The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Winterland (Sony)
4/5
Want to reach Hendrix? You might require a leg up in order to kiss the sky, and this particularly chunky box set may provide just that.
The slew of Jimi Hendrix Experience reissues has rocked on for years after his untimely death, and on this occasion we indulge in a beautifully remastered delivery of the legendary 1968 shows at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom. The four disc journey travels through six performances some lucky, lucky fans witnessed during his trio’s three shows (October 10th, 11th and 12th) in the Autumn of 1968. These gigs celebrated the two years that the Jimi Hendrix Experience had been in existence thus far, alongside the recent release of the truly brilliant Electric Ladyland album. Yeah, pretty exciting times for those present at these moments of musical history.
The setlists are compiled mainly of Hendrix classics such as ‘Manic Depression’ and ‘Purple Haze’ with exquisite covers of other artists' songs, such as his thrilling version of Bob Dylan's ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ (Disc 2) and Cream's ‘Sunshine of My Love’ (Disc 1). His opening for the shows is 'Tax Free' from the Dutch duo Hansson and Karlsson, and although there’s repetition throughout the discs, their interpretive nature delivers a different experience from one ‘Little Wing’ or ‘Hey Joe’ to another. When it’s rare live versions so clearly aimed at completists and megafans you’re dealing with, who’s to complain?
The quality in the sound that resounds from this compilation is true to Jimi's musicality, charged as it is with authenticity and intensity. His speech to the audience is calm throughout, but his guitar speaks in electrifying tones, with carefree tuning during songs and free improvisations that epitomise the gifted legend that Hendrix became. Throughout his spectacular guitar work leaves one so dumbfounded that you may not realise ‘til five minutes later (after assuming previously that you are listening to the longest intro ever) that no lyrics adorn the riffs in some songs. But that's just how Jimi rolled. Perhaps unsurprisingly considering that at the beginning of his career Hendrix didn't even want to sing, these instrumental pieces they throb with excitement and send your body wonky. He did say, 'I'll always touch you.'
With Winterland’s Deluxe Edition, once you have indulged in the music you can lay back with a 36-page booklet that contains startling photos (many from the actual gigs) caught through the lenses of Robert Knight, Allen Tannenbaum and Jim Marshall, accompanied with an essay written by David Fricke, the famed Rolling Stone journalist. However, the real treat is the interview recorded a couple of weeks after Winterland at the Boston Garden – a fascinating insight into the greatest guitarist of all time.
Artists in this article: Jimi Hendrix
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