Jimi Hendrix’s Most Famous Albums Advance Again With New Awards

50 years after his death, two Jimi Hendrix albums — Are You Experienced? and Electric Ladyland — earn new certifications and rank as his most successful. American Rock Singer and Guitarist Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970). (Photo by Avalon/Getty Images)

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More than half a century since Jimi Hendrix left this world, after he changed rock music and what was possible with a guitar in the span of only a few years, the musician remains a celebrated performer and something of a mythic figure. Americans are still listening to Hendrix all the time, and the late superstar continues to rack up industry honors and, occasionally, appear on the Billboard charts with material he recorded during his too-short lifetime.

Recently, several Hendrix albums were certified again by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), and two of his most popular collections now rank among Hendrix’s top performers in the United States.

Jimi Hendrix Classics Earn New RIAA Certifications

The RIAA recently certified both Are You Experienced? and Electric Ladyland, two must-hear albums by Hendrix. Are You Experienced? advanced from five-times platinum to six-times platinum, meaning it has now shifted six million equivalent units in the U.S. alone between sales and streaming activity. Electric Ladyland pushes from double platinum to triple platinum status.

What is Jimi Hendrix’s Biggest Album?

Are You Experienced? is easily Hendrix’s highest-certified album. Now that it has moved six million units, the landmark debut performs as well as his next two most successful efforts – Electric Ladyland and The Ultimate Experience – combined.

Are You Experienced? Towers Over Electric Ladyland

Electric Ladyland ties as Hendrix’s second-highest-certified album as it advances with a new platinum honor. The album is matched with The Ultimate Experience, which was named a triple-platinum winner more than a quarter-century ago.

Before this update, Electric Ladyland sat on the same level as Band of Gypsys, Experience Hendrix, and Smash Hits, which are all steady at the double-platinum mark.

Are You Experienced? Earns a New Award for the First Time in a Decade

Are You Experienced? earns its first new platinum award in a little more than 11 years when the RIAA announced its latest prize. The full-length went five-times platinum in the summer of 2014.

It has been even longer since Electric Ladyland scored a new honor of any kind from the RIAA. The last time the organization bestowed a certification to the decades-old project was in the summer of 1998, which means that the full-length needed more than 27 years to move another million equivalent units.

Jimi Hendrix Only Released Three Albums

Despite the fact that Hendrix is remembered as one of the most famous and successful musicians in American history, he released only three studio albums during his lifetime. Are You Experienced? arrived in 1967, while both Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland dropped in 1968.

Each title brought Hendrix to higher and higher positions on the Billboard 200, which ranks the most consumed albums in the nation. Are You Experienced? peaked at No. 5, Axis: Bold as Love climbed to No. 3, and Electric Ladyland soared to No. 1.

Jimi Hendrix’s Albums Immediately Went Gold

Electric Ladyland and Are You Experienced? scored their first RIAA certifications in 1968, when they were still brand new. Both were honored with gold records for selling 500,000 copies, which at the time was far more impressive than today, as streaming has completely changed the meaning of these awards. It was not until October 1986, almost 20 years later, that the two titles doubled their totals and reached platinum status.

Hendrix also landed major wins and RIAA awards with a handful of live collections and compilations, most of which sold well and brought him to the Billboard charts – some while he was still alive, while others were posthumous wins.