Mahavishnu John McLaughlin - Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame. Being a devout fan (then and now). Jimi's death hit me very hard emotionally and left me feeling a huge void would be left unfilled. The MO album came out and I honestly picked it up 'cause I was becomng a rabid Billy Cobham fan due to his earlier work with Dreams. Imagine my surprise!!! Mclaughlin's not Hendrix, but his guitar intensity and music just felt right and left me feeling the void was beginning to be filled. I so wish Johnny Mac would just get his hands back on a Gibson Les Paul! An interesting story I read about 'Voodoo Chile...', some cameramen were in the studio and asked Jimi to just let it all hang out and do his 'Wild Man' thing while they filmed it, so he did. On his knees, behind the back, tounging the geetar, humping microphone stands and amps, totally improvised! Now THAT is virtuoso genius, and wouldn't ya love to see that video clip!
Best guitar explosion of all time
My vote is for Jimi's Voodoo Chile - a Slight Return! No one has come close to his majic on that recording. I am a big Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton fan and everything they have done falls short. Not for emotional involvement, or technical virtuousity, but for the finality of the perfect guitar moment. Jimi hit it on the mark - and then some!