My Friend

For the song by Bradley Joseph, see The Journey Continues (Bradley Joseph album). For the song by Zard, see My Friend (Zard song). For the song by Groove Armada, see My Friend (Groove Armada song). For the album by SG Wannabe, see My Friend (album).

"My Friend"
Song by Jimi Hendrix from the album The Cry of Love
Released	March 1971
Genre	Rock, blues, Folk
Length	4:40
Writer	Jimi Hendrix
Producer	Jimi Hendrix
The Cry of Love track listing
Side one "Freedom" "Drifting" "Ezy Ryder" "Night Bird Flying" "My Friend" Side two "Straight Ahead" "Astro Man" "Angel" "In from the Storm" "Belly Button Window"

"My Friend" is a song written and recorded by Jimi Hendrix in New York City in 1968 during the recording sessions for Electric Ladyland. The song was first released in 1971 on the posthumous album The Cry of Love and later appeared on the CD First Rays of the New Rising Sun. It was mixed posthumously by Hendrix's engineer Eddie Kramer. Because it was left unreleased at the time it was recorded some people have raised doubts if Hendrix had ever intended to use that song on any of his albums.

The recording of "My Friend" combines a humorous song with sound effects to create a bar or nightclub atmosphere. Hendrix' friend Paul Caruso (listed as 'Gers' on the L.P.) plays harmonica on "My Friend".^[1][2] In late 1966 Frank Zappa had used the same ideas to record "America Drinks and Goes Home" on the album Absolutely Free. This song parodied Zappa's own experiences playing with drunken bar bands in the early 1960s. Songs with a similar effect were recorded by The Rolling Stones, On With The Show (1967) and The Beatles, You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) (recorded in 1967 and 1969, released in 1970.)

As with many Hendrix songs, this one is introspective. The main idea behind the song is that Jimi began to believe the only "true" friend, the one that will be with him through good and bad times, is his own shadow. Everyone else were "hangers-on" and wanted something from him.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ McDermott, John; Eddie Kramer & Billy Cox (2009) [2009]. "1968". Ultimate Hendrix (1st Edition ed.). Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. pp. 93. ISBN 9780879309381. 
2. ^ (1997) Album notes for First Rays Of The New Rising Sun by Jimi Hendrix, p. 16 [CD booklet]. Universal City, California: MCA (MCD1159).