Spanish Castle Magic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Spanish Castle Magic” | ||
|---|---|---|
album cover
|
||
| Song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience | ||
| Album | Axis: Bold as Love | |
| Released | 1 December 1967 (UK) 15 January 1968 (US) |
|
| Genre | psychedelic rock, hard rock | |
| Length | 3:00 | |
| Label | MCA (Reissues) | |
| Writer | Jimi Hendrix | |
| Producer | Chas Chandler | |
| Axis: Bold as Love track listing | ||
|
Side 1
Side 2
|
||
"Spanish Castle Magic" is a psychedelic rock song composed and performed by Jimi Hendrix. It is the third track on Axis: Bold as Love (1967).
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics
The song's title was inspired by Jimi's high school days (roughly 1957-1961), when he sometimes visited a dance hall called The Spanish Castle. The club was south of Seattle in what was then unincorporated King County (now Des Moines, Washington). The Spanish Castle was built in the 1930's outside the city to avoid restrictions with Seattle liquor laws. By the 1950's some of the club's early glamor had faded, but it still featured top local rock groups, such as The Wailers and occasional touring stars. Jimi had the opportunity to jam with other rock musicians at the club on several occasions.
He would later describe his frustration getting to the club, saying, "(The bass player) in the band had this beater car, and it would break down every other block, on the way there and back..." hence the line, "Takes 'bout a half a day to get there..." In the days when Jimi visited the club there was no freeway between Seattle and Des Moines, so the drive was much longer than today. It was not until the mid 1960's that Interstate 5 linked the two towns. The Spanish Castle was demolished in April 1968.
Rock critic Dave Marsh said about the song “Once you know the legend of the Wailers at the Castle and the facts of Jimi’s attendance there, the lyrics of his ‘Spanish Castle Magic’ seem haunted by homesick nostalgia. ‘It’s very far away, it takes about half a day/to get there by my ah...dragonfly,’ he sings, in the voice of a kid stranded a couple continents from home.”
[edit] Music
The music alternates between aggressive, thickly textured guitar lines during the intro, choruses, and solos, and a riff played in rhythmic lock step by guitar, drum and bass during the verses.
The song has recently found a new following among gamers, as a version without the vocals is featured in the PlayStation 2 video game Guitar Hero. The reason why this version of the song lacks the vocals is unknown. It could be possibly due to the difficulty of emulating Hendrix's voice. A version of the song with lyrics is available for listening at the Guitar Hero website.
[edit] Cover versions
The song has a considerable following otherwise, being covered by various artists of several styles including a cover by Latino Rock guitarist Santana and the Finnish band Hay and Stone, as well as guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen who performed the song live on his album titled Live in Leningrad: Trial by Fire.
MDC recorded a cover of Spanish Castle Magic on their album, "Millions of Dead Cops/More Dead Cops"
[edit] External links
- Information about The Spanish Castle in Des Moines, Washington, a legendary Seattle area dance hall where Jimi Hendrix gave some of his earliest performances
- More information about The Spanish Castle and Jimi Hendrix's early days
