The second straightforward Jimi Hendrix reissue in the Backtrack series appeared, together with Are You Experienced?/Backtrack 10, in November 1970, just six weeks after the guitarist's death and, therefore, in perfect time to ride the ensuing wave of grief. And, at a pound a pop, the price was certainly right for even the most impoverished mourner. Reiterating Hendrix's sophomore album, Axis: Bold as Love, Backtrack 11 presents the album in full-blooded stereo (its predecessor, of course, appeared in mono), and represents a considerable step forward, both in musical and sonic terms. Engineer Eddie Kramer remembers, "It's a wonderful journey to hear how his music expanded, and his sound expanded all at the same time,"...from the "primitive" stumblings of the first album, "instead of the drums being in mono, they're now in stereo and wow! that was a big jump!" The stereo effects are even wilder, the songwriting is (for the most part) even sharper and, of course, a bona fide classic emerges in the shape of "Little Wing."
Backtrack collectors, fascinated by the series' propensity for turning up unusual or interesting oddities, frequently profess themselves disappointed by the latter half of the series, pointing to the infinitely superior sounding CDs that preserve the same music in its original packaging. Backtrack 11 is one of the key offenders here, but put it on and marvel regardless. If this is what Hendrix was doing two albums into his career, whatever might he have conceived a decade later? ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide
