"Freedom" is a

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

song by

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

that is often regarded as one of the most fully realized pieces he wrote and recorded in the months before his death. It incorporates several musical styles and the lyrics reflect various situations facing Hendrix at the time. Hendrix recorded the song in mid-1970 with his post-''

Band of Gypsys ''Band of Gypsys'' is a live album by Jimi Hendrix and the first without his original group, the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was recorded on January 1, 1970, at the Fillmore East in New York City with Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums, ...

'' backing lineup of drummer

Mitch Mitchell John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 194612 November 2008)In his book about the Experience, Mitchell states he celebrated his 21st birthday while on tour on 9 July 1967, which makes his birth year 1946.Mitchell's obituaries in ''Billboard' ''T ...

and bassist

Billy Cox William Cox (born October 18, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix. Cox is the only surviving musician to have regularly played with Hendrix: first with the experimental group that backed Hendrix at Woodstoc ...

, along with additional musicians. "Freedom" became the opening track on ''

The Cry of Love ''The Cry of Love'' is a posthumous album by American rock music, rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Recorded primarily in 1970, it features new material that Hendrix was working on for his Jimi Hendrix's unfinished fourth studio a ...

'' (1971) and, in the U.S., it was released as Hendrix's first posthumous single.

Lyrics

In a song review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Matthew Greenwald writes: "The lyrics seems to be a simple, swaggering lust song (something Hendrix was indeed expert at), but the urban vibe in the title also relates to some of Hendrix's own managerial and business problems at the time." Biographer John McDermott also feels that the lyrics touch upon Hendrix's relationship with Devon Wilson and her heroin addiction: Music writer Keith Shadwick believes that the lyrics are among Hendrix's "strongest" from his last studio efforts and adds, "It could be about freedom in the wider world as much as it is a cry for freedom for two lovers at war with one another.

Releases and charts

"Freedom" was released March 5, 1971, when it was used as the opening track on ''

'', the first posthumous Hendrix album. In the US, the song was also released as a single and was only one of two posthumous Hendrix singles to appear on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, where it reached number 59. ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said "The late genius' credo of personal liberation is breathtaking to hear again and again."

Personnel

lead vocals, guitar, piano *

bass guitar *

drums *

Juma Sultan Juma Sultan (born April 13, 1942) is a jazz musician, most often recording as a percussionist or bass player. He may be best known for his appearance at the Woodstock festival of 1969 at Bethel, New York, playing with Jimi Hendrix. He currently p ...

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...

*The Ghetto Fighters Arthur and Albert Allenbacking vocals

Other releases

"Freedom" is now one of the more popular songs in the Hendrix catalogue and is included on several compilations. In 1997, it was used to lead off ''

First Rays of the New Rising Sun ''First Rays of the New Rising Sun'' is a compilation album credited to American rock musician Jimi Hendrix, issued in 1997 on MCA Records. Featuring songs mostly intended for his planned fourth studio album, it was one of the first releases o ...

'', the most comprehensive attempt to present Hendrix's planned fourth studio album. The song is also one of the post-

developed numbers that Hendrix regularly performed in concert. Additional releases include: Demos *''

The Jimi Hendrix Experience James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

'' –

Record Plant The Record Plant is a recording studio established in New York City in 1968 and currently operating in Los Angeles, California. Known for innovations in the recording artists' workspace, it has produced highly influential albums, including Blon ...

, New York City, February 6, 1970 *'' West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology'' – Record Plant, May 15, 1970 Performances *''

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...

'' (1971) – recorded August 31, 1970 *'' Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight'' (2002) – as above *'' Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival'' (2015) – recorded July 4, 1970 *'' Live in Maui'' (2020) – recorded July 30, 1970 Compilations *''

The Essential Jimi Hendrix ''The Essential Jimi Hendrix'' is a compilation album of songs by American rock musician Jimi Hendrix, released in 1978 by Reprise Records. Some editions in the UK, Japan and Italy also contained a 7-inch 33 rpm one-sided EP single of the Jimi Hen ...

'' (1978) *'' Cornerstones: 1967–1970'' (1990) *'' Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix'' (1997) *'' Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection'' (2001) – live version from Isle of Wight

Personnel

lead vocals, guitar, piano *

bass guitar *

drums *

*The Ghetto Fighters Arthur and Albert Allenbacking vocals

Notes

Footnotes Citations References * * * * * * * * * {{authority control 1971 songs 1971 singles Jimi Hendrix songs Reprise Records singles Songs written by Jimi Hendrix Songs released posthumously Song recordings produced by Eddie Kramer Song recordings produced by Jimi Hendrix Songs about freedom