Track Record | Through the Shattered Lens

If you’ve never really sat down with All Along the Watchtower, you’re missing out on one of those songs that just grabs you from the first few seconds. It’s got this tense, almost mysterious vibe right away, like something big is about to go down. And yeah, quick heads-up—this is actually a cover of a Bob Dylan song, but Hendrix completely transforms it into something way more electric, intense, and, honestly, iconic.

What really separates Hendrix’s version is how much more dynamic it feels compared to Dylan’s original. Dylan keeps it more stripped-down and acoustically grounded, which gives it that raw, almost haunting quality. Hendrix, on the other hand, builds this layered, immersive soundscape that feels bigger and more urgent. Even their vocal styles reflect that difference—both are rooted in blues, but Dylan leans into a delivery that feels closer to Robert Johnson, kind of dry and narrative-driven, while Hendrix brings a smoother, more fluid presence that echoes someone like Muddy Waters.

And then you hit the guitar work, which is really the heart of the whole thing. Hendrix doesn’t just give you one standout solo—he drops two. The first kicks in around the 0:55 mark, and it’s sharp, punchy, and sets the tone with that signature bite. Then he comes back again around 1:45 with another lead that feels even more expressive and fluid, like he’s pushing things further emotionally. Both solos feel purposeful, not just thrown in to show off—they actually drive All Along the Watchtower forward.

By the time the song wraps up, it leaves you with that “wait, play that again” feeling. It’s short, tight, and insanely replayable. Even if you’re not usually into older rock, this is one of those tracks that cuts through all that—it just sounds cool. Definitely worth throwing on with headphones and really soaking it in.

All Along the Watchtower

“There must be some kind of way out of here”
Said the joker to the thief
“There’s too much confusion
I can’t get no relief
Businessmen they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
None will level on the line
Nobody offered his word”
Hey!

(Guitar Solo 1 @0:55)

“No reason to get excited”
The thief, he kindly spoke
“There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
But, uh, but you and I, we’ve been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us stop talkin’ falsely now
The hour’s getting late
Hey!

(Guitar Solo 2 @1:45)

Hey!

All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Barefoot servants too
Well, uh, outside in the cold distance
A wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching
And the wind began to howl
Hey!

All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower

Great Guitar Solos Series

Jimi Hendrix was arguably one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. Some may dispute that label and maybe pigeonhole him as one of the greatest rock musician, but his impact on the musical landscape goes beyond just rock music, but all of music no matter the genre or style.

He was that one singular musician, just like any prodigy, who came along and burned bright for a short period of time before being snuffed out by the very gift and genius for creativity he became known for. There has been other musicians who have attained legend status since Jimi Hendrix’s untimely death on September 18, 1970, but even they would say that they still couldn’t comprehend what Hendrix was able to do with an electric guitar and in the short time he had in the limelight.

Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” is a microcosm of why musicians and rock historians almost look at Hendrix’s work with nigh-mythical status. The song, released on December 1, 1967, begins with Hendrix’s much slower chord progression accompanied by the haunting use of the glockenspiel that then leads to Hendrix’s vocals and drums. It is around the 1:45 minute mark when the song follows through on its vocals with one of the most precise and a nominee for greatest guitar solo of all-time.

The song itself is not very long, but even in the its two-and-a-half minute running time “Little Wing” achieves what most musicians could only dream of and that is a song that continues to inspire and bewilder (the song has been covered and studied countless times, but no could ever agree how Hendrix did his magic on the song).

Little Wing

Well, she’s walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that’s running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
And her fairy tales
That’s all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind
When I’m sad, she comes to me
With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free
“It’s alright” she says, “It’s alright”
Take anything you want from me, take anything
Anything
Fly on, little wing

[guitar solo]

Great Guitar Solos Series