Search - Jimi Hendrix :: Woodstock

Might want to go with the 2-disc reissue

Nichomachus | 07/15/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I've owned this 1994 MCA release for almost ten years and have long thought it was a lousy production, despite an amazing performance with the Band of Gypsies' often visionary group improvisation. They had minimal rehearsal before this performance, which in no way inhibited their creativity and energy on stage. A few of the songs they whipped up the day before.But with this MCA release, you have to listen really hard in order to appreciate all the bnad's dynamics, such as what other musicians are doing and how they are relating to each other. Often times, Jimi will basically be playing a two-chord rhythm chug, which makes sense if someone else is soloing but otherwise sounds lousy. And Lo! Larry Lee is there in the background, almost totally edited out, and indistinguishable unless you are listening for it. Most of the percussion is waaaay in the background, apart from Mitch who is barely keeping time at more than one point and in his soloing sounds at the end of his rope. The engineers also monkeyed around with the crowd noise a lot, which is irritating (the photos in the booklet are also blatantly manipulated). One reviewer below notes that most of the crowd had left, and if you listen closely you can easily hear the idiot editor almost randomly waving the volume knob on the canned crowd track. Pathetic. All in all a botched edit.So I give it two stars for the crap production. The Experience Hendrix label has a 1999 two-disc release that I haven't listened to closely, but I suggest you favor that one and AVOID this MCA release. Not only that, the '99 release (called, "Live at Woodstock," this one is "Jimi Hendrix: Woodstock") actually has the tracks in order."

Jimi is spectacular, but this release is flawed.

Wallace Marx Jr. | Carlsbad, California, USA | 07/19/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'll keep it brief: every rock fan should hear this performance, as it is a virtuoso work. The big HOWEVER is that whoever re-mastered/re-mixed this performance PIPED IN MASSIVE CROWD NOISE DURING THE SONGS. It's total fakery; listen to Star Spangled Banner and you'll know what I mean. Jimi performed at Woodstock very early Monday morning. Most of the crowd had left and the few that remained were definitely vocal, but not to the levels that this CD portrays. I am replacing this with the new release and hope the same flaw is not there."

Classic live Hendrix, but.........

Wallace Marx Jr. | 05/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't have this CD already, you should wait for the upcoming Experience Hendrix reissue. It will feature the complete Woodstock performance and will most likely be a 2-CD set like the wonderful BBC Sessions and Live at the Fillmore East. This CD (or rather, the upcoming reissue) is a must-have for any Hendrix fan. It features one of his most famous and celebrated performances, the Star Spangled Banner. Hendrix also plays an old favorite or two (Fire, Purple Haze) and tries out some new material (Izabella, Beginnings) which would have showed up on his 4th studio album had he lived to complete it.This is a monumental Jimi Hendrix performance and anyone who appreciates this great artist, or just loves great rock and roll, should have this performance."