Stepping Stone (song)
Encyclopedia
"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
.
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 (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. 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. They revisited the take on January 20, adding guitar overdubs and renaming it "Sky Blues Today", and another mix was prepared on January 22. 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". 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.
Additional personnel
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
musician Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, featured on his 1972 third posthumous studio album War Heroes
War Heroes
-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – guitars, lead vocals, bass on track 1, backing vocals on "Izabella"*Mitch Mitchell – drums*Billy Cox – bass*Noel Redding – bass on "Highway Chile", "Tax Free" & "Midnight"-Recording details:...
. 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
Billy 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...
and Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles
George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.-Early life:George Allen Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on...
.
History
"Stepping Stone" first appeared, in part, when Gypsy Sun and Rainbows performed at Woodstock FestivalWoodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
on August 18, 1969, as Hendrix incorporated its rhythm into their long rendition of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
"Voodoo Child " is the closing track on Electric Ladyland, the third and final album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song is known for its wah-wah-heavy guitar work. It is #101 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs of all time....
". 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 (see Morning Symphony Ideas
Morning Symphony Ideas
Morning Symphony Ideas is a posthumous compilation album by Jimi Hendrix, released on July 25, 2000 by Dagger Records. The album contains previously unreleased studio and home demo recordings...
). "Stepping Stone" was first played live during the second show at the Fillmore East
Fillmore East
The Fillmore East was rock promoter Bill Graham's rock venue on Second Avenue near East 6th Street in the East Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City. It was open from 1968 to 1971, and featured some of the biggest acts in rock music at the time...
on December 31, 1969 by the Band of Gypsys, and again during the first show of January 1, 1970. 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
Record Plant Studios
The Record Plant was a series of three famous recording studios which were founded by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone, beginning in New York City in 1968. The next year, Kellgren and Stone opened a second studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, the company expanded again with a third location in Sausalito,...
, 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. They revisited the take on January 20, adding guitar overdubs and renaming it "Sky Blues Today", and another mix was prepared on January 22. 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". The single, credited to 'Hendrix Band of Gypsys' was released on April 8, 1970 by Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
.
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
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:...
, who had rejoined the band, recorded new guitar and drum parts respectively. With these changes, the song was later released on War Heroes
War Heroes
-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – guitars, lead vocals, bass on track 1, backing vocals on "Izabella"*Mitch Mitchell – drums*Billy Cox – bass*Noel Redding – bass on "Highway Chile", "Tax Free" & "Midnight"-Recording details:...
in 1972 and First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun is a "concept compilation" attempting to recreate the album Jimi Hendrix was working on at the time of his death in 1970, as closely as is feasible to how he would have wanted it...
in 1997.
Personnel
Musicians- Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
(as Heaven Research Unlimited) - Billy CoxBilly CoxWilliam "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...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Buddy MilesBuddy MilesGeorge Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.-Early life:George Allen Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on single version - Mitch MitchellMitch MitchellJohn Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
–s drums on album version
Additional personnel
- Bob Hughes – engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...