Jimi Hendrix's appearance at Woodstock may have been one of his most celebrated performances, as the producers of this DVD put it. But it would be a stretch to call it one of his greatest. By the time the guitarist finally took the stage, weather and endless logistical delays had pushed the show to Monday morning, a day after the festival was supposed to have ended. By then, the audience was too tired, hungry, wet, and stoned for Hendrix's set to be the expected apocalyptic finale. Hendrix himself was reportedly so wasted that he collapsed from exhaustion as soon as he left the stage.
Woodstock was the first gig by the Gypsy Sun and Rainbows band, a cross between the song-oriented focus of the original Experience (with drummer Mitch Mitchell) and the jam-happy Band of Gypsys (with bass player Billy Cox). Three other musicians, a rhythm guitarist and two percussionists, were on hand as well, but they are virtually inaudible in the audio mix and all but invisible in the film. That's not all bad; what we get instead are many close-ups of the guitarist at work, including shots of his enormous hands effortlessly navigating the frets and strings of his Stratocaster. And this is Jimi Hendrix we're talking about here, still the greatest rock guitar player ever. So while some of the set--a combination of familiar hits ("Fire," "Purple Haze," "Red House"), newer material "(Izabella"), and several jams--is perfunctory, there are moments of brilliance, like the blazing white noise he musters up on "Voodoo Child." In the end, any footage of Jimi Hendrix is worth having, as there isn't all that much of it around. But from a strictly musical standpoint, there's plenty of better live Hendrix out there, including on the four-CD box set The Jimi Hendrix Experience. --Sam Graham
1 A Defining Moment
I'm giving this 5 starts because its Hendrix.
I agree that the editing could be better. And it seemed like the first part of the concert Hendrix was struggling to get things going. But once he did, that was all she wrote!
I can't listen to his Star Spangled Banner without getting chills. In that moment, in that short piece of unexpected unrehersed music, Hendrix grabbed the whole of the USA by the neck, looked it in the eye and said "You broke your covenent with God, and your promise to your people!" Who else could have bore the weight of such a musical statement?
We should be grateful that a Hendrix once walked the earth. With all due respect to Beck, Reid, Vai, and others; when we speak of the realm of heavily amplified electric guitar, in the end, there is only Hendrix.
There will never be another like him.
2 Not Hendrix's Fault
Hendrix really shows what a modest musical genious he was in this performance. You also see his perfectionist personality through his facial expressions of dissapointment, even after an amazing performance. I completely agree with the previous reviewers- where are the other several songs that he played??? And why the heck would they rearrange them???? I was really irked to find out that so many songs were left out. Another thing i do not like is the way they filmed only his face during a solo or major finger action. I would rather have seen his whole body, or at least his fingers. Anyways, all the songs are on an average Hendrix-scale great. The Star Spangled Banner, Purple Haze, and Woodstock Improvistion, which continues as a whole for nearly 20 minutes, is incredible, and as enjoyable to listen to as it is to see. This is definitely a dvd on my top Hendrix live performance list, i just do not like the format or the incompletion they used.
3 Great concert! Questionable packaging.
The concert is legendary, but the DVD package fall short of definitive.
Here is what you get:
This DVD contains 10 full length songs from Hendrix's Woodstock concert, namely: "Fire", "Izabella", "Red House", "Jam Back at the House", "Voodoo Child", "Star Spangled Banner", "Purple Haze", "Woodstock Improvisation", and "Villanova Junction." A small segment of, "Message to Love" and, "Hear My Train a Comin'" is played over the opening and closing credits respectfully.
Here is what you don't get:
1. There is no fotage of Hendrix playing six songs from the concert, namely: "Message to Love", "Spanish Castle Magic", "Lover Man", "Hear My Train a Comin'", "Foxey Lady", and "Hey Joe."
2. The set list song order has been rearranged. This is unfortunate because there was a natural flow of momentum with the original song order. The concert started off loose and Jamming, then it tightened and rocked in the middle of the set, the climax being, "Star Spangled Banner." At the end of the original set list Jimi calms the mood down with, "Villanova Junction." For some odd reason Alan Douglas enjoys reconfiguring Jimi's set lists, his trademark is to start all concerts with, "Fire", Jimi NEVER opened with this song.
3. The picture has not been cleaned up. Although the image quality is very good it would be nice to see a widescreen version of this concert. The Woodstock movie is now available on DVD widescreen so why not this concert?
4. The original audio mix was used on this DVD. The two percussionists are inaudible and Jimi is mixed right up front.
5. There are no DVD extras, no interviews, no 5.1 mix, nothing.
6. There is NO BOOKLET contained in the DVD package. A booklet might answer some questions about the missing songs and the audio mix. Maybe the percussionists were not recorded to audio tape? Maybe some of the songs were not filmed? Maybe the original negative has been damaged or lost? Maybe the original muli-track audio tape has been lost? A small booklet with the history of this concert and DVD release could answer these questions.
4 I'd like it the way it was, please!
I know Larry Lee and the percussionists are largely inaudible, and Lee's 2 showcase pieces are missing. So? To me an accurate representation of the band and program would be preferable (with Hendrix front centre in the mix, ofcourse) than this, another revisionist mix / edit of the historic concert. The leader chose the musicians he wanted in his group, for better or worse. Let's hear it the way it went down, please! (This recalls Jon Astley's edited tracks / remix of Eric Clapton's heroin-era Rainbow concert: the origininal album, murk and all, trumps the cd!)
Finally, Lee was already a fine guitarist in his own right who had already and would continue to work in Memphis with numerous musicians,including Al Green among others. This dvd should be accurate document, not a star-trip for casual Hendrix fans!
5 I'd like it the way it was, please!
I know Larry Lee and the percussionists are largely inaudible, and Lee's 2 showcase pieces are missing. So? To me an accurate representation of the band and program would be preferable (with Hendrix front centre in the mix, ofcourse) than this, another revisionist mix / edit of the historic concert. The leader chose the musicians he wanted in his group, for better or worse. Let's hear it the way it went down, please! (This recalls Jon Astley's edited tracks / remix of Eric Clapton's heroin-era Rainbow concert: the origininal album, murk and all, trumps the cd!)
Finally, Lee was already a fine guitarist in his own right who had already and would continue to work in Memphis with numerous musicians,including Al Green among others. This dvd should be accurate document, not a star-trip for casual Hendrix fans!
6 Hendrix: Live in Woodstock captures Woodstock feel
Well I just bought this DVD and not only is the audio/video quality very good considering the time and equipment used to capture this time, I find this DVD really showed me the true Hendrix as he was on stage.
The on-stage jams make you feel as if you were there.
I find this DVD does a great job of taking you back in time to
one of the most celebrated Rock moments, and the camera shots
are just stunning.
It's a short one, but priced appropriately.
This is a good buy, Hendrix fan or not....
7 Gypsy Sun In The Garden
This is certainly Jimi's most famous performance with the exception on Monterey in 1967. Again re-inventing himself he becomes the Gypsy Sun, psychedelic leader and captain of the rag-tag outfit of musicians known as the Rainbows. I've been to the concert site in Bethel several times and you can still feel the electricity Jimi and the other artists and 500,000 members of the Woodstock Nation created that famous weekend on Max Yasgur's farm 35 years ago. Although a lot of this concert is experimental jamming, Jimi absolutely goes into the stratosphere on the best version of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" I ever heard (or in this case heard AND saw!). Watching him take flight on the long solo is purely the sickest thing I ever heard. Nobody should be so gifted to make it look THAT EFFORTLESS! The blistering solo alone makes this trip to Yasgur's farm well worth the price of admission. Of course THE most famous moment of all is the bombastic rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," in which the Gypsy Sun made his very own. "Purple Haze," "Red House," "Izabella" and "Fire" are among the more well known numbers Gypsy Sun And Rainbows delivers to the remainder of the Woodstock Nation early that Monday morning. The only bad thing about the DVD is that it's not the complete set. However, it sure does deliver and never fails to take me "back to the Garden" and feel the real spirit of what it was like to wake up to the Gypsy Sun And Rainbows and take a soaring ride to rock n' roll's most famous event.
8 Experience the Experience if you never had the chance
Ok, I doubt it accurately portrays the energy of the show, but it is still amazing. There is nothing exceptional about the camera work or production quality. It is all about average. The reason the DVD is so good is simply because it's Jimi playing. Anyone that has a respect for the guitar will love it. It is simply amazing what he is able to do with the electric guitar. Just watching this DVD provides a feeling of how amazing of a player he was and how revolutionary he was. If you love bluesy rock type music, you'll love watching Jimi Hendrix play his guitar.
9 Lack of 5.1 Surround
Allow me to start off by saying I am among the large majority of rock music fans to believe Hendrix to be the best guitarist of all time. That being said however, there are relatively few DVD's available showcasing Hendrix. Bnd of Gypsies: Live at the Fillimore East is an excellent one. This dvd however , is not EXCELLENT. At least, not by Hendrix standards. Here's the main reason for that. There is no option for Dolby 5.1 Surround. Based on modern Music DVD standards, this is unnaceptable. I have many music dvd's, and every single one has D5.1 SS. The lack of this option dissapointed me greatly, because although the sound isn't bad, it isn't nearly as good as it could be. But this is not a BAD dvd. It simply is not as good as other Hendrix DVD's, such as the aforementioned Live at the Fillimore East. The songs are often very messy, although there are excellent instances such as the guitar work on Voodoo Child. All in all, worth the money if you are a die hard Hendrix fan as I am, but if you want to truly Experience Hendrix (no pun intended) I suggest you opt for Live at the Fillimore East instead, as it has excellent performances AND an excellent biography.
10 No cliche about it... Hendrix is the best guitar player EVER
Being a guitarist as well as someone who is appreciative of music written and played by Hendrix, I purchased this DVD with the intention of learning more about the man. I had seen other footage of Hendrix, usually in some documentary form and even then he was shown only in fast clips. This DVD contains footage that is quite the opposite.
Within the first few seconds of watching Hendrix play, my heart rate increased noticeably. At home, by myself, watching this DVD, I heard myself audibly mentioning my disbelief of his skill countless times. The man played the guitar like some mutated extension of his own body, and at one point I wondered if he had systematically gone up every fret on every string and memorized every note and its exact location, so that when he played he could run through his library of tones in random but orderly fashion.
The camera swoops across the crowd on occasion. It is the end of Woodstock, and there are only a few people left... blankets and debris litter the field behind them (it is then that I realize that my experience at various Lolapaloozas was not truly unique). At the beginning of the Hendrix set, most of them look bored. I can't help but wonder if half of them are still there because they don't have a ride home, or if they are so exhausted from the past few days that they don't know what else to do. They couldn't possibly know that they had just taken part in a truly historic event, so the significance of the Hendrix closing set (with his hastily named "Band of Gypsies") was probably lost on them.
But the crowd changes quite a bit as the show goes on. At first, Hendrix seems as if he is some crazy showboating guitarist with a knack for rockin' out the blues. But then it intensifies with unceasing persistence. Mitch Mitchell, the drummer, is banging out incredible rythms while looking like he has just run a marathon, but he keeps going, feeding off Hendrix. Hendrix falls in and out of solo-induced trances - or possibly trance-induced solos - while occasionally looking to his band mates for signals to fall back into verse. At one point he drifts so far away he is lost in minutes of feedback-ridden wailing and crunching when he suddenly pops out of it and decides to introduce the rest of the band, as if he regretted his apparent selfishness of sound and wanted to give his colleagues a chance. By then, there are people in the crowd that are bouncing about with limp arms in that way that is so utterly hippie. There are a few young men with thick-rimmed glasses watching Hendrix with mouth open, moving ever so slightly to his every string-bending note.
And then he falls into Voodoo Child, a fast paced version full of 4-5 mintue jams that put Phish to shame. By now the show is at full intensity, and at one point Hendrix says "You can leave if you want to... we're just jammin'." He falls in and out of the song, collapsing into The Star Spangled Banner. I've heard the audio of this before, but the film changed my entire perspective on it. On the verse 'And the rockets red glare', Hendrix starts ripping random tones out of the Fender that I suddenly recognized to be launching rockets, followed by sounds of 'the bombs bursting in air'. Amazing. And *then* he goes into Purple Haze. I was so absorbed I forgot where I was and I felt light-headed. And then he is lost again, playing with the guitar as if he was at home in his basement, experimenting with tones and chords, and they fall into a jam from it, where somehow everyone in the band knew when and where it would start and end.
Phenomenal. I've had the "Who is the best guitarist ever" debate before. I've gone back and forth from Santanna to Clapton to Page to Hendrix. No more. I have decided. It is Hendrix, and I don't care if anyone thinks it is cliche. The man was an anomaly... someone who knew the guitar like his own hands, and never thought twice about it. So the reader of this review is asking: "Should I buy it or not?". I say: "Buy it. View it. Be glad that even though you weren't at Woodstock, you at least have this to give you some idea of what it was like."
11 HENDRIX WOODSTOCK 69
This DVD was great after reviewing other peoples views I reliazed one person said no other members Larry Lee???? well the reason they cut his guitar out is because his guitar half the whole concert was out of tune. The DVD I thought was great when they cut the other members out because if you listen on the woodstock CD it sounds like a mess. It was better with Jimi, Mitch, and Billy the DVD was edited fine. I wish they would have added more to the DVD that was my big dissapointment why not all the footage? Well all I know is the full concert would have been a bigger experience than this DVD but the woodstock performence form on this DVD is fine I guess could be better. When it comes down to it the music was powerful I love the way they start the DVD and end it. Here are my favorite highlights of the concert Fire, Izabella, Red House, Voodoo Chile(slight return), and Jamming at the back house. I rated this a 4 not the best Hendrix DVD.
12 A lesson in improvisation
I remember reading a review of some posthumous Hendrix that stated "latter Hendrix is only for the staunchest". I disagree and this disc proves it. Hendrix in his last year or so really started exploring the guitar.
He was not sitting still... He was getting into jazz, jamming with Miles, Roland Kirk, etc. - ready for the next step.
I'm old enough to remember how boring the jazz-rock scene was in the 70s, but if Hendrix had lived he might have taken it to new (non-boring)levels.
I love the improvisations on this disc. - dash of flamenco here, some Wes Montgomery there - wonderful stuff. Yes, he was exhausted, but hell I wish I could play like that when I'm fully alert! Any student of guitar and music should view this show.
13 What happened to Jerry, Juma, and Larry..........
in the mix?? Is this another basterdized production reminicent of Alan Douglas's "Crash Landing", and MCA's "Voodoo Soup"? We hear and see Mitch, Billy, and Jimi but nothing of the other three. I only heard Larry during "Beginnings" when Jimi is shown "comping", but otherwise nothing of the other two. This is disappointing because although the band may have been under rehearsed (so what!) it was Jimi's intention to create this sound...Why not just let it be?
Five stars for the sound quality and footage. Still worth buying.
14 GREAT TEETH WORK
I just loved Izzabella and how jimi played a solo with his teeth!
During hendrix's dental descent, we see the guitar and not jimi's face though but otherwise great teeth solo. Also His version of Voodo Child Slight Return is one of the most POWERFUL versions i have ever heard
15 Hendrix at his peak, Plus a great dental documentary
This should be rated 10 stars for the music. Hendrix was never better. The band never tighter, and it is as exciting for me today as it was in 1969 when my brother and I made it into Yasgur's farm after working all weekend in Saratoga, to catch and stand in awe of this remarkable and prodigious artist. Jimi's guitar playing was incendiary and the film puts to bed the notion that he was some burned out hippie doing pyrotechnics instead of playing music. This is where Coltrane left off and the telepathy between Hendrix and Mitchell was extraordinary. They are reminiscent, or perhaps better, the extension of the trail blazed by Trane and Rashied Ali, and inspite of Buddy Miles firm grounding of the band in the blues, the point of the matter is that Mitchell and Hendrix were each other's colleagues in every respect of this extraordinary adventure, first as the Experience, and later as Rainbow whatevere it was Jimi was on about. "Twas all semantics there, the real dialogue took place in the music and you will see ample evidence of how tightly Hendrix, Mitchell and Cox were playing off each other. There are no real jams here, more improvisations on a theme, and Hendrix is twice the perceptive leader anyone, including Robert Fripp, could ever imagine being. He knows exactly whre he wants this to go and knows exactly where the edge of the ledge is so that he may freefall in perfect discipline and land on his feet. And his colleagues are hand in hand with him. Billy Cox established conclusively that he was the right bassist, and the rhytm guitarist and 2 percussionists filled out the rhythmic pallette Hendrix sought to create.
It's funny to watch the film, because the audience is a mix of those just too numb to figure their way out, people celebrating the joyous groove Jimi conjures, and those intent on every move he makes. It's a shame the camera man seemed so fascinated by Hendrix's dental work, although, I have to admit Jimi had beautiful teeth. But, you'd figure there might have been some interest in his actual guitar technique. More's the pity. SO, I'd rate the film 4 stars for the quality and 1 and 1/2 stars for missing the point that this was the greatest guitarist of the twentieth century playing with a conviction and drive like no one else before or after.
Nonetheless the sound is extraordinary, in fact, better than I remember it.
16 Geat Hendrix DVD, but...
As said before, this DVD is great. However, the person who said "For once the ENTIRE Hendrix Woodstock Performance on video" is not that bright. This is only about half of the concert and we are missing great performances such as "Hey Joe". I'm not sure whether the Experience Hendrix Ltd. wanted to make more money by releasing the second half of the set later, or if the second half was just never filmed. I would be very happy to see the other half of his set because as we can hear on the audio versions, it is spectacular.
17 Just Do It
I first heard Hendrix when I was 12, I'm now 47.
Get this DVD and you'll have all you need.
It's a pity the huge crowd didn't stay till Monday.
18 Awesome
This is an awesome video, although it lacks the songs being played in the original order as Hendrix did for his set at Woodstock. the guitar playing, the lyrics... all blend beautifully and this is my favorite Hendrix concert I have seen and watch it almost weekly.
19 I live Jimi Hendrix
I am not going to write pages complaining about the camera work like other reviews, i am overjoyed enough that they were even able to make it on dvd, This is a great dvd to watch, Jimi Hendrix is the best
20 Not My Favorite Show, But It's Hendrix
Contrary to the claims, this is not the complete performance by the Gypsy Suns, Moons and Rainbows. Nor was it Hendrix' finest performance, and to state otherwise is to demean his art. Jimi was the first to admit that this wasn't a good gig.
As to my first assertion, there's no footage of his performance of "Message Of Love", a song that really didn't gel until his Fillmore shows with the Band Of Gypsys 4 months later. Additionally, Jimi stepped back and allowed his Gypsy Suns co-guitarist, Larry Lee, perform two songs. The first was a surprisingly tepid "Gypsy Woman" as written/performed by Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions. My gripe isn't that it was excluded -- I was grateful for that. Hendrix had a generous tendency to step back, relinquish the spotlight and in musician's terms, "fall", meaning to inobtrusively carry on in the background and allow the front man to represent. Lee clearly wasn't up to the task as front man, but when you think about it the task had to be kind of daunting to dare pick up a guitar and play for anyone with Jimi Hendrix on rhythm. Jimi could have saved him -- Have you ever heard "Have You Ever Been To Electric Ladyland"? Jimi had the Curtis Mayfield riff down cold. Even worse was Lee's performance of a song called "Mastermind", which also never made it to CD, VHS or DVD. Lee wore a veil over his face during the entire show, and with good reason. Also deleted from the CD and video/DVD was the encore performance of "Hey Joe".
Not only were Lee's "Jimi-as-sideman" selections deleted, but also were his solos on at least "Spanish Castle Magic" and "Red House".
But Jimi had already committed to a contract that would yield to his production company and handlers $180,000.00, which at the time was the highest dollar amount ever paid to a rock act. The expectation was that the show would close with the Experience, but by then, bassist Noel Redding had left the band in Denver, 6/69 amid rumors that Jimi wanted to expand the group without first consulting him. It was a career decision that still plagues him today, over 30 years after Hendrix' death.
So Jimi huddled in a rented house up in Shokan, New York with a collective of NYC musicians and new bassist Billy Cox, who'd been jamming with Hendrix for months by now with the expectation that Redding was leaving the group at some point -- Jimi and Noel hadn't gotten along at all since 1968.
The resulting mish-mosh was if not an ill-conceived band, at least an ill-rehearsed one. If memory serves, they only played 2 gigs at Tinker Street Cinema, and now they're at Woodstock, playing to what's left of an audience of 1/2 million at 6:00 AM. Jimi was riding high on the strength of an album called "Smash Hits", and he knew he had to deliver the goods. The band clearly wasn't up to the task. Drummer Mitch Mitchell was harboring this resentment against Bronx percussionist Jerry Velez, Jimi kept looking back at the band as a whole to get them to see what he was trying to do. It wasn't until he took over ("awww move over, Rover") that anything consequential really happened.
Make no mistake, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was a pivotal moment not only of Hendrix' show, but of the festival and was a reflection of the mood of the country at the time. But that was serendipitous. The National Anthem was on Hendrix' set list since at least 1968. The version on this DVD is certainly the best and most inspired of those I've heard. He attached no particular significance to it ("I'm an American. They made me sing it in school, so I played it."), although I'm certain that the fire came from his possible inability to reconcile his pride in having served in the 101st Airborne to the de rigeur pacifist stance rockers were expected to assume. It wasn't until Graham Nash informed him that young Black men were being used as cannon fodder during VietNam that he agreed to perform at a War Moratorium show at MSG, and we won't even discuss what happened there.
Since Experience Hendrix now has total control over what video of Hendrix is released on DVD, we can expect the best of the filmed Hendrix legacy to be doled out like the Jerky Treats you feed your dog. The best is yet to come: the Pennebaker film of Jimi at Monterey released on VHS, but never on DVD, an unedited Berkeley show, the Royal Albert Hall shows, international television footage of Experience shows only hinted at in last year's Experience DVD.
But trust me on this -- the entire Hendrix show at Woodstock will never, ever be released.
21 Hendrix was no Hypnotized Flag Waving Drone that's for Sure!
Do these guys really think they can co-opt Jimi Hendrix's name so easily for their absurd new 'holy war' of 'infinite justice' (a little too bold it was, so they quickly changed the 'catch-phrase' to 'Enduring Freedom," as a security measure, to avoid some of the ironic remarks that were sure to snowball into an avalanche on the still-free press of the Internet if the hypocrisies of the U.S. Government in curtailing 'freedom' all over the world, were ever exposed enough to people used to getting their news from the controlled mainstream-press during their big 'crusade against terror')?
Who do these guys think Hendrix was, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan? Hendrix was the exact opposite of what those guys stood for, or what the traditional power-structure of America stood for. Everything in his art railed against it! His version of Star Spangled Banner was as feedback frenzied and crazy as it was because it was meant to be ironic and only respectful of America's best traditions, the America of the Slave-Owning-At-time-but-foresighted-and-freedom-loving Founding Fathers of the Constitution, that could've been, should've been, and tragically wasn't, and due to a disastrous foreign policy instigated by a criminal government running amok, still isn't 30 years after Jimi's death; he certainly wasn't applauding its jingoistic worst, and to pretend that he was, is an insult to the values of complete dissent and freedom his art stood for. He sure as hell wasn't celebrating America's napalming of Vietnam or the Military; it's laughable to even suggest that he was! You want direct proof? Just go and listen to "Machine Gun" or "If 6 was 9" (Hendrix didn't give one hoot if "All the Hippies cut off all their hair" either, as the famous lyric goes; he was an individualist, who saw through his own eyes, first & foremost!). In fact, you'd probably have a hard time finding ONE person in the entire Woodstock crowd that was in favor of the Vietnam War! And at the time, it was just as 'Holy' a war, from the government's perspective & that of most of the soldiers fighting it, as this new one W. Bush is embarking on.
Having deep sympathy with the victims of the tragic events of Sept. 11 is one thing; being blind to powerful people taking advantage of easily given trust to use this tragedy as an excuse to curtail all our freedoms forever and kill huge numbers of innocent civilians in far-away countries as "collateral damage," is another. And I'm sure as Sherlock, my man Jimi would agree, whole-heartedly, if only he had survived his hectic times to see the absurdities of the present.
22 September 23, 2001 US FLAG AT FULL STAFF
I've had this DVD for months and enjoyed it immensely. This is Jimi's finest performance and a must own. The fact he earned "the honor of closing the greatest rock festival ever conceived" is enough reason to buy this.
I listen to his amazing and unforgettable rendition of "Star Spangled Banner" with more pride and hope now than ever in my life. God bless America and Operation Infinite Justice!
23 Good show - better (and more complete) CD
I'm a great fan of Jimi, but not of this DVD. Wihle it's entertaining to see Jimi put on weird looks during Voodoo Chile (Slight Return), it's a shame that there's only < 1hr total running time and NO extras whatsoever. I'm not a sucker for extras (I buy a DVD for the main course, not the desert), but it came as a bad surprise to me that many songs were left out, and they even edited Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) for time (sacrilege!). Also, on my DVD-player, there's a glitch in one song where the sound stops for a very short moment, while the film rolls on.
Sound quality is reasonable for this age and era, camera work is not so fine, zooming in at the wrong places at times. (typical of many concert films IMHO, but they're trying to remain fresh throughout an entire, long concert)
My verdict: buy the CD. It's too big to fit on one CD (unlike this DVD, which will EASILY fit on one CD for sound/running time) and, while the CD is also edited for time, it contains more and longer songs. The DVD to me shows a lack of respect for the customers and true Hendrix fans.
3 Stars for the nice music and bonus of seeing Hendrix play seemingly effortlessly, but unless you really want to see Jimi on film (there are only 2 songs of Jimi on the 'general' Woodstock DVD) buy the double-CD.
24 Great footage, but too short and no DVD extra's
Let's get this straight right from the start...Jimi Hendrix was without a doubt a master of the electric guitar. This footage from his Woodstock performance only proves that point once again. However, there are so many things lacking from this DVD that I can't help but feel a bit cheated. First, the DVD is really, really short. The 2+ hour Woodstock performance is cut down to around 45 minutes worth on this DVD. What is here is great, although some of the camera angles can get a bit annoying. The clarity and sound quality are actually very good for this old footage. The songs that are included are gems, and Jimi's performance is relaxed, yet powerful and masterful. He and the "Band of Gypsies" roll through the numbers here with improvisational abandon. Jimi's fingers fly over the strings and he totally masters his guitar (a beautiful blonde Strat). This is an essential DVD to own for any Hendrix fan...but if you are a real Jimi fan, you will no doubt be disappointed that this DVD doesn't offer the full Woodstock performance or any extra commentary, interviews, documentary, or ANYTHING. I have to give it five stars for Jimi's performance, but the DVD gets two stars for it's complete lack of extras and it's brevity. So, four stars total.
25 The best one
I own or have rented every Hendrix tape/dvd. This one is the best. The quality of the DVD and the sound are better then any of the others, and instead of a lot of has-beens being interviewed (all saying Hendrix was great), this one is actually all music!
26 One of the Best Hendrix Performance ever
This video is 53 minutes of Hendrix. No ineruptions or interviews just all Hendrix. I would give it more but there is only 5 stars.
27 One of the Best Hendrix Performance ever
This video is 53 minutes of Hendrix. No ineruptions or interviews just all Hendrix. I would give it more but there is only 5 stars.
28 Great film of Jimi's show
There's only one Jimi. It's cool to see this 30 year old stuff all digital. Although the people who attended woodstock scared me a bit, the performance is amazing.
29 Historic, But Not the Best Jimi
Hendrix at Woodstock - a legendary concert. Does that mean it's worth watching? Well, it's shot outside in daylight, so visuals are better, and the footage is from one show, so continuity is better than other Hendrix compilations. There are ample crowd shots, which are interesting, and there are not the impossible closeups that mar other Hendrix films (Monterey Pop). Those are the film's good points. The downer is that Hendrix doesn't seem inspired. At times he appears annoyed with his bandmates, and he was debuting a new band at Woodstock, who's members muddied the usually clean power trio Hendrix sound. Voodoo Chile loses its power here due to the "fuzz" (see Jimi Plays Berkley for the best video capture of this song) and other than his masterpiece, Star Spangled Banner, most of these songs can be found played live far better. Woodstock was made famous by the film of the same name, and the best of the Hendrix footage from Woodstock was in that film. This tape, Hendrix at Woodstock, is interesting, nothing more.
30 Nice dvd to own if you like concert dvd's
This is an excellent dvd, judged on it's own terms.
The only problem is, it is only around an hour and only contains about half of the songs that are included on the cd set of the same name... This dvd leaves off some of the best songs from the cd...
Having said that, it is worth it to actually see Hendrix play at Woodstock, and the sound is pretty damned good. There is just enough footage of the hippies and the festival itself to give a flavor of the event, but nothing to intrude on the music. If you want more of the flavor of the festival, rent the director's cut of "Woodstock". This dvd is nice because it doesn't have any documentary crap to interfere, it's just pure Jimi. Worth having.
31 Eternal Ghost
Live at Woodstock is the most haunting and mesmerizing of all the Jimi Hendrix videos available. As a lifelong fan of Hendrix, and as a writer, I am moved to write each time I watch this film. The Star Spangled Banner performance should be required listening of every young person entering the new century. Perhaps, this is the most important document of Sixties music in existence.
32 NOT his best performance, but take what you can get!
It's amazing how much hype has built around Woodstock over the years. Noastalgia softens memories I guess. I've read many accounts of bands (i.e. Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead) actually having prett bad/mediocre performances at Woodstock (Though, in Fairness, others, like The Who and Santana really did play fantastically). I'm a Hendrix fan/geek whose read and heard a lot. Unfortunately, he was very exhausted from lack of sleep and who knows what else by the time he hit the stage at Woodstock. He also suffered a lack of judgement and focus by trying to present an expanded line-up that wasn't entirely rehearsed or necessary. A percussionist is a nice touch, but a rhythm guitarist behind him? Many of the songs were played sloppily and without punch. However... Jimi was magic after all and there ARE definitely some great, inspired moments. I've heard him do Star Spangled Banner a few times and the one at Woodstock is hands down the best by far. It's frustrating and ironic but the few Hendrix shows that were well-filmed, such as Isle of Wight, were conversely some of his weaker... But weak for Jimi is strong for most other musicians and with so little Hendrix footage legally available you take what you can get, so yeah, but this. As for the songs being cut up, out of order, or missing altogether, welcome to the world of Jimi's legacy. Warner Bros, MCA, and whomever else tend to more often than not butcher their posthumous Hendrix releases one way or another and this is no exception!
33 Explanation for visuals
As this video was shot and edited in 1969 and 1970 respectively, and the video (at the time was reduced to not as many songs as we would all like it to be. The thing is, It has just been remastered from these tapes, keeping it the same as the original CD (the new, extended CD has more songs.)
I understand that the editing was not totally well done in that too much of Jimi is shown etc. I agree with many people that there is too much of Jimi's face and not enough of the band, his pedals...i.e. his playing with his teeth sections...should have been done much better, camera wise. I in a way hope that they redo the DVD, and in a way I don't, as this would cost me tons of money to get it again!
Other than this, this is the most awesome CD/performance, I've listened to it over a hundred times. My favourite songs are Jam Back At The House, Woodstock Improvisation and Voodoo Chile (SR).
Mate, Hendrix Rules!
34 We got the DVD to see the band!
If you like Jimi Hendrix, then I would say you'd like this DVD. However, there's a lot of focus on Jimi Hendrix's face, and one brief shot of an effects pedal. We also get brief close ups and lots of far away shots of Mitch Mitchell (Drums), fairly consist shots of Jerry Velez (Hand Percussion), and a far-away view of Billy Cox (Bass. Larry Lee (Guitar), and Juma Sultan (Hand percussion) are almost never seen. However, I did like the DVD. If you like Hendrix you'll probably like, and maybe even love it, or at least some parts of it.
35 WOODSTOCK....! WITH JIMMY HENDRIX
AWSOME MAN WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS WHAT YOUR EYES WILL EXPERIENCE WATCHING THIS GUITAR GENIUS AT PLAY MAN IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY ........
36 How Did He Do That?
I don't have a clue how Jimi could posobly play the guitar like that. I didn't even think someone could move their fingers that fast. I was in a traze watching his fingers move. You do not know the true meaning of the Star Spanngled Banner until you watch this movie. Each one of these songs are completly different and better versions that the stuff he does in the recording studio. If you enjoy this CD you will like the movie even more. This is great for not only true Hendrix fans but for everyone. You must have it.
37 Greatest performer at his greatest concert
Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock is disputabily the greatest concert ever given. I am an avid Hendrix fan and was elated to see this DVD. This is by far the best DVD I have and shows Hendrix at his greatest. Izabella is revolutionary, Fire is rock solid, Red House is great (Jimi broke his high E string), his Woodstock Improvisation is incredible and his Star Spangled Banner is priceless. That being considered, it deserves 5+ stars.
Although Expericnce Hendrix has done a great job releasing material since they won Jimi's legacy a few years ago, this DVD, contrary to the CD version, was disappointing in its length. There are many songs missing. I owned the CDs first and will list my disappointments: (1) I desperately wanted to hear and see all of Message to Love and Hear my Train a Comin', two of Jimi's new songs as he broke away from the Experience. (2) I also wanted to see Spanish Castle Magic, Foxy Lady, Hey Joe and Lover Man, all not included on the DVD. (3) The order of the songs was jumbled on the DVD and I wanted to see the actual chronological order of the songs. (4) Many of Jimi's comments, some pretty interesting (a la those before Izabella for those who own the CDs), were totally cut out. (5) If it replaced another of the aformentioned left-out songs, I really did not need to hear Larry Lee being backed up be Jimi on Jam Back at the House. Considering they cut out Larry Lee's other songs from the CD I was amazed that this one even made it.
I guess I wanted a DVD identical to the CDs, which is not what this is. However, this is a must for any fan of rock music in general, but I felt I had to voice my completist complaints. Without a doubt, a must have.
38 Jimi The God
Jimi is great, and this is the best performance I have ever seen. I was at woodstock, he was great, but the video captures him at his best. Any rock fan, young or old, will enjoy this video. Jimi shows in this video how his magic fingers do the walking. God of the guitar, this one is a must see.
39 Jimi Rocks!
It's great to see more of Jimi's performance at Woodstock. Unfortuately, you are unable to hear the rest of the Gypsies, Suns and Rainbows (2nd guitar and percussion but I think that's due to the bad mixing of the original soundtrack and lack of microphone placement on the congas. You also see Jimi's frustration on his face trying to make the band tighter. It's still one of his best guitar performances of all time.
40 a must for any hardcore fan
This video fills in a huge gap in my collection. I'd seen the Woodstock movie and always wanted to see more of Jimi's performance. This release does not disappoint. The music is phenomenal, Jimi looks and sounds great. Not much of the usual naked hippies at the waterhole footage. 99.9% of the video is Jimi on stage.
My only (minor) complaints about this video is with the way it was editted and packaged. Contrary to what the Amazon description says, there are no liner notes included. In fact there is no real information other than the song list on the cover. This is especially disappointing since the audio CD of the same show includes a fantastic liner notes book (including shots of Jimi's hand written set list and words to a song about Woodstock). I found it a bit sad and confusing that the Hendrix estate would finally release movie footage that is obviously going to be consumed by hardcore Jimi fans and not bother to include any liner notes at all (again, especially since the audio CD has top rated notes). The audio CD liner notes provide some much needed background about the musician lineup (not the Experience, but a brand new first time in public line up - Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, the songs played, problems with the PA, problems faced when it came time to edit the tapes, etc..
Also disappointing was the fact that the DVD contains only 57 minutes from the original 140 minute set. The audio CD trims out two songs and some dead air to bring the set down to just under two hours. About 90 seconds of "Message to Love" are played over the opening titles and about 60 seconds of "Hear My Train Comin" are played over the closing credits. Several of the songs also appear out of sequence from the orignal set. I would have been willing to pay an additional $10 or $20 to have had the whole show intact.
That being said, I can't rave enough about the footage that is included. This was drawn from the original footage shot by Michael Wadliegh and company (of the Oscar winning Woodstock movie fame). Jimi played in the morning so it is shot in daylight and is vibrant with light and color. Jimi's playing is unbelievable and every guitarist will want to watch this for the great tight shots of his technique. Anyone who loves his music should find this to be a great historical document that is full of some great music (especially the jams: "Jam Back at the House", "Woodstock Improvisation", and "Villanova Junction").
Buy this and if you are a real fanatic, get the audio CD box set too.
41 Frustrating and Brilliant
I have watched and listened to this DVD about six times so far; each time I grumble at the editors for the super close-up shots of Jimi's face. I can count his molars! The entire video is one big close-up. I can only guess at what the other band members are doing, since we rarely see them. But two of the most important missing parts are Jimi's feet. What the heck was he doing with pedals and other electronics to make such as fasinating sound? I wanted to know! I think the synchronization of sound to video also is a bit lacking, but not as bad as some noteworthy messes (Yessongs).
But it was the fingers, the hands, the words and the sound that first attracted me to this DVD, and I am not dissapointed. There is no viable comparison to any living individual. Jimi left a magnificent work of art and the editors captured it for us to experience 30 years later. Pretty cool.
42 hendrix in his peak
the music attitude and vibe were powerful.this is music history and a must for any true historian of music.this is the kind of artistry that is is missing today.many thanks to jimi's family for getting the rights and presenting history.
43 buy it.
Nothing else to say. If you like hendrix buy it. It is worth the money.
44 This DVD delivers the goods!!!
i purchased this video a few weeks ago. I have been careful in selecting music dvds b/c i've read so many horrible reviews about dvds that appear to be music videos but only talk about making music (e.g. stevie wonder/songs in the key of life, hendrix/live at the filmore east). hendrix live at woodstock is NOT one of those videos. the sound and video are excellent. lots of music. lots of style. if you want to witness the quintessential performance of a true genius, you need this video!!!
45 Jimi Hendrix live at Woodstock-1of few daylight performances
A great DVD of an even greater performance of the greatest guitar player of all time. This is the best daylight concert footage available of Jimi Hendrix. He dazzles the dwindling audience of Woodstock, those who stayed truly witnessed one of his peak performances. The sound and video of this particular version far out shine any in existence. Don't be fooled by Amazon's advertisement though, they discribe the CD not the DVD. When will they change that incorrect ad?
46 Ammendment to Previous Review
In my review, I mistakenly said that the video contained the entire performance of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock. In reality, there is 57 minutes of his performance. The 57 minutes is extraordinary as I have said, but I believe that there is about one hour more of material that exists that is not presented. Perhaps it will be released at a future date, but what is on the tape is absolutely priceless, and of course I still recommend it for anyone who loves Hendrix, rock and roll, and incredible musical talent.
47 This is it!
If you want the quintessential Woodstock performance, look no further than Jimi Hendrix, (who closed the show). The sound on this one is superb and without doubt heavily due to the expertise of Eddie Kramer, (the greatest). The family has my deepest, heartfelt joy that they are able to do the right things with the legacy. Keep it coming guys!
48 a brilliant document of a jaw- dropping concert
I am happy to announce that this DVD is a joy to watch repeatedly. The sound is immaculately re-engineered by Eddie Kramer (who handled the concert sound in '69). The editing is superb! You get to watch Hendrix w/o the distraction of overly quick cutting or poor shot choices. The Hendrix Estate should be really proud of this one!My only complaint is that "Hear My Train A'comin" is , for some reason, absent from the playlist, although he did play it at the show.
49 For once the ENTIRE Hendrix Woodstock Performance on video
July 11, 1999: At last, we can see the mezzmerising performance of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969, without interruption, in its entirety, and in full glory since it is uncut. His "Woodstock Improv", Villanova Junction" which until now was only available on audio, can be seen and we get the full impact of how much Hendrix dominated the entire rock and roll world in his time. The video is long overdue. Too many of his documentaries are spoiled with interruptions by people being interviewed and saying how great he was.. we all know how great he was, now we can watch his entire spectacular performance with no interruptions. The sound quality and image quality are superb thanks to the efforts and generosity of the Hendrix family who have made this and all of their other releases a labor of love. Anyone who loves Hendrix or the electric guitar should have this video.
Sept 3,2002: Just to set the record straight, this DVD apparently doesn't contain the entire Hendrix performance. It does, however contain all of the songs (in their entirety, unabridged), that over the years we got in bits and pieces through albums, movies and so forth. I guess I would have to say it is the most complete version of his performance at Woodstock yet produced - I have never seen or heard all of these songs together in any other album or movie. So, I was in error in proclaiming it was his entire performance. Sorry for any confusion, in my enthusiasm for this treasure.
