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List Price: $15.99 | | Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
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Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight Reviews:
Solid, informative read 
2008-01-20 -
Setting the record straight isn't intended to tittilate, or even amuse the reader. (At least I hope not) It is a collection of hard, believable facts that lay out the whens and whys of events in Hendrix's abbreviated stint as a rock n roll God and enduring legend in a loose chronological fashion. (Whew!)
There are other books out there with wild stories from dubious sources that may be more entertaining. But if you're looking to find out precisely what Jimi and his handlers did to create the legend. And to get 1st hand opinions from those who worked closest with him and to his mindset in noteable situations, Then this is a must read. There's a lot of "what not to do" to be gleened from it as well.
Lots of Input for Sources Close to the Man Himself
2006-12-05 - I've read three different Hendrix biographies and each came at the subject of Jimi Hendrix from a different direction. Setting the Record Straight is good because there is a lot of input from people who were close to Hendrix, especially people who were part of his organization, but who were not particularly well known. Like all of the Hendrix biographies, this book does have its faults, I mean, how many times should an author state that Jimi was growing wary of Michael Jeffries, Jimi was trying to keep his distance from Michael Jeffries, Jimi was avoiding Michael Jeffries. I found one spot where there were at least 4 references in a 2 page span about how Jimi as getting tired of Michael Jeffries. Ok. We get it. Yawn.
The book is very good in explaining how the Hendrix "image" was deliberately created to be controversial (most of us grown-ups had already figured that one out). It tells us how the "real" Jimi started to emerge after the release of Electric Ladyland. It tells us the story of the Electric Lady studio and how it came about from the initial idea of creating a club much like Steve Paul's Scene club. It also tells us about when and why Chas Chandler excused himself from the organization. Actually Chas turns out to be one of the few really classy people in the Hendrix organization.
You also learn about a host of disasterous gigs and shows where Jimi just didn't want to play. In some ways you feel sorry for him and in other ways you begin to understand that the guy's work ethic really sucked. If you lived through the era I guarantee you will end up feeling pretty embarrassed about your generation's behavior.
Unfortunately, this book doesn't tell some of the stories that I am interested in. I wanted to read about the jam session in the studio that produced Voodoo Chile for example. There really isn't much emphasis about how the music was made. In my opinion, when it comes to Hendrix, that's a no-brainer; that's what people want to read about.
From a musical perspective, I would have to say that Crosstown Traffic is a much better biography as it does much to show Jimi's importance within the context of American art and culture. Really, I don't care about Jimi's business and I don't care about his depraved social life either. I just love his music. Setting the Record Straight is really more about the business side of Jimi Hendrix and the Hendrix "product". Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky is probably the least interesting of the three I've read, it's more about Jimi's social life than anything. That particular book tries to be sensational by asserting that Jimi was murdered and then downplaying that idea in the same paragraph. That was rather like when a lawyer coaches a client witness to blurt something out on the stand that they know the judge is going to strike down, but the jury is going to hear it anyway. Shabby.
I would pick up both Setting the Record Straight and Crosstown Traffic if you really want to get to know Jimi and his signficance with respect to American art and culture.
Oh yeah, one little factual nugget I finally learned after years and years and years (decades really) of wondering... It was Jimi who played the freaked out recorder solo at the end of If Six Was Nine. Hooray! Mystery solved! That was driving me nuts!
The Exploitation of Jimi Hendrix
2006-05-29 - Many half-truths and inaccuracies exist about the life and music of Jimi Hendrix. In trying to "set the record straight", the authors attempted to offset decades of lies and manipulation of the Hendrix estate. To some degree, they succeeded.
The authors do not devote nearly enough space to the life and music of Hendrix. Instead, the book seems to focus on the cast of characters that surrounded his life. It seems that any of the managers or promoters that worked with Hendrix sought to take credit for his success. It was as though the presentation were more important than the talent of Hendrix. Perhaps this is a fitting way to remember his life since his lack of friendship and the constant manipulation of those around him factored into his drug use and eventual death. The circumstances surrounding Hendrix's fatal oversdose suggest that a friend rather than a business associate would have phoned for the help that he needed to save Hendrix's life.
The book does not devote nearly enough time to Hendrix's pre-fame days (approximately 20 pages), and focuses more on the business aspects of the music industry rather than Hendrix music itself. There is no doubt that Hendrix made some bad business deals. Yet this should never overshadow all of the great music made by Hendrix. Pages could be spent discussing the making and meaning of songs. Once the author mentions a song, the reader may not see it mentioned until dozens of pages later.
Hendrix's premature death left his estate in debt. For this reason, unfinished recordings of his music were released that Hendrix would have never wanted released. We never got to see the full potential of Hendrix's genius. Those that exploited him in life, exploited him in death.
The real Jimi Hendrix was not the same person as the flamboyant guitar player people saw on stage. Much of his stage act, including setting his guitar on fire, was coaxed. This book gives real insight into the real Jimi Hendrix. Yet, I can not help but think we are far away from knowing the real legend.
3 1/2 stars not bad, but not as good as Electric Gypsy 
2005-01-28 - The first time I read this book was back in 1997. I was already a huge Hendrix fan and this book opened up many things about him and his music that I was unaware of, for the most part. At that time I would have given this book 5 stars. But after recently picking up Electric Gypsy by Harry Shapiro and Caesar Glebbeek, which blew me away, I reread this book and I give it 3 1/2 stars.
My main gripe is that it focuses too much on the business side of Hendrix. Sure that stuff is interesting and informative, but it makes for a slow read, in my opinion. And it takes away from the flow and the excitement of his music and touring. I think that they could have made a couple of chapters exclusively for the business side of things and kept the other chapters more musically focused and it would be a much better read. My next biggest beef, is that they continually refer to Voodoo Child (Slight Return) as Voodoo Chile. Those songs are very different, any knowledgeable Hendrix fan knows that and would be bugged by the 15 mentions of it, instead of the correct Voodoo Child (Slight Return.) Minor yes, but if Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's long time famed producer and friend, helped write this book, then why didn't they catch that glaring error?
Still it is a good book, but if you know a lot about Hendrix, it will not fill your needs and I would suggest the afore-mentioned Electric Gypsy. For one thing Electric Gypsy has FAR more interviews from Hendrix, which are always entertaining and revealing. And it has far more about the music and what went into it as far as inspiration and song meanings. For those two reasons alone that book blows away Setting the Record Straight. Also Electric Gypsy has many of Hendrix's song lyrics in the book, which is truly great. Also Electric Gypsy has a part in the back where it shows a list of every guitar Hendrix ever played and all the effects he ever used, all the bands he was in, a discography and much, much more.
Don't get me wrong Setting the Record Straight is a good book, but I would suggest to all Hendrix fans new and old, get Electric Gypsy first, then if you still want more, get Setting the Record Straight.
An interesting and engaging read
2003-03-01 - This is a pretty interesting book about a very interesting virtuso musician. There a lot of good information provided in a somewhat dry and detached delivery that somehow remains engaging somewhat like a Wall Street journal article.
My only issue with the book, the absolutely horrid photo on the cover aside, is the business orientation of the book which leaves questions about other issues, all of which interelate to each other.
As one example, the issue of drug use is treated in a very shallow fashion. While I am not looking for sensationalism, it seems clear that but for his drug use Hendrix would never have gotten behind the contractual eight ball so far - which the book implies the monetary impact of which had some effect on his eventual death.
On the other hand, I have learned quite a bit about Hendrix, his business deals, and perhaps most importantly, about his music. I was never aware of some his side projects including the Gypsys Suns & Rainbows or his all too brief session work with John McLauglin. There are also some interesting photos included in the book.
Cover photo aside, this book is probably the best $ I've spent in a long time.
