The CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY Of One Of JIMI HENDRIX'S BIGGEST HITS 'Hey Joe'!

[@rnrtruestories]

Favourite Jimi Hendrix track and…what covers are better than the original?

[@tomfoolery8015]

Machine Gun

[@psychonautpupildiallater7734]

Little Wing

[@YettiManChannel84]

I know it's a cover song and all but "Hey Joe" is just amazing. The guitar solo is otherworldly and the melodies are so damn catchy. But this was a very hard question to answer. "Foxy Lady", "Little Wing", "Purple Haze", "Voodoo Child", I could go on and on and on. Jimi was truly a one of a kind and it's an absolute shame he was murdered (I'm 100% positive he was murdered). Just imagine how much more incredible music he would have brought to the world!?

[@aakuster]

Little Wing or Voodoo Child

[@murtbrennan]

Red House

[@timbuckxxi9690]

Billy Roberts wrote the song..Billy's voice and 1 acoustic guitar..Its a must hear..

[@donakahorse]

yup, there is no confusion. Billy Roberts wrote and recorded it in 61/62.

[@chancesareshewears]

bno, he recorded it, he didn'y write it

[@tillitsdone]

Billy Roberts copyrighted "Hey Joe" in 1962. There's no mystery.

[@petejones879]

​@@chancesareshewearsif you listen to it here on you tube at the beginning he says he wrote it

[@Gravitycreatedlife]

​@@petejones879 yeah I just listened to it before this video, he said he wrote it.

[@jeffwalker6815]

Awesome! I've been waiting for this channel to do some actual old school rock and roll stories. Keep em coming! How about doing on on the time Jimi was kidnapped by the mafia for 3 days but was too high to notice?

[@rnrtruestories]

We’ve got some more classic rock coming soon

[@alaskapreston7616]

The time WHAT

[@clicheguevara5282]

It's rumored within Jimi's circle that his scumbag manager Mike Jeffreys was actually behind the kidnapping ...but Mike was almost definitely behind Jimi's death.

[@jeffwalker6815]

@@rnrtruestories You da man!

[@sethprops4404]

@@alaskapreston7616Yeah what?!

[@scottbubb2946]

Hey Joe, to me, sounds like something that was written by someone like Leadbelly a hundred years ago.

[@Robert-tj3qq]

My thoughts as well.alot of songs were taking (ripped off) from back in the 20's & 30's

[@Robert-tj3qq]

Barbeque Bob ,check him out and alot of other great black music men from those time's.

[@letsgobrandon5800]

The True Rock story is about how Chicago opened for Hendrix and Jimi famously said, Terry Kath is a better guitar player than me.

[@stepanbandera5206]

Boy he must have been completely wasted to say that.

[@clicheguevara5282]

Jimi was instrumental in getting Chicago successful. He was a huge fan.

[@letsgobrandon5800]

@@stepanbandera5206 he just recognized the great Terry Kath, someone better than he.

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

​@@letsgobrandon5800lmfao 😂😂

[@BarbarraBay]

Jimi always the most humble guy and said that about a few guitarists. There is an interview where upon being told he is the greatest guitarist in the world he replied "I am the best guitarist sitting in this chair".

[@johnnyroyblues]

I tend to believe that Billy Roberts wrote Hey Joe. I've heard Niela Miller's "Baby Don't Go Downtown " and though there are some aspects of it that are similar and possibly influenced and inspired her boyfriend Billy Roberts to write Hey Joe, her song is not Hey Joe! Also, if you listen to Billy's acoustic guitar version it seems that Hendrix took off on a lot of Billy's guitar licks!

[@dwade6322]

Hendrix...Truly one of a kind. ❤

[@JumperSig]

The chord progression, comes from Niela Miller: “Baby, please don’t go to town”. Billy Robert’s, wrote Hey Joe from her chord progression.

[@jeremyt2212]

If I'm not mistaken, for as many Hendrix songs that have since become so iconic, "Hey Joe" was actually his only top 10 hit during his lifetime.

[@morriypoulsen1238]

No there were a few songs by Jimi that made the top ten,Purple Haze and Foxy Lady.

[@Theresa-t8l]

Purple Haze 9

[@Theresa-t8l]

Wind cries Mary 6

[@rascaltuff]

great vid as always!! 5:51 I would’ve like to heard “but that’s a rock n roll true story for another time” 😂😂not sure if you covered the hendrix record deal thing. I’d be interested to see it💕

[@rnrtruestories]

That story is coming soon a few people requested it following this video

[@daisywrabbit]

favorite version of Hey Joe is by the Shadows of Knight. it’s the faster paced version like that of The Byrds, Love, and The Leaves, etc. there’s a wonderful live recording of David Crosby and The Byrds performing hey Joe at the Monterey Pop Festival 1967. David Crosby was actually instrumental in popularizing the song in the LA scene. He wanted to record it with The Byrds but they wouldn’t let him for years. Crosby became quite upset when other bands like Love and The Leaves had hits with this song. Then The Byrds finally recorded it , but Crosby was regretful.

[@jongilbertson2106]

I like The Leaves version too.

[@jakespoon5549]

Best version

[@user-ie6dz4ib3b]

I always liked the Love version of Hey Joe

[@CHRISSLATTERY-i4r]

Regardless of its exact origins, Jimi's version is by far the best, with The Leaves coming in second, at least in my opinion.

[@billyrubin3108]

Niela Miller wrote the original acoustic version, “Baby Please Don’t Go Downtown,” and someone altered the lyrics to “Hey Joe,” possibly Billy Roberts. Anyway, Hendrix made the song popular.

[@tomrowan293]

A very successful Los Angeles "Garage" Group "The Leaves" had the most successful hit of "Hey Joe." "Joe" Reached # 2 on the 93 KHJ-Boss Radio Survey/Chart in May of 1966 & some weeks later # 30 on the BILLBOARD Top 100.......Many Many Groups & Solo artists, {even Cher} recorded "Hey Joe" but the Leaves will always remain the most successful Commercial wise...............

[@tago33]

"Hey Joe" was likely inspired by the old Appalachian folk song "Little Sadie". Clarence "Tom" Ashley did an incredible version of it around the late 1920s that you can find on KZbin.

[@travismiles5885]

I saw a documentary on the Vietnam War years ago and there was a scene of an American Soldier walking down a street in some city with his rifle and the song Hey Joe was playing over top of it. Hey Joe where you going with that gun in your hand? U.S. military guys are also referred to as Joe. Jimi was a veteran and would know that. It just put a different spin on the song for me.

[@bowlerfamily]

Interesting!!! I'll hear it differently now.

[@restock_1731]

After this video I went to go listen to the Leaves' version. In my very unprofessional opinion, I can say that without a doubt, the Jimi Hendrix version is way better.

[@jimbob20014]

The fact is once jimi did a cover of your song his version is the one that stands out

[@garethjenkins6273]

So many great versions of this song. 2 of the best versions are by the Shadows of Knight, an American garage punk band, and the Golden Cups, a Japanese Group Scenes band. Both versions are very different to Hendrix's slowed down version. Both are well worth a listen.

[@michaelgrabner8977]

Billy Roberts took Niela Miller´s chord progression of the 5 chords of her chorus line and just changed the words from "Baby, please don´t go to town" into "Hey Joe where are you going with your money in your hand" and made with that chorus line chord progression of 5 chords an entire song out of it.

[@corrosivecabal]

You should do a video on the reception of Jimi's version of the Star Spangled Banner. It was pretty reviled from what I've seen.

[@jonviall5566]

GREAT JOB

[@jwavada]

Do one on the “supposed” curse of the Grateful Dead keyboardist spot; three keyboardists, all were dead before any other members were.

[@sv4996]

Don't forget about the Spinal Tap drummer either!

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Tom Constanten is still alive, Keith Godchaux died a few years after his tenure in the band (car accident) and Vince Welnick took his own life after the band was no more. Not sure if it's a curse with Pigpen and Brent, more unchecked addiction and misadventure. Still an interesting topic for a video. Cheers

[@jwavada]

@@buckodonnghaile4309 I agree, it is a good topic for a video. Constanten isn't a name that crossed my radar too much; not there long enough. I think there could be a curse, but I guess it depends on your point of view.

[@sixslinger9951]

don't care what anyone says, Hendrix brought the song to life and gave it longevity.

[@Chris-i3p]

The thing that surprises me most about this is the thumbnail photo. Jimi’s ‘fro is the smallest and smoothest in the group

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

The original lineup of deep purple does a great version of it also

[@andrewsyrotick1520]

Listen to Billy Roberts studio version of this song. Every lick Hendrix uses is in it. ☮️

[@hampton4454]

From listening to the early ‘60s recording by Billy Roberts, I thought ‘Hey Joe’ might have evolved from an early ‘murder ballad’ folk song. An example is ‘Jim Dooley’.

[@allanvanuga9196]

Great video.

[@hollymartins6913]

Jimi should have stayed with the jazzmaster. I love the strat (It's been literally tattooed on my flesh), but when I finally picked up a jazzmaster, it surpassed my love for the Tele and Strat. There is so much sonic potential in that instrument.

[@debrawitte8391]

0:16 / 3:39 Billy Roberts "Hey Joe"- first ever recording 1961/62

[@patatje6974]

5:12 no Jimi Hendrix recorded Hey Joe in October 1966, not December 1965.

[@eudymaverickmentor]

I am 69 years old. The first version I ever heard was the Leaves version when it came out in 1966. To me, it's the best version. AM radio at it's best. Love did a great version, but for all purposes, its just a direct copy of the Leaves version. The version by the Shadows of Knight is weak. The Byrds version is interesting, but to me it doesn't have the cutting edge of the Leaves version. And of course I love the Hendrix version when he totally reimagined the song by slowing it down making it more of a ballad.

[@Ericdz302]

Can you do video on the recording contract that haunted Hendrix for the rest of his career?!?

[@rnrtruestories]

Sure.

[@carltonpeacock218]

Very interesting, thank you. It may be unclear who wrote the song, but Hendrix definitely owns it!

[@SegaCDUniverse]

A great cover of this is "Hey Pete" By Type O Negative ;)

[@JakeTheVoice]

Brilliant cover. Was great to see the studio version appear on The Least Worst of compilation.

[@regromusic]

Or how about "Flower Punk" by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention?

[@jhoskins5630]

Hey Joe isn't blues, it's a folk song. The leaves version was a hit on the West Coast before Hendrix recorded it, and was played by every local band I knew of at least a year before we heard the Hendrix version.

[@donnahaga1411]

The lyrics to song hey joe was written and composed by billy roberts 1961. That is the truth im amusician since 1960

[@morriypoulsen1238]

Yeah and I've seen the original lyrics by Billy Roberts and they are a bit different than the lyrics that Jimi sings.

[@anonuser]

Wait, you mention Jimi's NYC band before Chas took him to London and you couldn't even find or share a photo of them in your video? Instead you show the Experience picture again? This might have something to do with only 36k views.

[@cato451]

Billy Roberts wrote it it’s a country acoustic number and it’s fantastic

[@gstgst6334]

Pretty sure Marge Simpson wrote that song. It was in her resume.

[@PwerhisyoPinsala-oq9xy]

The man really has fast hand invented scales where note mixed all relative chords but now many guitar god's also can mimic and equal Hendrix like Steve vai and many more

[@Hi-xt6pl]

This is technically a Billy Roberts song I just purchased an Orginal 1968 Are You Experienced? Record and it stated it was a Billy roberts song

[@lorraineclark1838]

Every other version of this song, including the original, made it sound like murdering a woman was a jaunty little pastime. I always thought that was pretty HORRIBLE and deeply misogynistic. Only Hendrix's version has the dread and terror of that act communicated with the intensity it deserves.

[@user-sw9jo7fe3d]

Search KZbin for " Billy Roberts "Hey Joe"- first ever recording 1961/62 "

[@fleadoggreen9062]

Never heard of the leaves

[@fpostolache]

Good footage although I like more "I shot the sheriff" 🤣

[@drainmonkeys385]

Billy Robert’s has the first known Recording

[@Phil144gbp]

Billy Roberts wrote and recorded hey joe 1961/62 great acoustic

[@joeymorvant161]

Love Hendrix! Favorite guitarist!

[@williamhenry4986]

Billy Roberts wrote it full stop ✋

[@nadjagalimova1659]

Jimi did the best versions himself on tour because he was bored by the song very early... So he played the song never twice in the same manner... A lot of this examples are much better than his original hit material.. Yeah it was not his song but his version that became a hit

[@eudymaverickmentor]

Nobody ever thought Jimi Hendrix wrote Hey Joe.

[@jackandjanie1]

Billy Roberts 1961

[@thomassschwarz5998]

Should be mentioned that deep purple also recorded it on their first album

[@tonetone7572]

this is nothing new to any of us who grew up in the 60's we all knew Jimi didn't write it , all you had to do is look at the credits on the LP..and of course it's Jimi who made it famous and who the it's immediately associated with.

[@petejones879]

If you listen to the Billy Roberts version here ion you tube at the beginning he says he wrote it

[@bertall1ca]

5:49 that is not Jimi

[@OilCanHarry2U]

Yep! That’s not Jimi. I could be wrong, but I think it’s Kevin Bacon

[@bertall1ca]

@@OilCanHarry2U I'm pretty sure it's Andre 3000.

[@chancesareshewears]

Led Zeppelin;s entire catolog is 'reimagined'.-) particularly the songwriting credits and handsome purse..

[@Ralph-f8u]

Why Question This !

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

H.R. of The Bad Brains getting arrested in Lawrence, Kansas for assaulting a fan whom he believed spat on him.

[@shaunw9270]

5:14 Should be December '66 , he never arrived here til September '66.

[@gregmiller9710]

these songs are like the Greek stories passed down and changed a bit thru the ages...

[@BlazingShackles]

this video is about 3x longer that the song itself.

[@jlgitto]

Just listened to it from Billy Roberts

[@KAISER-OUTDOORS]

Billy Roberts first original version is best , punk as fvck. then hendrix , then Jürgen Kawan 😎🇺🇸

[@isettakurt]

Billy Roberts wrote the words to his ex-girl friend Niela Miller's melody

[@alexanderv7702]

Eddie Cochran's songs were played at the funeral of Jimmy Hendrix.

[@GaryHynes-im5di]

My grandad sang it best.. especially after a few whiskey's

[@balke7935]

At 5:15 you say that Hendrix recorded Hey Joe in 1965… fake news.

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

Dude what do you expect it's a bunch of generation z kids that run this

[@lukyowens3355]

jimi didnt arrive in england untill late 66 not december 65

[@Jaymark-gk4li]

Think Tim Rose has some 'History '..hmmmm 🤔

[@randallhaney7909]

"CONTROVERSIAL"?? What Controversy? .. (I think you're reaching for this one) Everyone covered this song, Many did it well before Jimi ... Not many versions like Jimi's But still?

[@tan-jello]

🤣🤣🤣 ...so dumb!

[@peterrichard3706]

You forgot the best version. Deep Purple did the best version. Hands down.

[@michaelroberts7770]

Billy Roberts wrote this song....

[@PwerhisyoPinsala-oq9xy]

His scale non stop but unlike Clapton blackmore you can hear the message of the note Clapton and blackmore touch are different unlike Hendrix no yummy touch to hear just fast fast fast can't hear what he was doing

[@scottkeeler2306]

Morgan Freeman wrote it. I mean Jimi Hendrix. I mean Morgan Freeman. I mean Jimi Freeman. I mean Morgan Hendrix. I mean really, If you haven’t figured it out by now, you ain’t payin’ attention. Look at their wives. Same girl.

[@MikeGowan-xo9yv]

Billy Robert’s wrote it…

[@xanthippusofcarthage8655]

God bless Jimi Hendrix.

[@SoulClubCoffee]

The cover of Hey Joe by The Byrds is pretty bad tbh

[@BlueLou974]

Controversy? Billy Roberts wrote the song. The real controversy is ; did he stole the song from his girl friend? To me, the very first tape is just a nothing. First part is a question, second part à mûrier,third part à hope to escape. Jimi killed her, and Willie escaped to Mexico. Well done.

[@solunasunrise]

people that love Hendrix should get into Thin Lizzy !

[@joeymorvant161]

I love Hendrix and Thin Lizzy.

[@beerubbed7345]

Cool story

[@leeroy968]

Bill Roberts.?

[@Seawitch907]

All along the watchtower

[@donnahaga1411]

Its the same lyrics look up

[@JamesWilliams-js4fo]

I thought I remember seeing a documentary on Hendrix years ago where Eric Clapton mentioned Howlin' Wolf as the author of Hey Joe.

[@BarbarraBay]

Howlin Wolf authored Killing Floor, which Jimi played when he first played with Cream and wrecked Eric. Eric in the documentary was referring to Killing Floor

[@jameslomenzo1139]

Roy Buchanan did a better version.

[@DjowZDjowZ-de8xd]

S u b j e c t i v e

[@Iambigdaa]

I enjoy Roy Buchanan's version very much indeed.

[@-Luka-Brazi]

Musically, “Chicago” is better than NO ONE! A trumpet marching band of the worst kind! Tired of this myth making.

[@TedDiabetes]

The song was recorded in December of 66, not 65.

[@thefleecer3673]

It was probably originally written by some bluesman living on the streets so its appropriate that Hendrix made it his own

[@bonniemariedavis2909]

No it was written by Billy Roberts

[@billking8843]

Written by Niela Miller, follies, then her boyfriend nicked the tune; gave it new lyrics and passed it off as all his own work. Were the lyrics good? Yep. Was the music the most important bit? Absolutely.

[@cronkitesatellite]

1st again

[@randy9573]

It’s way older than that. Way older

[@donnahaga1411]

Billy roberts 1962

[@kegsofvomitspit]

I enjoy making it an Appalachian folk jam on my banjo.

[@YettiManChannel84]

*An Appalachian 😜. But seriously I'd love to hear your version if you have a link to it that is? Thanks in advance!

[@kegsofvomitspit]

@@YettiManChannel84: Good catch, I can’t believe I did that, I’m usually a stickler for proper grammar. My channel has plenty of songs where I play banjo, but I haven’t put a version of this up. I’ll put something together and post it here when I do. ✌️