Jimi Plays Berkeley

Jimi Hendrix

Overview

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix performed at the Berkeley Memorial Day Concert. This critically acclaimed performance is considered to be one of the best of the legendary guitar player's career. The show was taped on May 30, 1970, at the Berkeley Community Center during the Cry of Love tour. The 55-minute release features Billy Cox on bass, and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The band performs a number of Hendrix classics, including "Johnny B. Good," "Hear My Train a Comin'," "Purple Haze," "I Don't Live Today," "Hey Baby (New Rising Son)," "Lover Man," and, of course, Jimi's rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2012
UPC:	0886919926897
Original Release:	1991
Source:	Sony Legacy
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:19:00
Sales rank:	25,794

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Abe Jacob	Voices
Jimi Hendrix	Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Francis Scott Key	Composer
John McDermott	Producer
Chuck Berry	Composer
Jimi Hendrix	Composer
John Stafford Smith	Composer

Editorial 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'"). Hendrix seems to be a little tired and fed-up on some of the footage that survives of his concerts from his final months, but that's not the case here. He seems relaxed and in a pretty good mood, even on the obligatory "Purple Haze," the one song on which he really pulls out his most famed bag of tricks, like playing the guitar with his teeth. There's also "The Star Spangled Banner," not destined to make the lasting impact as the version filmed for Woodstock, of course, but impressively executed here. Most video releases have an audio-only section of concert recordings from the second set of the night's performances (also available separately in standard audio as Live at Berkeley). It's unclear, though, why neither the audio nor video included any material from the first show; as a consequence, some songs in the film, like "Hear My Train a Comin'" and "Johnny B. Goode," aren't heard on the audio-only portion. ~ Richie Unterberger