THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE/ ELECTRIC LADYLAND 184 183/184 (-68) GERMANY

After posting the UK 2-LP and the two single album reissues plus the French Barclay one feel I have to write something about the German original. It's been reissued many times through the years on vinyl and CD and then mostly with the nude cover. However the premiere German version fold/out came as a hybrid between the US outer sleeve and the UK "small pics/white fonts" inside. Apparently the first generation sleeves were so fragile they sometimes arrived to the shops already damaged, so they were made sturdier for the second "2612 002" issue that arrived a little more than a year later. However there were still unsold "184 183/84" copies which were put in the new more durable sleeves as a transitional, but legit, mismatch. This is one of those. The matrixes seem to be some kind of crossbreed - side two and four having both "corrected" Track "613..." and Polydor "184..." stamped and side one and three with Polydor "184..." only. This also comes out loud and strong though partly with a little less edge, making it sound slightly limited while the UK as a whole hit you as a bit more right-on and natural. The distinction isn't big and most listeners wouldn't care, but it's nevertheless there. Anyway in my world it's still one of the good guys, allowing me to enjoy this masterpiece all the way. (GÖXÄ*) (JHÄ*)