A customer review: This is a robust package of 4CDs plus 1 in a hardback format. Solid. Well-illustrated. Reported in compact style by David Fricke. The music is beyond words. Bits and pieces of this legendary weekend of concerts in Winterland have appeared on bootlegs and LPs over the years. Here we have the whole warts and all performances including announcements, tuning problems, band conversations. 4CDs cover 10/10/68 12/10/68.Just over two years after the Experience formation. This is Hendrix in concert form. We have his studio albums. We have his other live performances. Some on film. This is a weekend of completeness and it is not just for 'completists' as the trio are there as it happened. The music is exemplary. Disc 1 starts with Jimi describing a jamming session on 'Tax Free'. This is a loosener to the later numbers. Disc 4 contains an interview with Jimi with some trite questions including his influences. He mentions Muddy Waters, Eddie Cochrane, Howling Wolf. When pressed he says "I'm not trying to copy what I heard before", and when asked what's ahead he says he is into his "own personal history". Never a truer summary of his career.
This really needs many hearings as when Hendrix stretches himself there are so many pieces of unmatchable brilliance. The longer he plays the more the ideas and improvisations unfold. Versions of 'Red House', 'Hear my Train a Comin' introduced as "Get my heart back together or something like that", heart wrenching versions of 'Little Wing', expanded versions of his other classics 'Foxey Lady','Are You Experienced', 'Hey Joe', 'Purple Haze' confirm his genius. Doing his own thing is what he said and what he does! The First version of 'Like A Rolling Stone', (Disc 2), is so sweetly and gently introduced that pays obvious affectionate homage to Dylan. Similarly' 'Sunshine of Your Love' nods to the "Woolly Cats" he calls Cream.
The Fifth CD is stuck on the front of the packing and will need re-housing. Recorded at the Fillmore on 02/04/68 we get superb renditions of Howling Wolf's 'Killing Floor', extended 'Red House', bluesy 'Catfish Blues' and instrumentals (engaging to say the least) of Traffics' 'Dear Mr Fantasy'.
There are additional contributions in the collection from Jack Casady on 'Killing Floor', Herbie Rich on Hammond Organ with ' Rolling Stone', and Buddy Miles on 'Mr Fantasy'.
There is enough material here to last a lifetime for his elder followers and the fortunate newer ears to this incredible prodigy. A final word or two. This is 'The Experience'. The amazing strength, power and awsome drumming of Mitch Mitchell are forever driving Jimi. If the tempo flags (rarely), Mitch is there. Noel Redding always wanted to be lead guitarist but his solid bass is consistently present.
Absolutely brilliant. This is essential. Welcomed at last in a 'note by note' format revealing the craft and artistry of the band. Exhausting it must have been for the players. At least we can keep revisiting at pleasure and leisure. A Must Have. The sound is generally excellent.
On my eight tts ;) Its almost ten past eleven at the moment and I'm actually salivating at the thought of listening to this monstrous set shortly! I did listen to some of it today but I couldn't really enjoy it because I simply could not believe how very lucky I am to be still around to be able to listen to this in the 21st century and on a turntable too! As Janie Hendrix herself said "Don't die because we have a lot of stuff still in the vaults" or words to that effect! Anyway........I did manage to sit still for a few minutes and the first thing that struck me was the beautifully balanced and organic sound that Jimi's original engineer Eddie Kramer managed to conjure from 43 year old reel to reels. I compared it to my own ancient digital Lp of the Winterland gigs, specifically "Red House", and while the digital copy always sounded good, this new remaster takes it to whole 'nother realm! It's almost like listening in 3-D but real world 3-D, if you know what I mean. The original Experience have never sounded so relaxed and happy as they did on this stage and it's great to hear Noel especially playing out of his skin and more importantly, getting the sound his bass playing deserves. Mitch, of course, is exemplary as always and the sheer force and power of his kit has never been captured as well as this....Still you have to be a true Jimi afficiando as there's some repetition of tracks - 3 renditions of Red House, for example; All sounding different as only Jimi could make them. Look, read the previous post which has an enthusiastic customer review and every word of it is true! As recommended as they come, and then some! Get it before it gets you ;-)
"This is one of Popol Vuh's most distinct albums, partly because of the relatively unfamiliar line up. The guitarist is Conny Veit, whose neat, sighing notes contrast with the jangly style of Daniel Fichelscher who plays on most of the later 1970s albums. In addition, Robert Eliscu of Between contributes some lovely oboe. 'Hosianna Mantra' is also much lighter and more uplifting than the other early albums, though there is a subtle layer of sadness here and there. Florian Fricke's piano is more prominent than usual and his classical upbringing is more evident as a result. This is certainly not a rock album. His cascading lines on 'Ah!' are a delight, as is the yearning feel of 'Kyrie'. The long title track is, however, the main highlight. The album is divided into two sections, the second suffering slightly by having to follow such a strong opening but is nevertheless excellent. Not an instant album, but a beautiful one which repays further listening."
On my eight tts ;) Its almost ten past eleven at the moment and I'm actually salivating at the thought of listening to this monstrous set shortly! I did listen to some of it today but I couldn't really enjoy it because I simply could not believe how very lucky I am to be still around to be able to listen to this in the 21st century and on a turntable too! As Janie Hendrix herself said "Don't die because we have a lot of stuff still in the vaults" or words to that effect! Anyway........I did manage to sit still for a few minutes and the first thing that struck me was the beautifully balanced and organic sound that Jimi's original engineer Eddie Kramer managed to conjure from 43 year old reel to reels. I compared it to my own ancient digital Lp of the Winterland gigs, specifically "Red House", and while the digital copy always sounded good, this new remaster takes it to whole 'nother realm! It's almost like listening in 3-D but real world 3-D, if you know what I mean. The original Experience have never sounded so relaxed and happy as they did on this stage and it's great to hear Noel especially playing out of his skin and more importantly, getting the sound his bass playing deserves. Mitch, of course, is exemplary as always and the sheer force and power of his kit has never been captured as well as this....Still you have to be a true Jimi afficiando as there's some repetition of tracks - 3 renditions of Red House, for example; All sounding different as only Jimi could make them. Look, read the previous post which has an enthusiastic customer review and every word of it is true! As recommended as they come, and then some! Get it before it gets you ;-)
Thanks for that long report Dermot. It certainly sounds like a good purchase. Any idea if Freebird are going to get it in on Lp? Ive seen the CD version in Tower alright but I'm gonna wait to see what the price of the vinyl is first.
"I may skip. I may even warp a little.... But I will never, ever crash. I am your friend for life. " -Vinyl. Michell Gyrodec SE, Hana ML cart, Parasound JC3 Jr, Stax LR-700, Stax SRM-006ts Energiser, Quad Artera Play+ CDP
Thanks for that long report Dermot. It certainly sounds like a good purchase. Any idea if Freebird are going to get it in on Lp? Ive seen the CD version in Tower alright but I'm gonna wait to see what the price of the vinyl is first.
I'm sure Freebird will be getting it in but at what price, I've no idea. Mine cost me €77.00 directly from the Experience Hendrix site which I thought was ok. I've seen sealed copies on eBay for approx. €10.00 less. If I come across a bargain, I'll let you know.
On the original IRS vinyl. A sadly underplayed group in my collection despite the fact I have most of their output up to 'Up'. So I've dug out this, their first album, to remind me how good they once were.....and now that they're finally gone maybe I'll listen to them more often....
So long R. E. M. :-(
"I may skip. I may even warp a little.... But I will never, ever crash. I am your friend for life. " -Vinyl. Michell Gyrodec SE, Hana ML cart, Parasound JC3 Jr, Stax LR-700, Stax SRM-006ts Energiser, Quad Artera Play+ CDP
