Wait Until Tomorrow

A Compact Psychedelic Groove with Blues-Rock Bite

Hendrix’s “Wait Until Tomorrow” delivers a playful narrative wrapped in tight blues‑rock grooves, showing his knack for compact storytelling and impeccable rhythm-guitar chops. Recorded at Olympic Studios in 1967, the track balances humor and urgency, with Stratocaster riffs bouncing against Noel Redding’s bass and Mitch Mitchell’s crisp drumming. Unlike sprawling jams, this cut is short, sharp, and disciplined, clocking in under three minutes yet packed with character.

The song’s conversational tone sits alongside other Axis: Bold as Love highlights, like “Up From the Skies,” where Hendrix explored jazz‑inflected textures. Here, though, he leans into syncopated chord stabs and angular pentatonic riffing, crafting a groove that feels almost punk in its urgency. The studio polish captures every detail, from the sly vocal phrasing to the rhythmic interplay, making it a snapshot of Hendrix’s versatility at the height of his creativity.

Techniques to Explore

Guitarists working in this tight, funk‑rock corner of late‑60s songwriting often relied on rhythmic precision and compact phrasing. Here are a few techniques to listen for in this performance:

• Syncopated chord stabs — sharp rhythmic punches that lock tightly with the drums
• Minor‑pentatonic riffing — angular phrases built from Hendrix’s blues vocabulary
• Narrative lyric phrasing — playful vocal delivery that mirrors the guitar’s rhythmic bounce
• Half‑step‑down tuning (E♭) — warmer tone and looser feel, typical of Hendrix’s studio approach

Performance Notes

💬 What Stands Out Most About This Performance?

This track is fast, funky, and narrative‑driven. Do you hear it more as a playful story or as a tight funk‑rock groove? Share your impressions below.