Jimi Hendrix - The Berkeley Shows

[Valen]

A recording of Jimi’s early show at Berkeley in 1970 recently showed up in my stores, and I decided to take a punt on it. Sourced from an FM radio broadcast, it’s actually quality stuff with good audio. So I thought it would be fun to do a back-to-back with the officially released later show, and a sideways look at the dvd footage.

You can find my thoughts on audio and performance comparisons, and track-listings, at my blog review here:

Jimi Hendrix – The Berkeley Shows (1970) | Moments in Transition (wordpress.com)

[ronmac]

Ooh, I'm going to have to look for that one.

Do you have the rehearsal? It's essential and has my favorite version of "Machine Gun."

[pb2015]

I think this was a mixdown from multitrack that collectors have had for some time, incorrectly labelled as a broadcast in order for someone to release it in Europe. It has the version of "Hear My Train A Comin'" that was on the album Rainbow Bridge.

[Enidi]

I had the VHS tape of Berkeley in the 80s. It seemed to be the filming of 2 nights not one. In the performance of "Hear My Train A Coming " he plays an amazing solo and uses the whammy bar a lot sending the guitar extremely out of tune. Then he strikes either harmonics or the complete 6 strings open and pushes down on the Whammy bar , brings it outward and then back putting the entire guitar back in tune. I can't believe how he did that so quickly and precise. No "Floyd Rose" back then...therefore...he must have practiced doing that. That's insane! 😃