In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

At the time of Jimi’s legendary performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, “Hey Joe” was a brand new song. In many ways, it’s a microcosm of everything that’s incredible about Hendrix. It’s his effortless blend of blues, hard rock and ingenious ability to reinvent other people’s songs with incredible power. “Hey Joe”, more than any other Hendrix classic, is exactly the kind of song that I miss hearing live.

“Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?”