WCSX Classic Cuts : All Along The Watchtower

WCSX Classic Cuts

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: "All Along the Watchtower"

The Hook: Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell felt it was a breakthough point in Hendrix's recording career.

Album: Electric Ladyland

Year: 1968

Writer: Bob Dylan

Stats: Peaked at number-20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background: The late Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell told us that Jimi was a huge fan of Bob Dylan's songwriting, so it was wasn't that surprising to him when Jimi decided to record a new Dylan song called "All Along the Watchtower." Mitchell recalled how the track also moved Hendrix into a new phase recording-wise.

Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell on “All Along the Watchtower” as both a turning point recording-wise and a tribute to Bob Dylan’s influence as a songwriter. OC:…my book. :23

“He thought so highly of the writing, let’s give it a crack. From start to finish, I think it could have been up to a couple of weeks, really, of working through it in England and then to the final mix it went on quite a period of time. That was kind of a breakthrough point. Jimi was spending a lot more time on tracks by that date, so kind of a stepping stone. That track really stands up in my book.”