Carefully restored from the original analog master tapes, and featuring original poster and alternate cover art, Smash Hits includes timeless classics like "Purple Haze," "Hey Joe," "Red House," "Fire," plus eight more essential tracks that showcase the eclectic genius of Jimi Hendrix, forever cementing his status as a groundbreaking guitarist, songwriter and arranger.

Released in July, 1969, Smash Hits served a few purposes. It was the Jimi Hendrix Experience's very first compilation album, originally conceived in 1968 by the group's UK label as a vehicle to compile the group's hit singles that had not yet appeared on the LP format. Jimi's original U.S. record label Reprise sought to create its own version (just as it did with the group's 1967 debut Are You Experienced combining essential songs such as "Remember" and "Can You See Me" with popular favorites such as "Purple Haze" and "All Along The Watchtower." It also introduced North American fans to his signature blues song "Red House." Recorded at De Lane Lea and Olympic Studios, the version of "Red House" that appears on Smash Hits derives from different sessions than the original take found on the UK version of Are You Experienced (recorded at CBS Studios). It was, thus, exclusive to this collection for the world at the time of release.

Smash Hits proved immensely popular upon its release. The Experience was the highest grossing touring act in the world and the album came on the heels of the group's largest ever U.S. tour. The album has since served as a critical introduction to the Hendrix canon for successive generations of fans.

This exclusive RSD version of Smash Hits will include a recreation of the poster that came with the original U.S. LP release, depicting band members Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding dressed in western attire on horseback. The photograph, taken by Grammy-winning photographer Ed Thrasher at Warner Bros. film studios in Burbank, CA in early 1969, was initially intended as cover art for the package. Ultimately, the iconic multiple photo image montage by Dezo Hoffmann was decided as the U.S. cover. For the first time ever, Thrasher's photo will finally grace the cover of Smash Hits, a mere 47 years after the plan was conceived.