Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer Carla Olson is this week's guest, and she introduces Al to The Jimi Hendrix Experience's second album, Axis: Bold as Love. Carla co-founded The Textones (with Kathy Valentine), collaborated with Mick Taylor, Bob Dylan, Gene Clark and countless others, and co-produced and performed on the new compilation album, Americana Railroad. Carla talks about her favorite things about Axis, as well as her own encounter with Hendrix, her work with Taylor, the story behind Americana Railroad and much more.
Al referred to an interview that Carla did with Harold Lapidis, where she discussed performing in Bob Dylan's video for "Sweetheart Like You," among many other topics. You can check out the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG0QzQ_8Ejk&t=1838s
Also, you can see Carla's performance on the "Sweetheart Like You" video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpRKstHl7Y0
As Carla mentioned, you can stream/purchase Americana Railroad everywhere now. Here is one place to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nH73kV_CiBB9ooznmJi3W-BLiz6YdcOLg
There are lots of places to keep current with Carla's work!
@CarlaOlsonMusic on Twitter and Instagram
@CarlaBOlson on Instagram
@haveharmonywilltravel on Instagram
Textones Facebook page
Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.
Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year. You can subscribe for free to get Al’s monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts and much more. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/
1:24 Carla joins the show
2:08 Carla talks about the time she met Jimi Hendrix
14:27 Carla talks about playing guitar growing up
21:15 Carla recalls how she got introduced to Kathy Valentine
25:46 Carla pinpoints what it is about Jimi Hendrix that made him great
28:00 Carla discusses what was new for Hendrix on Axis
31:36 Carla tells us what Don Henley’s pet peeve with Hendrix was
32:38 Carla and Al talk about how Axis is meant to be listened to in its entirety
33:31 Carla says that the era in which Axis was recorded and toured was one of rapid growth for Hendrix as a musician
34:53 Carla and Al discuss Noel Redding and his pop sensibility
38:14 Carla and Al talk about Hendrix as a vocalist and lyricist
42:07 Listening to Axis has helped Al to better appreciate Hendrix’s impact
49:07 Al wonders why tracks from Axis didn’t get more radio airplay
55:33 Carla recounts the crisis that could have prevented Axis from getting released
59:13 Carla explains how she started working with Mick Taylor
1:05:15 The Americana Railroad compilation album was decades in the making