Friday 4 June 2021


"Hey Joe"- famously the first single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is also a real 'Whodunit' ? The authorship of the song is contested by quite a cast of writers and the credits roll at some length.
Californian-based folk musician Billy Roberts registered the copyright in 1962. Scottish singer Len Partridge claimed he helped write the song. Friend of Roberts, Dino Valenti also copyrighted the composition in 1963. All this while claims of inspiration to various earlier works with similar lyrics and chords plus the assertion that "Hey Joe" was a traditional song. Which includes Tim Rose, who recorded the song in 1966 and said he'd learned it in 1960 from folk singer Vince Martin, but added his own arrangement to the traditional song.
Either way the Jimi Hendrix version, most of us know, was inspired by Rose's rendition. While in the year 2000: 'Total Guitar' magazine ranked it as their 13th greatest cover version of all time.
All that said today's Star Track is another cover of "Hey Joe" - this one an extraordinary performance from 1976 'live' in Austin, Texas by Roy Buchanan. A pioneer of the Fender Telecaster sound he never achieved stardom in his life but is definitely a highly influential and versatile guitar player. This almost languid run through showcases his style and ends with a brief tribute to Jimi, from Roy Buchanan > 


> Check out "The Messiah Will Come Again' - it's a must ! [here] - with no effects pedals !

Plenty more on YouTube, including a 1973 OGWT, with three songs and an interview with 'Whispering Bob'. [link to

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