EDITORS’ NOTES

When Jimi Hendrix and his British rhythm section released their debut in 1967, hard rock took a profound turn. Yes, the glorious passages Hendrix wheedles and wrenches from his instrument redefined guitar playing, but it’s the songs—the execution, writing, and performances—that make this album mythical. Beyond the ear-melting psych-blues of “Purple Haze” and “Foxey Lady,” and the title song’s beautifully layered drones, are tender epics like “May This Be Love” and the melancholic “The Wind Cries Mary,” both of which show how expressive, and underrated, Hendrix was as a singer.