Manic Depression

One of the more distinctive Hendrix tunes where the drumming leaps out at you and the subject matter is heavy . . . a rare rock waltz where Mitch lays it on thick. Here's probably the best live version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRXAYap1cyg
(interestingly the footage comes from another performance; you can hear about 4 1968 Winterland shows on Wolfgang's Vault)

In this 1998 interview, Mitch gives credit for the beat:

"I'm just like any other drummer. I stole things from other drummers I could think of. 'Manic Depression' comes to mind. I stole that completely from, of all people, the drummer called Ronnie Stephenson. It came from John Dankworth's 'African Waltz.' It's just what fitted in. I heard this rhythm that Jimi was playing on guitar and I thought, 'Oh yeah, it's that kind of feel.' So thank you Ronny Stephenson."

(http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/mitch-mitchell/)

Of course, that's just ridiculous modesty. No one can be given credit for 3/4 time.

Interesting sidenote: on the 1960 Johnny Dankworth recording, the pianist is actor Dudley Moore. Here's a taste of the hit:
http://www.mp3sale.ru/track.php?ms_trackid=2186019

Also made popular by Cannonball Adderley:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Cannonball-Adderley-African-Waltz-MP3-Download/10592019.html

There is no evidence that Hendrix ever suffered from bipolar disorder himself, but when he was doing a press conference in London his manager at the time, Chas Chandler, told him that he sounded like a manic depressive. So the next day Hendrix wrote this tune.

Does Jimi really describe what is manic depression in his lyrics? Doesn't seem like he does, though he may touch on what it means to be manic depressive. Knowing what he wants, but doesn't really know . . . I've never heard that as part of the condition, but maybe it is. Perhaps confusion is catalyst.

Manic-depressives are known to be highly creative people. I read this book a long while ago about many of these artists:
http://www.amazon.com/Touched-Fire-Manic-Depressive-Artistic-Temperament/dp/068483183X

If a manic-depressive doesn't have a creative outlet, or use their creativity as balance, that's when it seems problems strike.

No, I'm not in that league, being far more stable than say, D-Slam (but maybe not at the kit!).

Seems Jimi was very aware of confusion (is this love or just confusion?) because he may have nailed manic depression with that one line in the song. Knowing and not knowing; the disparate personalities of the right and left brain:
http://www.applied-meditation.org/The_Heart/hemisphere_balance.pdf


Heard this radio interview today discussing the right and left brain:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104154403