Jimi Hendrix – Woodstock

well this certainly sounds better than the most recent 2CD version, but its missing Message to Love! guess i'm going to have to own multiple copies of this show

Not the best performance, but this historic climax to the Woodstock festival has to be essential for any Hendrix fans. The original Experience had split a couple of months earlier but Mitch Mitchell remained, joined by Billy Cox on bass, a vast improvement on Noel. There's an additional guitar and two guys on percussion. Hendrix refers to the band as "The Sun and Rainbows Band" and also as a "Band of Gypsies" however the "Band of Gypsys" recorded the following new year reverted to a trio with Buddy Miles replacing Mitch on drums. It's all pretty loose and a lot of it sounds like a jam however the ensemble used on this album had been rehearsing in a house in Woodstock, so it's not total improvisation. The sound quality's OK and It's edited together well so it sounds like one continuous set. The most famous point being his rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" , this isn't the first time he played it, but this performance is the one that branded it in the consciousness of America. Even with it's flaws, I would definitely rate this as one of the most essential live albums ever.