Essential Live Experience -- A Must-Have for Fans
Al Chartreux | Upper West Side, New York, New York United States | 04/07/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let me state this as simply as possible -- if you are a fan of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, you must have this album in your collection. It may cost around $30 for a used copy, but it will be money well spent, trust me on that. This is not only one of the Experience's best live concerts on disc, it stands as one of the best live concerts I have ever heard by any artist. I hate to use this cliched phrase, but this disc really does approach "desert island" status for me, due to the quality of the music and the fact that one is able to get a sense of Jimi's personality as a performer from the manner in which he speaks to the audience in numerous spots. The CD documents the Experience's performance at the L.A. Forum on April 26, 1969. The disc is licensed from the estate of Michael Jeffrey, Hendrix's now reviled manager, whose economic exploitation of Hendrix and possible involvement in his death have earned him scorn from fans. This seems to be a lesser-known album in the Experience catalog, as the All-Music Guide doesn't even have a review of it, but it qualifies as essential in my book. I have the 2004 release by Alchemy Entertainment with the orange cover; it also was released on Radioactive Records. The tracks and durations are as follows:
1. Introduction [2:32]
2. Tax Free [15:42]
3. Foxy Lady [5:03]
4. Red House [10:55]
5. Spanish Castle Magic [11:28]
6. Star Spangled Banner [2:21]
7. Purple Haze [6:39]
8. I Don't Live Today [6:41]
9. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) [10:04]
10. Sunshine of Your Love [1:55]
11. Voodoo Chile (Slight Reprise) [5:42]
Total time: 78 minutes, 55 seconds
But, back to the music. The sound quality of this recording is excellent -- instruments and vocals are clear and the balance is good. "Introduction," the opening track, is just awesome to listen to. You get to hear the band introduced by an emcee (incorrectly, as "The Hendrix Experience"), some extensive tuning up, and Jimi's positive personality shining through as he delivers a variation of his often-used pre-concert benediction to the crowd: "And we want you to forget about everything that happened yesterday, last night or this morning. Just forgot about everything but what's goin' on down now. It's up to you all, and it's up to us too, so let's get our feelings together." Classic!
The opening song, "Tax Free," is a 15-minute instrumental written by the Swedes Bo Hansson and Jan Karlsson and, though it appears on other Hendrix albums, such as the excellent and out-of-print "Live at Winterland," this rendition is just scorching. From the opening chords, you know you're in for something special. I think this cut features some of Hendrix's best guitar playing live or in-studio, period. It's 15 minutes of blues-heavy guitar improvisation and creative distortion effects.
Next come excellent versions of Hendrix staples "Foxy Lady" and a 10-minute rendition of the Hendrix blues song "Red House." "Red House," with its slow blues tempo and long guitar improvisations, is a nice change of pace and a great song in its own right. A fiery rendition of "Spanish Castle Magic" follows and a version of "Purple Haze" where a playful Hendrix substitutes lyrics in some places ("Excuse me while I kiss that policeman"). A lively "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" follows, and an instrumental cover of the Cream classic "Sunshine of Your Love." "Voodoo Chile (Slight Reprise)" closes things out as Jimi thanks the crowd.
The disc comes with excellent liner notes by John Perry, a member of the Only Ones, whose opening sentence is frank (and true) -- ("First things first. This is one great #$%&*!! concert!") -- and who states that after the show, Hendrix met up with engineer Eddie Kramer and prepared mixes of the show with the intent of eventually releasing them as a live album; of course, this never happened. The Alchemy Entertainment (orange cover) version of this release also comes with a bonus second disc -- the Experience's last-ever performance at the Love and Peace Festival, Isle of Fehmarn, Germany, September 6, 1970. The liner notes are honest and state that the sound quality for the Fehmarn concert is sub-par and that the disc is only included as an historical document. This is an amateur recording; the microphone is very far from the stage and the sound quality is muddy. You probably won't listen to it often, but it is a piece of history. Bottom line -- get this album for the awesome L.A. Forum concert. You'll be glad you did."
Great album i have it on tape!!
Al Chartreux | 04/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this was such a good concert i have it on tape man it rocks! maybe dont buy it for 260 bucks though thats a little too much but do what you want i dont care at all! i didnt not know how rare it was till i saw this ya im defenentally holdin on to my jimi hendrix bootleg tapes i also have stockholm sweeden 1969 SBD Dub concert which im never ever giving awesome show live on jimi hendrix!"
