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Some of the studio effects on Hendrix's second album have not aged well, and the mix on Side One was redone in a single night because he left the original masters in a taxi. But Axis is a leisurely, bluesy jewel; Hendrix slowed down on "Little Wing" and "If 6 Was 9" to allow his guitar space to breathe as well as burn. " 'Little Wing' is like one of these beautiful girls that come around sometimes," he said. "They might be spaced, they might be kinda strung out. But everybody has a right to . . . their beliefs, if they want to believe that a star is purple, or whatever." Like Hendrix, Axis was cryptic and bewitching.
Total album sales: 1 million
Peak chart position: 3