One of the best Hendrix live albums ever

Jimi Hendrix: Live At Berkeley is one of the best Hendrix live albums ever, without question. Jimi's two shows at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970 rank among some of his finest live performances ever. This CD captures his second set of the night. Songs from the first set have been released in various forms over the years. That set is best known for its terrific performances of "Johnny B. Goode" and "Hear My Train a' Comin'". This was a very intense time period in America's history, with the Vietnam War protest and social uprising and his renditions of "Machine Gun" and "The Star Spangled Banner" as well his introductions for songs reflect it. Not only was '70 a tough time for America, but for Jimi as well. He had contractual obligations, pressures from his management to produce an album, and his struggles to turn on new songs to his audience who wanted to hear all the old hits. But, by this time, he was confident, and was excited about his future and the album he was working on. It shows in the set list were Jimi seamlessly blends old and new songs.



His playing is absolutely amazing and sometimes intense throughout this terrific concert and the sound quality is excellent. The booklet features a great essay by John McDermott, and lots of great color photos from the concerts (most of the photos are from the 1st set). I love the cover as well, as it looks like a concert poster from the time. Experience Hendrix really did a great job on this CD.



After a quick introduction and some tuning-up, Jimi, Mitch, and Billy launch into what Jimi called "a loose instrumental jam, you know, to check our tuning". That "loose instrumental jam" is "Pass It On" which would come to be known as "Straight Ahead" in the future. There is a lot of great playing in this 6 minute, high-spirited opener. The song is in its early stages as evident by Jimi's sketchy (but not bad) lyrics. Jimi goes straight into "Hey Baby", which features some beautiful and clean guitar playing. Going straight into another song, this time a fast and spirited rendition of "Lover Man". This rendition remains the definitive live version of the song, with the band's playing spot on. "Stone Free" follows up, and the band plays an excellent version with a new flavor to it. "Hey Joe" is next, and Jimi plays it with a slower, blusier tone, and its just great. This song has the only sound trouble of the night, some brief radio interference, which quickly goes away and Jimi & Co continue on. Next up is a great "I Don't Live Today", which, in a way symbolizes were Jimi was in the year, and the social uprising. His introduction, "We'd like to do a thing that's what's happening today with a lot of people. And I'd like to dedicate it to all... all the cats that are trying to struggle that are gonna make it anyway." states that clearly. Introduced as "This is dedicated to all the soldiers fighting in Berkeley, you know what soldiers I'm talkin' about", an incendiary "Machine Gun" is next, with a breath-taking solo, and sums up the situation in America, as the song usually does. A good "Foxey Lady", then a strident "Star Spangled Banner", followed by a great "Purple Haze". The brief profanity in one part, in my opinion, reflects the intensity in his music at the time. Finally, Jimi introduces Voodoo Child (Slight Return) as: "We hope you all got some kind of a feeling about this thing - the next thing we're gonna play and the last thing. It goes like this - playing to keep us alive. This is nothing but determination and so forth and so on, you know. Knowing that you're gonna get it together. Thank you, good night.", and they take off on this terrific high-spirited, fast rendition with some great playing, finished off with Hendrix playing with his teeth, bringing a close to one of the best concerts of Hendrix's incredible career with roaring applause. I highly recommend this album to Hendrix fans. Essential Hendrix.

Jimi -- live and cookin'

In my humble opinion this is perhaps the best live album Jimi ever did. The sound is great, the groove is great and this album, recorded only a few months after Live at the Fillmore (on New Years' Eve) really gives us a chance to talk about one aspect of Jimi that is rarely discussed -- namely, how well his sidemen performed.



Stone Free is the first song of the Fillmore two disc set and five months later Jimi cut the same song with a different drummer on Berkeley. Mitch Mitchell played his part in a way that completmented Jimi -- contrast this with the bombastic, hard driving sound of Buddy Miles playing the same song. Jimi's guitar is all but drowned out in the first half of Stone Free on the Fillmore CD.



Jimi needed the jazz touch of a drummer like Mitchell as opposed to the rock'n'roll sound of a Buddy Miles. His rhythyms (and the way he liked to change them) and the melodic structure of many of his songs cry out for more color from the percusssion and for the bass to provide more of the time keeping.



This is a great album and it is hard to believe such good sound came from a recording made in 1970.

Jimi Hendrix - 'Live At Berkeley' (Experience Hendrix)

Lavishly packaged archive performance CD release.Twelve track disc of a gig that was recorded on May 30,1970 during the 2nd gig,the 10pm show.Nicely done cover - actual flyer of the concert itself.Since I've never had ANY Hendrix bootlegs before anyway,I honestly believe that I was even MORE so thrilled to snatch a copy of this legit pressing.As always,the line-up is a trio,on 'Live At Berkeley',we have Jimi-guitar&vocals,Billy Cox-bass and Mitch Mitchell-drums.The setlist is good,with several memorable of Hendrix's anthems,FM staples;call 'em what you will.I was most impressed with "Hey Baby(New Rising Sun)","Stone Free",a tune that he didn't write,but made it a 'head music' classic "Hey Joe","Foxey Lady","Purple Haze" and "Voodoo Child(Slight Return)".Comes with a superb 24-page full color booklet,sort of like a mini-program.Recommended.