is buried by a normal speed overdub of Jimi saying "War, speak water" followed by a very quiet "Speak" (he later used this unusual phrase in 'Freedom' - "You've got my heart, speak electric water"); this was removed from the stereo version in favor of revealing the last line - "I think we should take a look".
The later stereo mix reveals more slowed talk, e.g. "Yeah, a acid drop can make people fly", etc.
Towards the end of the song, which was the only instrumental on the album, Hendrix, in what has been popularly perceived to be a taunt to the popular music of the period, says, "To you I shall put an end, then you'll never hear surf music again." However, according to popular surf musician Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
in the liner notes of Better Shred Than Dead: The Dick Dale Anthology, the line "Then you'll never hear surf music again" was Hendrix's reaction upon hearing that Dale was battling a possibly terminal case of colon cancer, intended to encourage his comrade to recuperate. Dale, in gratitude to his late friend, later covered this song as a tribute to Hendrix. This interpretation is given some credence in the aforementioned overdub sessions which reveal two additional sentences:
- Hendrix: ...Then you'll never hear surf music again. That sounds like a lie to me. Come on, man; let's go home.
Notable Covers
Pat MethenyPat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
recorded a cover of "Third Stone from the Sun" for the 1993 album 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...
. "Third Stone", along with "Purple Haze
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
", was frequently covered live by Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
. Part of the guitar chorus melody has been quoted on other records, amongst them The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent...
("Baby, Please Don't Go
Baby, Please Don't Go
"Baby, Please Don't Go" is a blues song first recorded by Big Joe Williams in 1935. It is related to a group of early 20th century blues and work songs that include "I'm Alabama Bound", "Another Man Done Gone", and "Don't Leave Me Here", and "Turn Your Lamp Down Low".It has become a blues and rock...
"), Cozy Powell
Cozy Powell
Colin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
("Dance with the Devil"), Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
("Slang"), The Allman Brothers ("Mountain Jam
Mountain Jam
"Mountain Jam" is an improvised instrumental jam by The Allman Brothers Band. The song's first known recording is on 5-4-1969 at Macon Central Park, but was officially released later on the albums; Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970, Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival: July 3 & 5, 1970, The...
"), Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
(a cover of Hendrix's "Are You Experienced"), Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
, Bruno Blum
Bruno Blum
Bruno Blum is a singer songwriter, guitar player and music producer nicknamed "Doc Reggae." Born in Vichy, France on October 4, 1960, he is mostly known for his work in the reggae music field, and also works as a comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, writer and speaker.He was the...
("Bruno Blum Bruno Blum Bruno Blum") and Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred is an English pop band, formed in 1989 by brothers Richard Fairbrass and Fred Fairbrass, later joined by their friend Rob Manzoli. The group is named after a song of the same name which was a hit for Bernard Cribbins in 1962...
("I'm Too Sexy
I'm Too Sexy
"I'm Too Sexy" is a song by English trio Right Said Fred from their album Up. The single topped the American charts for three weeks in early 1992, after having peaked at number two in Britain less than six months earlier....
"). Punk band The Cortinas
The Cortinas (punk band)
The Cortinas were a 1970s Bristol-based punk rock band. Guitarist Nick Sheppard went on to play with The Clash. In 2001, the band’s debut single, "Fascist Dictator" , was included in a leading British music magazine’s list of the best punk-rock singles of all-time.-Biography:Named after a car, the...
included the riff in live performances of "Gloria".
"Third Stone from the Sun" figures prominently in the soundtrack of the 2003 film, "The Dreamers," directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.