It’s often easy to be disappointed after being sucked into buying a re-release of an old concert film with the promise of “new special footage” or “great bonus features”.
In fact, it’s easy to be disappointed with many modern concert films. Despite the grand stadium locations, the multiple cameras, the sweeping shots over the audience and the crisp as can be audio, they often fail to really capture the vibe of the original performance.
Luckily, this is not the case with this new DVD.
Coupled with the previous edition of Hendrix’s legendary performance at Woodstock is a second DVD of footage taken by amateur Albert Goodman, published for the first time after being stored away for over 30 years.
While the video is at times patchy, it does does show another angle of insight into one of the greatest gigs of all time, including the band performing “Hear My Train A Comin’”, which was uncaptured by the official documenters of the festival.
What sets this concert film apart from others is that like the band’s performance, the footage is loose and free; it’s right up, close and personal with the group and Hendrix in particular, capturing the vibrant energy of the immortal showman.
One can’t help but be taken in by the rock steady backing of Gypsy Sun & Rainbows and Hendrix’s irresistible flair on set highlights such as “Hear My Train A Comin’”, “Foxey Lady”, “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, “Purple Haze”and of course Hendrix’s infamous rendition of “Star Spangled Banner”.
Rounding out the DVD are three short interviews, one with Gypsy band members Billy Cox and Larry Lee; another featuring the man who recorded Hendrix’s set at Woodstock, Eddie Kramer, and an interview with Hendrix just weeks after the Woodstock performance, that offers a great insight into grand vision for the future of music and society.
