I Don't Live Today

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"I Don't Live Today"
the Jimi Hendrix Experience
from the album Are You Experienced
Released
  • May 12, 1967 (1967-05-12) (UK)
  • August 23, 1967 (US)
RecordedFebruary 20, 1967
StudioOlympic, London
Genre
Length3:55
Label
Songwriter(s)Jimi Hendrix
Producer(s)Chas Chandler

"I Don't Live Today" is a song by

the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on their debut album Are You Experienced (1967). In a 1968 interview, Hendrix said it "was dedicated to the American-Indian and all minority depression groups".[2] The song was part of the Experience concert repertoire and Hendrix often repeated the dedication during his introductions.[1]

Recording

The song was recorded by the Experience in London during the sessions for Are You Experienced. Scheduling conflicts at

wah effect that predated the pedal unit.[4] They completed a working master by the end of the day, though Hendrix eventually recorded a new lead vocal at Olympic.[5]

Composition and lyrics

Musicologist Ritchie Unterberger considers the lyrics to "I Don't Live Today" to be more at home in a

guitar feedback improvisations.[8] In honor of his Cherokee heritage, Hendrix dedicated the song to the American Indians and other minority groups.[6]

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Greenwald, Matthew. "Jimi Hendrix/The Jimi Hendrix Experience: I Don't Live Today – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  2. ^ Roby 2012, p. 65.
  3. ^ Egan 2013, p. 150; McDermott 2009, p. 39.
  4. ^ Shadwick 2003, p. 103.
  5. ^ McDermott 2009, p. 39.
  6. ^ a b Unterberger 2009, pp. 182–183.
  7. ^ Egan 2013, p. 198.
  8. ^ Heatley 2009, p. 64: guitar feedback in "I Don't Live Today"; Unterberger 2009, pp. 182–183: the tribal rhythms of "I Don't Live Today".

References