Little Wing

The Zoo Crew is spinning the ethereal "Little Wing" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from their iconic album Axis: Bold as Love, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its dreamy grooves. This track, a standout in Hendrix’s catalog, was inspired by the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where Hendrix captured the event’s free-spirited energy, imagining it as a girl who "just floats around" like a guardian angel. He described the song as a poetic encapsulation of the festival’s atmosphere, blending his psychedelic vision with a tender narrative. Musically, "Little Wing" is groundbreaking for its use of a Leslie speaker, typically paired with organs, which gave Hendrix’s guitar its signature swirling, otherworldly tone—a sound that became one of his most imitated. The song’s origins trace back to 1966, when Hendrix was playing Curtis Mayfield-influenced guitar parts in the R&B track "(My Girl) She’s a Fox," showing how his early rhythm and blues roots shaped this masterpiece. Interestingly, the studio version, recorded in October 1967 at Olympic Studios in London, clocks in at a brief 2:27, and some fans, as noted in Amazon reviews, lament its early fade-out just as Hendrix’s solo begins to soar, leaving listeners craving more of that filet mignon moment.

Another layer of trivia comes from the recording process. During the Axis: Bold as Love sessions, Hendrix accidentally left the master tape for Side A in a London taxi, forcing a frantic last-minute remix with producer Chas Chandler to meet deadlines. Thankfully, bassist Noel Redding saved a personal copy of an earlier mix of "If 6 Was 9," but "Little Wing" required careful reconstruction. The song’s delicate glockenspiel, played by Hendrix himself, adds a whimsical touch, and its live performances, as heard on albums like Hendrix in the West, often extended the arrangement, compensating for the studio version’s fade. Fans on Reddit have praised its mono remaster for a drier guitar and vocals with more prominent drum reverb, highlighting the experimental mixing of the era. John Mayer once called "Little Wing" “painfully short and painfully beautiful,” likening it to a fleeting visit from a resurrected grandfather, a sentiment that captures its emotional depth. Rolling Stone ranked it number 188 on its 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, a testament to its enduring magic.

Jimi Hendrix’s journey to becoming a rock legend began in Seattle, where he was born Johnny Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942. His early years were steeped in the blues and R&B scenes, playing in high school bands and jamming at local venues like The Spanish Castle, which later inspired "Spanish Castle Magic." After a stint in the U.S. Army, Hendrix honed his craft as a backup guitarist on the chitlin circuit, working with giants like Little Richard, the Isley Brothers, and King Curtis. His fluid, innovative guitar work caught the eye of Animals bassist Chas Chandler in a New York club in 1966. Chandler, transitioning to management, convinced Hendrix to move to London, where he formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience with drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. The trio exploded onto the U.K. scene with singles like "Hey Joe" and their debut album Are You Experienced, stunning audiences with Hendrix’s virtuosic playing and showmanship—he famously played with his teeth and set his guitar ablaze. By 1967, his performance at Monterey Pop catapulted him to U.S. fame, setting the stage for Axis: Bold as Love and his meteoric rise as the greatest guitarist of all time, as ranked by Rolling Stone.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper into Hendrix’s world, the official Jimi Hendrix website offers news, music, and videos, while the official Facebook page and Instagram account share updates and iconic imagery. The official X account posts about milestones, like the 1967 release of Axis: Bold as Love. Fans can connect on community platforms like the Jimi Hendrix Fan Group on Facebook, where enthusiasts share memories and rare finds, or explore r/jimihendrix on Reddit for discussions on tones and albums. For collectors, Discogs is a treasure trove for tracking down vinyl pressings of Axis: Bold as Love, and Tab Fan provides guitar chords for jamming along to "Little Wing." These spaces keep Hendrix’s legacy alive, letting the Zoo Crew and their listeners celebrate his genius.