> Despite occasional misattribution, "Hey Joe" was NOT written by Chet Powers
>aka Dino Valenti, nor did he ever claim to have written it. The official
>writer of record is Billy Roberts, although there is a story that it was
>actually written by a girl Roberts knew who OD'd.
>
There's every reason to believe that "hey Joe" comes from traditional
sources--cowboy sources. All of those mid-sixties versions (Hendrix,
Byrds, Love...for 3 well-known ones)...appear to have been inspired by the
slow version of the song recorded by Tim Rose (and often foprgotten singer,
still alive and performing some places some times, who was quite
influential at the time. His slow version of "Take Me Out in ther Morning
Dew" was equally copied)..If you listen to Rose's version, you have,
practically note for note, the Hendrix version (minus the instrumental
prowess, of course!)...The Experience apparently heard Rose do it at a
Village pardon the expression coffeehouse...
PS:
Rose's basic recordings (first 2 albums) were recently re-released as a
2fer on the UK label BOG (Beat Goes On) as "Tim Rose/Through Rose Colored
Glasses"......He was before the solo career one of the semi-famous Big
3--Mama Cass's group before she was a Mama.
Barry M.
Briefly home before returning to road.
