Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Crosstown Traffic

It’s been a while since I’ve featured any Hendrix and it seems like the perfect morning to feature a little Jimi James sans the Flames. From the classic “Electric Ladyland” album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Crosstown Traffic” was a song directed to a young lady that Hendrix was trying to blow off, but she wasn’t getting the message. The lines “You're just like crosstown traffic – so hard to get through to you” speak volumes.


“Crosstown Traffic” was the second US single Reprise released from “Electric Ladyland,” the first being “All Along the Watchtower,” which peaked at #20. “Crosstown Traffic” only charted in the US at #52 and did better in the UK as the third British single charting at #37. I bought my copy (a promotional one at that) at a flea market in 1971 and got the album later in the mid seventies.



Personnel on this recording include the entire Experience with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell who do not appear on the entire album. Each provides backing vocals with the high parts added by Dave Mason who also played 12-string guitar on “All Along the Watchtower.” In addition to Mason, Steve Winwood and Chris Wood from Traffic each play on cuts from this album. To get the unique guitar lead sound, Hendrix used a makeshift kazoo made from a comb and wax paper.


Lyrics


You jump in front of my car when you,
You know all the time that
Ninety miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive
You tell me it's alright, you don't mind a little pain
You say you just want me to take you for a ride

You're just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I don't need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I'm tryin' to get on the other side of town

I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back
I can see you had your fun
But darlin' can't you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead

You're just like crosstown traffic
So hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I don't need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I got better things on the other side of town

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