Jimi Hendrix didn't want it. Honestly, if you ask any serious collector about the electric ladyland original cover, they’ll tell you the same thing: it was a total mess of a PR move that buried the artist's actual vision. It’s 1968. Hendrix is at the peak of his powers, putting the finishing touches on a sprawling, psychedelic double album that would redefine what a guitar could actually do. He has a plan. He writes a detailed, handwritten letter to Reprise Records explaining exactly what the art should look like. He even includes a photo by Linda McCartney. He wants the band sitting with children on a sculpture in Central Park.
Instead? He got 19 naked women.
It’s one of those rock and roll stories that feels almost too cliché to be true, but the fallout was real. The UK wing of Track Records decided that a "nude party" vibe would sell more records than a sophisticated portrait of the band. Hendrix was reportedly mortified. He felt the music—songs like "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)"—was being cheapened by a "cheesecake" photo that had nothing to do with the sonic landscapes he’d spent months agonizing over at Record Plant Studios.
The UK "Nude" Cover vs. The US "Orange" Cover
The confusion starts because there isn't just one electric ladyland original cover. Depending on which side of the Atlantic you lived on in 1968, your record store experience was vastly different. In the United Kingdom, Track Records released the infamous gatefold featuring 19 nude women lounging against a black background. It was shot by David Montgomery. Some of the women were reportedly paid very little, and the atmosphere was described as professional but awkward.
Many record shops in the UK found it scandalous. They displayed it in brown paper bags. High-street stalwarts like WHSmith refused to carry it at all. This wasn't just about "free love"; it was a marketing stunt that backfired by making the album harder to buy.
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Across the pond, the US version was handled by Reprise. They didn't go with the nude cover, but they didn't listen to Jimi’s Central Park idea either. They went with a high-contrast, blurred orange and yellow photo of Jimi’s face taken by Karl Ferris. It’s iconic now. You’ve seen it on every t-shirt at Target. But to Hendrix, both versions were failures of communication. He’d sent a letter to Warner Bros. executives—which has since been archived and shared by the Hendrix estate—explicitly stating, "Please use the color picture... of us and some children... it's much better." They ignored him.
Why the British Version is a Collector's Holy Grail
If you find a 1968 UK pressing with the "blue" lettering on the inside gatefold, you’re looking at serious money. The earliest pressings of the electric ladyland original cover featured white or blue text for the tracklist inside. Later versions switched to orange.
The value of these records isn't just about the nudity. It's about the era's printing techniques. The glossiness of that original laminate is something modern reissues struggle to replicate. Collectors obsess over the "flatness" of the vinyl and whether the women’s faces are sharp or slightly blurred, which happened in later, cheaper print runs.
It's a weird irony. The cover Jimi hated the most is the one that now sells for thousands of dollars at auction.
A Closer Look at David Montgomery’s Shoot
David Montgomery was the photographer tasked with the UK shoot. He’s gone on record saying the idea wasn't even his; it was the record label's attempt to be "edgy." He gathered the women in a studio, and if you look closely at the original photos, some of them are holding copies of previous Hendrix albums. It was a meta-marketing play.
Hendrix was a perfectionist. He was a man who lived in the studio, often recording dozens of takes for a single solo. To have that level of craftsmanship represented by a photo he found "dated" and "unprofessional" was a slap in the face. He once told a reporter that he felt the cover was "ugly" and that he had nothing to do with it. That’s a heavy sentiment for an artist’s magnum opus.
The women in the photo weren't professional models for the most part. They were just people found in clubs or through friends. This adds a layer of raw, 1960s London grit to the image, but it also explains why the composition feels a bit cluttered. It lacks the curated, cosmic energy that Jimi was projecting through his lyrics about "electric moons" and "crystalline" environments.
The 50th Anniversary Correction
In 2018, the Hendrix estate (Experience Hendrix L.L.C.) finally tried to make things right. They released a 50th-anniversary box set. The cover? The Linda McCartney photo Hendrix originally requested.
It’s a beautiful, soft-focus shot of The Jimi Hendrix Experience sitting with kids on the "Alice in Wonderland" statue in New York's Central Park. It feels human. It feels grounded. It completely changes the "vibe" of the album before you even needle-drop onto "And the Gods Made Love."
Comparing this to the electric ladyland original cover used in the UK is like looking at two different bands. One is a group of musicians trying to connect with the world; the other is a product being sold through shock value.
How to Identify an Authentic 1968 UK Pressing
If you're digging through crates at a record fair, you need to know what to look for. Fake "original" covers are everywhere.
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- Catalog Number: Look for "613008/9" on the spine and labels.
- The Laminate: Original 68 copies have a heavy, "wet-look" lamination on the outside. It shouldn't feel like modern cardboard.
- The Interior Text: White text is standard, but the "Blue Text" variation is the "White Whale" for collectors.
- The Weight: The vinyl itself should be heavy, but not necessarily "180g" in the modern sense. It has a specific rigidity.
Most "nude" covers you see today are actually reissues from the 70s or 80s (Polydor versions). These are fine for listening, but they don't hold the same historical weight. The original Track Records logo is the key.
The Cultural Impact of the Controversy
Was it art or was it exploitation? That’s the question that has trailed the electric ladyland original cover for over five decades. In 1968, it was seen by many as a symbol of the sexual revolution. Today, it’s often viewed through a more critical lens, especially considering Jimi’s own disapproval.
It’s a lesson in the tension between artist and industry. Even a star as big as Hendrix didn't have total control. He was the greatest guitarist on the planet, yet he couldn't stop a label from putting out a cover he found embarrassing.
The music, however, was too good to be buried. Electric Ladyland hit number one in the US. It stayed in the charts for weeks. Whether it was the orange blur of Jimi’s face or the controversial UK gatefold, people bought the record because the songs were revolutionary. From the soul-stirring "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" to the sprawling 15-minute jam of "Voodoo Chile," the content far outshone the packaging.
Final Thoughts for the Modern Collector
If you're looking to own a piece of this history, decide what matters to you. Is it the artist's intent? Then get the 50th-anniversary edition with the McCartney photo. Is it the historical "notoriety" of the 1960s? Then hunt for the David Montgomery UK original.
Just know that if you buy the nude cover, you’re buying the version Jimi Hendrix wanted to apologize for. He was a man of the future, and he felt that specific branding was stuck in a very boring past.
To truly appreciate the album, forget the cover for a second. Put on a pair of good headphones. Listen to the way "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" moves from the left ear to the right. That’s where the real "cover art" is—it’s in the spatial, three-dimensional world Jimi built with sound. The rest is just cardboard and ink.
Actionable Steps for Enthusiasts
- Check the Matrix Numbers: Before spending hundreds on a "first pressing," verify the numbers etched in the run-out groove of the vinyl. For the UK original, you want to see A//1, B//1, etc.
- Inspect the Spine: Original 1968 covers were often thin and are prone to "spine-splitting." A perfectly intact spine on an original is rare and adds significant value.
- Read the Letter: Look up the transcript of Jimi’s letter to Reprise Records. It’s a fascinating insight into his creative mind and his desire for his music to be seen as something for everyone, including children.
- Listen Beyond the Hits: The "Electric Ladyland" original cover controversy often overshadows the deeper tracks. Spend time with "Rainy Day, Dream Away"—it’s a masterclass in atmosphere that perfectly reflects the "New York City rainy day" vibe Jimi wanted for the art.