Dolly Dagger

1971 single by Jimi Hendrix
"Dolly Dagger"
1997 reissue single picture sleeve
Single by Jimi Hendrix
from the album Rainbow Bridge
B-side"The Star-Spangled Banner"
ReleasedOctober 1971 (1971-10)
RecordedJuly–August 1970
StudioElectric Lady, New York City
GenreRock
Length4:45
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Jimi Hendrix
Producer(s)
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • Mitch Mitchell
  • Eddie Kramer
  • John Jansen
Jimi Hendrix U.S. singles chronology
"Freedom"
(1971) 		"Dolly Dagger"
(1971) 		"Johnny B. Goode"
(1972)

"Dolly Dagger" is a song written and recorded by Jimi Hendrix. On October 9, 1971, it was released on the posthumous album Rainbow Bridge, followed by a single on October 23. Backed with a multi-tracked studio solo rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner", the single peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the last Hendrix single to appear on the main Billboard chart.[1]

Lyrics

Biographers consider the song to be written about Hendrix's girlfriend Devon Wilson, with the song's name referencing her "concurrent relationship with Mick Jagger".[2] The lyrics "she drinks her blood from a jagged edge" refer to a "party where Mick Jagger cut his finger, Wilson elbowed her way in to suck the blood off as Hendrix watched".[3]

Performances and releases

The Rainbow Bridge album was used to fulfill manager Michael Jeffery's obligation to give Reprise Records a soundtrack album for the film Rainbow Bridge. Although labeled "Original Soundtrack", the album did not feature any music performed in the original film.[4] However, most of the tracks on the album were used as incidental music for the film. In 2020, the songs Hendrix performed during the filming were released on the two-CD set Live in Maui, including "Dolly Dagger", which opened the second set.[5]

Between July and September 1970, Hendrix occasionally played "Dolly Dagger" during The Cry of Love Tour.[6] A version recorded at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 was included on Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight album and DVD. In a review for AllMusic, Sean Westergaard noted that "much of the new material was under-rehearsed for a live setting, giving some of the newer songs like 'Dolly Dagger' more of a jam feel".[7]

References

  1. ^ "Jimi Hendrix: Chart History – The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. ^ Shaar Murray, Charles (1990). Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix & the Post-War Rock 'N' Roll Revolution. New York City: St. Martin's Press. p. 73. ISBN 0-31204-288-4.
  3. ^ Lough, James (July 1, 2013). This Ain't No Holiday Inn: Down and Out at the Chelsea Hotel 1980–1995. Tucson, Arizona: Schaffner Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-93618-252-7.
  4. ^ Westergaard, Sean. "Jimi Hendrix: Rainbow Bridge [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  5. ^ Bienstock, Richard (September 10, 2020). "Jimi Hendrix's infamous 1970 Maui concerts documented in new film and live album". Guitarworld.com. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  6. ^ McDermott, John; Kramer, Eddie; Cox, Billy (2009). Ultimate Hendrix. New York City: Backbeat Books. pp. 207–208, 211–215. ISBN 978-0-87930-938-1.
  7. ^ Westergaard, Sean. "Jim Hendrix: Blue Wild Angel – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 1, 2020.

External links

  • Jimi Hendrix: "Dolly Dagger" on Vevo (full song)
  • "Dolly Dagger": Behind the Scenes on Vevo (Audio engineer Eddie Kramer and others provide commentary on the recording)
  • "Dolly Dagger" at Discogs (list of releases)
  • v
  • t
  • e
Jimi Hendrix singles discography
US
(1967–1982)
1967
1968
1969
1970
  • "Stepping Stone" / "Izabella"
1971
1972
1982
UK
(1966–1990)
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
"Hear My Train A Comin'"‡ (solo acoustic) / "Rock Me Baby"‡
1982
  • "Fire"‡ / "Are You Experienced?"‡
1990
International
(1997–present)
1997
1999
2010
  • "Valleys of Neptune" / "Cat Talkin' to Me"
  • "Bleeding Heart" / "Jam 292"
  • "Love or Confusion" / "12 Bar with Horns"
2011
2012
2013
2015
2018
Notes: † indicates a re-release, ‡ indicates a live recording
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Original studio albums
Posthumous studio albums
Live albums
Anthologies and
retrospective
albums
Official bootlegs
Concert tours
Films, books,
and tributes
  • Rainbow Bridge
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
  • Hendrix
  • Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
  • Room Full of Mirrors
  • An Illustrated Experience
  • Becoming Jimi Hendrix
  • Jimi: All Is by My Side
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