[Jazz & Song] Hendrix, Jimi. (1942 - 1970) [Dylan, Bob. (b. 1941)]
Hendrix Signed Dylan Album - " I dig it too."
An extraordinary item from the singer, songwriter, and guitarist widely hailed by music fans and critics alike, considered to be one of the most influential electric guitarists in rock music history. He achieved worldwide fame in 1967 playing at the Monterey Pop Festival, then headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival before his death in 1970, at the age of 27.Bob Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home album signed on the front cover in blue ballpoint, “I Dig It Too, Jimi Hendrix,” and signed on the back cover in blue ballpoint by Experience member, “Mitch” [Mitchell]. Moderate skipping to signature and sentiment resulting in just the impressions of some of the letters and a fairly light but still mostly legible appearance, light contrast to end of last name of signature, scattered noticeable creases, soiling, and toning to covers, and owner’s notation on back cover, otherwise very good condition. The record is included, with the inside sleeve bearing several sketches and doodles in an unknown hand.
Accompanied by a 2011 letter of provenance from the original recipient, CP Lee, which reads, in part: “On the Tuesday 4 April 1967 Jimi Hendrix appeared on the BBC’s Dee Time TV Show…together with a friend…I went to the Studio at about 11 o’clock in the morning and after several hours of standing in the drizzle the side door opened and Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell stepped out…Mitchell went off leaving Jimi with us and he spent nearly 15 minutes talking with us…Maybe as a result the lack of an album and also because I was crazy about Bob Dylan, I’d taken along a copy of Dylan’s ‘Bringing It All Back Home.’ Because Dylan had disappeared from view after his motorbike crash I asked Jimi if he knew what had happened to him—’Yeah sure,’ said Jimi, ‘He’s fine, I spoke to him just a few weeks ago.’ I asked him if he’d sign the album and with a laugh he did and he wrote ‘I dig it too.’”…Jimi…then asked if we wanted to go for a drink (to the nearby Welcome Pub)…To my eternal regret, we said, ‘No, we had to go.’” Also accompanied by a copy of Lee’s book, When We Were Thin, which also recounts his meeting with Hendrix.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on the debut of Dee Time, a youth show hosted by Simon Dee, and the band’s wildness made the launch a success. Hendrix’s singles were already Top 10 hits in the UK and the Jimi Hendrix Experience would soon release its first album, Are You Experienced, in May of 1967. Mitchell was the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which he joined in 1966. He would become Hendrix’s most valuable partner. The pair would frequently record together and as a result, were especially in sync during live sets.
That Hendrix signed a Bob Dylan album is fitting, as Dylan was one of his musical idols. “When I first heard him I thought, ‘You must admire the guy for having that much nerve to sing so out of key,’” said Hendrix. “But then I started listening to the words. He is giving me inspiration.” Dylan gave Hendrix confidence in his own voice as well. Hendrix would go on to cover Dylan songs such as “Like a Rolling Stone” and “All Along the Watchtower.” Dylan would later say to Hendrix, “I don’t know if anyone has done my songs better.” A remarkably symbolic signature tying together two of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. (6205)
Signed Document/Item Song