Smash Hits – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Smash Hits, released in April 1968 (UK) and July 1969 (US), is a compilation by The Jimi Hendrix Experience that gathers singles, B-sides, and standout album tracks up to that point. Drawing from recordings between October 1966 and July 1967, it compiles key Hendrix moments—including “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” “Fire,” and “All Along the Watchtower.” While not conceived as a cohesive studio statement, it functions as an entry point for new listeners and a snapshot of Hendrix’s early creative phase. The album bridges his raw debut era and the more expansive directions he would soon explore.

Though some fans view it as superseded by later anthologies, *Smash Hits* preserves essential versions and alternate takes—most notably the U.S. release includes a stereo version of “Red House” from a different take. Its importance lies not in conceptual unity, but in its curated approach to Hendrix’s early legacy, offering a distillation of his explosive beginnings. For collectors, *Smash Hits* remains a historically resonant artifact that illustrates Hendrix’s evolution and the demand for consolidating his early singles in LP form.

"Smash Hits remains one of the best, since it keeps its focus narrow and never tries to extend its reach" – AllMusic

“The main strength of Smash Hits is that it contains the best-known big-name songs in one place. Maybe not enough to make the collection essential, but still enough to make it a representative, accurate sampler.” – AllMusic

“First released in 1969, this remastered hits package features all of the Hendrix songs still played on classic-rock radio stations, and little else.” – Rolling Stone