Jimi Hendrix: Jimi Plays Berkeley 1970 DVD 2012 16:9 Dolby Digital 5.1

Derived from a pair of concerts at the Berkeley (California) Community Theater on May 30, 1970, Jimi Plays Berkeley is presented here, digitally restored high definition transfer from the original 16mm negative. Jimi Plays Berkeley now features nearly 20 minutes of previously unreleased footage including newly discovered performances of such classic songs as "Hear My Train A Comin'," and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" together with documentary content not seen in the original release.

A new Special Feature presentation includes an interview with Abe Jacob, Hendrix's road sound engineer, who recorded the two legendary performances and a 5.1 surround soundtrack of the complete second show performance (mixed by original Jimi Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer), which includes many songs such as "Hey Joe" and "Stone Free" not seen in the film. The brand new artwork includes a detailed essay and many previously unpublished photographs.

Product Reviews

The Jimi Plays Berkeley film, documenting his performances at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970, was about as haphazardly organized as most of the projects from the final year or two of his life were. It endured a post-directorial cut from Hendrix manager Mike Jeffery and, even with the insertion of some footage of period Berkeley rioting and protest, still clocked in at less than an hour. Perhaps it could have been better if more footage was prepared -- and, unfortunately, a few of the songs weren't filmed in complete versions -- but what remains is actually a pretty enjoyable and valuable document of Hendrix in concert. Just a few months prior to his death, he's backed by the reliable Mitch Mitchell on drums and newer trio mainstay Billy Cox on bass, mixing some old classics ("Purple Haze," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," "I Don't Live Today") with quite a few selections he wouldn't release on record during his lifetime ("Johnny B. Goode," "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)," "Lover Man," "Hear My Train a Comin'").

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