Hendrix, Jimi and Band of Gypsys - Live At The Fillmore East


Year of Release: 1999
Label: MCA
Catalog Number: 11931
Format: CD
Total Time: 107:41:00

I have said this before when covering any Hendrix reissues, the best thing that could have ever happened to Jimi's work is that his family took care of it. The Hendrix family, in cooperation with MCA Records, have been reissuing a tremendous amount of the live concert recordings and enabling the history of Jimi and his two groups, The Experience and Band Of Gypsys to be told. While Jimi's studio work remains as relevant today as the day it was recorded, it's the live work that has been shedding new light upon the musical genius of the man and the people that played keyed roles in developing his stage presence and sound. This particular reworked package comes from the Universal Music Group archives.

Buddy Miles (drums) and Billy Cox (bass) were the two new members of the Hendrix camp that assisted Jimi in taking his music in new directions. Although he kept things exciting with the use of wah-wah pedals and other technical wizardry of the day, he utilized the experience of Cox and Miles to create a blend of rock, soul, and rhythm and blues that remains unrivaled to this day. This two CD set expands upon the original release. The tracks "Burning Desire" and "Izabella," make their debut, as do alternate versions of "Power Of Soul" and "Machine Gun." "We Gotta Live Together," with the lead vocals handled by Miles, who has a very powerful voice, are a welcome change to the Hendrix sound. This newly found freedom and diversity allowed Jimi's guitar playing to push itself to new boundaries in several genres simultaneously. As it states in the revealing liner notes- "The audience didn't know what to expect from us, but from the time we hit that first note, they were in awe." Yes indeed, this was jaw dropping playing by the entire group. The sound is phenomenal, and it will transport you to those four historical nights with ease.

Hendrix was right on the cusp of something big in the development of his music and persona, it's a shame that it had to end as quickly as it began.

Aug 2009: MCA is now part of Universal Music Group


Tracklisting:
Disc One: Stone Free (12:56) / Power Of Soul (6:19) / Hear My Train A Comin' (9:01) / Izabella (3:41) / Machine Gun (11:36) / Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (6:02 ) / We Gotta Live Together (9:55)

Disc Two: Auld Lang Syne (3:54) / Who Knows? (3:55) / Changes (5:37) / Machine Gun (13:36) / Stepping Stone (5:20) / Stop (5:43) / Earth Blues (5:58) / Burning Desire (8:22) / Wild Thing (3:06)

Musicians:
Jimi Hendrix - guitar, vocals
Billy Cox - bass, backing vocals
Buddy Miles - drums, backing vocals, lead vocals

Discography:
(Partial, at best)
Are You Experienced? (1967)
Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
Electric Ladyland (1968)
Smash Hits (1969/2002)
Band Of Gypsys (1970)
Jimi Hendrix Rock N Roll (1990)
Blues (1994)
Crosstown Conversation (1997)
First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (1997)
South Saturn Delta (1997)
BBC Sessions (1998)
Experience Hendrix - Best of Jimi Hendrix (1998)
Jimi Hendrix Story (1998)
NYC '68 (1998)
Woke Up This Morning/Found Myself (1998)
Live At The Oakland Coliseum (1998)
His Greatest Hits 2 (1999)
Live At Woodstock (1999)
Live At Fillmore East (1999)
Live At Clark University (1999)
Vol. 1 - His Greatest Hits (1999)
Drivin South (2000)
Early Years (2000)
Experience Hendrix (2000)
Jimi Hendrix: Audio Biography (2000)
Best Of (2001)
Summer Of Love (2001)
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix Collection (2001)
Live In Ottawa (2001)
Fire (2002)
Jimi Henndrix As It Happened (2002)
Morning Symphony Ideas (2002)

The Dick Cavett Show (DVD) (2002)
Jimi Hendrix - The Last 24 Hours (DVD) (2004)
Live At Woodstock (DVD) (2005)

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: May 18th 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.jimihendrix.com
Hits: 2132
Language: english

  

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