Jimi Hendrix - "Live at the Fillmore East"

This 1999 'official' release, by the Hendrix family, is a strong companion piece to my last post's "Band of Gypsys" album. Both were culled from the same four shows at the Fillmore. While the original "Band of Gypsys" album is six songs picked and edited by Hendrix himself, this album is 18 raw performances picked from the four nights. The nice thing about this release is also that which performance the song came from from is indicated in the track list.

Hendrix really tears into these songs and his guitar work is spectacular. Drummer Buddy Miles gets a bigger role on this release but his 'singing,' or wailing is probably a better term, is sometimes a little much. Thankfully, Hendrix never lets the center of focus leave him for very long.

This album gives a better view of the concerts even the off key "Stop" and the sometimes unevenness of the record add to this great view of Hendrix live in concert. For Hendrix collectors there is a great deal to gain from this album because even when songs from the "Band of Gypsys" are repeated here they are drastically different; such as "Who Knows" which is nearly instrumental here and the jamming "Power of Soul" (titled "Power to Love" on the "Gypsys" album). As are the two versions of the now classic "Machine Gun" that are presented here.

In the end if you only want one Hendrix live album (but really how could you want only one?) "Band of Gypsys" is the one to get. If you can find room for more than one, check "Live at the Fillmore East" I also enjoy "Live at Woodstock" but it feels long. I am interested in hearing the new recently released "Winterland" live tracks though. Anyway this is a good live recording with a great package and booklet. For now readers, I say until next time, happy listening. 

Jimi Hendrix - "Band of Gypsys"

"Band of Gypsys" is the only live album supervised by Hendrix before his death. This also may be his finest live recording despite the seemingly endless live recordings released in recent years by the Hendrix family.

In June 1969 The Jimi Hendrix Experience disbanded but Hendrix needed one more album to complete a record contract he had signed years earlier. He recruited Buddy Miles on drums and Billy Cox on bass, and went on to perform four concerts (two each day) at New York's Fillmore East on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970.

The concerts were a radical change in Hendrix's musical identity. Gone were the psychedelics and guitar burning stage antics. Instead focusing on a more blues/rock feel with definite touches of rhythm and blues. He also chose to play very few to almost none of his previously released songs with sets consisted of completely new material he had been working on.

While Hendrix's three studio albums (I am not counting all the random compilations and supposed new albums released by his family) are essential to any rock or guitar fan, particularly "Electric Ladyland." This, however, is the album (along with its companion album "Live at the Fillmore East") that proves what a killer he was in a live setting. What is amazing is all the guitar virtuosity Hendrix can fit into these relatively short songs. In an era when groups like Cream and Led Zeppelin were making 15 and 20 minute jam songs, Hendrix seems to fit the same amount of guitar virtuosity into a six minute song.

In the past Hendrix, much like a gypsy fortune teller, was always able to conjure up other worldly sound from the guitar, sounds that no one knew a guitar could make until Hendrix showed them it was possible. In this album's centerpiece track, the 13 minute "Machine Gun," he uses his magical guitar to again conjure up unheard guitar sound but this time in a social context. He creates harrowing images of war and a battlefield complete with air raid sirens, gun shots, bombs, and airplanes all through the six strings in his hands. It is an incredibly powerful statement for peace that only Hendrix and his gypsy powers could create.

This live album is actually structured very similarly to his three studio albums, even if the style is very different. Hendrix has picked and edited six of the best songs/performances from the four concerts and as you can hear on "Live at the Fillmore East" he has even edited various performances into one seamless song. In my opinion, now granted I have not heard the recently released Winterland box set, these concerts were Hendrix's finest audio live show. Isle of Wight was plagued with equipment problems, Monterey is really a visual performance as opposed to an audio one, Woodstock is pretty good but his back up seems lost and he seems nervous. At Fillmore East he is in command, his band is ready and willing, the equipment is working, he has a great batch of new songs, and he simply owns the stage. It is amazing the things he did with an electric guitar and even more amazing that he was only a recording artist for about four years before his untimely death less than a year after this album's recording. True genius.
Tune in next time for my review of "Live at the Fillmore East"!