October's Monthly Special Giveaway: Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced (1967 UK Mono First Pressing)

We’re keeping the momentum going with our Monthly Special Giveaway at The Mystery Vinyl Company.

And for October, we’ve chosen something rather special. A record that helped change the course of British rock music.

Up for grabs is an original 1967 UK mono first pressing of Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced on Track Records, catalogue number 612 001, featuring the early A-1/B-1 matrices.

This is the original British issue of Hendrix's extraordinary debut album, complete with its black Track Records labels and original front-laminated sleeve.

Nearly sixty years old, and a genuine piece of British psychedelic rock history.

The Album That Changed Everything

When Are You Experienced arrived in May 1967, Jimi Hendrix had been living in London for less than a year.

Brought to Britain by Chas Chandler, the former Animals bassist who recognised his remarkable talent, Hendrix quickly became one of the most talked-about musicians in the capital.

He formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, and within months they were recording music unlike anything else being released at the time.

The timing was extraordinary.

The Beatles were preparing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Cream were pushing blues-rock into increasingly experimental territory, and London's psychedelic scene was gathering pace.

Even among that company, Hendrix sounded completely different.

His guitar playing was astonishing, but it wasn't simply about technical ability. Feedback, distortion and effects became part of the music itself, creating sounds that seemed almost impossible to produce with an electric guitar.

The original British album opened with Foxy Lady, followed by Manic Depression, Red House and Can You See Me.

Fire, Love or Confusion and I Don't Live Today demonstrated just how far Hendrix was prepared to push things.

Interestingly, the original UK release didn't contain Purple Haze, Hey Joe or The Wind Cries Mary. Those had already been released as singles and were omitted from the British album, in keeping with the conventions of the time.

The American edition, released later in 1967, featured a different track selection.

It's one of the reasons collectors continue to seek out the original British pressing.

What Makes This Copy Special

Original UK Track pressings of Are You Experienced have become increasingly desirable, particularly copies retaining their original sleeves and early mono records.

This example has several characteristics that make it worth a closer look.

The Original Black Track Labels

Both sides feature the distinctive black Track Records labels, carrying the original 612 001 catalogue number and 1967 copyright date.

Track Records was established by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, who also managed The Who. Hendrix became one of the label's earliest and most important artists.

The labels on this copy remain bright and clean, with minimal spindle marking around the centre holes.

For a record that has been around since 1967, that's encouraging to see.

The Early Mono Matrices

The runouts carry:

Side One: 612001 A-1

Side Two: 612001 B-1

These are early first-cut matrix numbers associated with the original UK mono release.

For collectors, the matrices are particularly important. They help distinguish original-era pressings from the many subsequent editions of an album that has remained continuously popular for decades.

The Original Laminated Sleeve

The record retains its original front-laminated sleeve, featuring the distinctive photograph of Hendrix, Redding and Mitchell beneath the curved Are You Experienced lettering.

The reverse carries the original black-and-white band photographs and introductory notes about the three musicians.

It's a very different presentation from the familiar psychedelic artwork used for the American release.

The sleeve shows its age, with creasing and edgewear visible, particularly around the edges and corners. But it remains an original example of the artwork that British buyers would have encountered in 1967.

Condition: VG Sleeve / EX and VG+ Vinyl

The original laminated sleeve grades VG, showing some creasing and edgewear consistent with its age.

The vinyl has survived considerably better and is graded at VG+.

It's a very respectable example of an album that is now approaching its sixtieth anniversary.

Why We've Chosen It

We wanted October's giveaway to feature something with genuine musical and historical significance.

And it's difficult to think of many debut albums that deserve that description more than Are You Experienced.

Hendrix wasn't simply another talented guitarist appearing on the London scene. Within a remarkably short period, he had changed expectations of what the electric guitar could do.

His influence can be heard in generations of musicians who followed, from heavy rock and psychedelia through to alternative music and beyond.

Original copies of this album are wonderful things to own. There's something particularly satisfying about placing a record on the turntable knowing it was pressed in the same year the music first reached the public.

And that's exactly why we've chosen this one.

How to Enter

As always, every Collector's Cut, Arena Pack, and Studio Pack purchased throughout the month will automatically receive one entry into the draw.

There's nothing extra to fill in and nothing hidden inside one particular box.

At the end of the month, we'll randomly draw one eligible order number alongside our Studio Giveaway, and one customer will be taking home this original 1967 UK mono pressing of Are You Experienced.

One of the most influential debut albums ever recorded.

An original British Track Records pressing.

And hopefully, very soon, heading to your turntable.

Best of luck and happy spinning! 💿