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.

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.

This book takes an inside look at the life and legend of the man that was James Marshall(Jimi) Hendrix. His troubled youth and how he had to suffer tremendous hardships just to be noticed. His love affair with blues music and his affinity for the guitar are also well intact. What puzzles me is why so many people would want to drag Jimi's name through the mud and desecrate his legacy and good fortune with lies and deceit. Why couldn't people have respect enough for Jimi and his music to take it seriosuly and treat it like gold, instead of commercializing for their own personal gain and profit? Jimi was a serious artist and this book certainly attests to that. He wasn't in it for the money or fame or recognition. He was simply in it for the music.
He deserved to be treated better by people who called themselves "His Friends." Jimi was a incredible man and amazing guitar player as well, but he was also very human. He had a very vulnerable side to him as well. He had enough problems without people wanting him to be everything to them. He couldn't do that.
He needed someone to love him and someone to respect him and take him at face value instead of having him always be Mr. Rock guitar god. he wanted people to listen to his music and be taken seriously. He was sick and tired of doing the same theatrical tricks that he had done with the guitar night after night, and now he just wanted people to listen to him, and not look at what he was doing with his guitar. he didn't need to prove anything anymore. he'd already done it. it was time for him to move into a new direction. Unfortunately, that new direction was never fully realized during hendrix's lifetime. Only now, after his death do we fully know just exactly what he was trying to achieve. Some things we'll never know. That was the genius of Hendrix. To keep people guessing. He'll never know how much of an impact he has had and continues to have on people's lives even to this day. God Bless You, Jimi. We Love You, Man!!!

An interesting and well written account of James Allen Hendrix's transformation into "Jimi" and the tremendous influence Chas Chandler had on his development into a major star.

I've read all of the Jimi bios over the years and to me, this one is the best. Maybe the act of helping Jimi get the sounds he envisioned helped Eddie to get into his head just a little bit. Reading the book, I found myself sucked into the making of the music and my appreciation of the music has grown as a result.

Let's give this one 6 stars.