The Second Greatest Guitar Song

Hey, it’s John Calhoun with some info about a legendary song. The recording of Purple Haze began in London on January 11, 1967. Written by Jimi Hendrix, the song was the opening track on his Are You Experienced album.

The single was released on June 19, 1967, one day after the Jimi Hendrix Experience had performed at the Monterey Pop Festival. Entering the Billboard Hot 100 charts on August 26th, the song peaked at #65.  However, due to extensive airplay on FM radio, the album was more successful than the single.

Although many have interpreted the song as referring to a psychedelic experience, Hendrix described it as a love song.

Purple Haze was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and Rolling Stone magazine ranks it at #2 on its list of greatest guitar songs.