Customer Reviews

Astro Man

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Going thru my extensive Hendrix bootleg collection I was amazed at how much studio material has been repackaged and rereleased over the years with different covers and different mixes and recording quality. Astro Mans' first three cds are yet another grab bag of material recorded from 1968 to 1970 and contain many winners and juicy tidbits that the Hendrixophile is going to want, even need. The package comes in a nice box and is accompanied by a thick booklet with lots of information regarding the tracks, when and where they were recorded and information about the 3 live shows is also included. Allrighty then, a great package you might say, why the four stars? Well I have better recorded versions of many of the studio tracks some of which are found on the Experience box set and most of which are found on the 10cd In The Studio Box Set, which is extremely rare and out of print. But the sound quality isn't the main issue with this package, most of it is perfectly passable, if not great. The problem lies mainly with the booklet giving a lot of erroneous facts. Recording dates are often wrong or in conflict with other materials I have. For example when describing the 2 Stockholm live cds (the first and second sets from 01/09/69) the booklet says the first set wasn't taped for TV and the better second set was. Which is exactly wrong and opposite from reality. With errors such as that, and there are other conflicts, what can I believe? Yeah I know, I'm being pedantic, but I'm interested dammit and want the truth, I don't need more shoddy scholarship. The inaccuracies lead me to think this is a bootleg, or quasi-legal release. I know that Hendrix's studio tapes are many and sometime wrongly labled, but I would like better research, oh well. The songs themselves run from unnecessary versions of Purple Haze (which fades the music so you hear Hendrix's vocal overdubs) to really interesting such as the Highway Of Broken Hearts jam which is 14 minutes long.

Now the three live shows that are included are pretty good. The Paris '68 one is from the Stages Box set (also out of print) and has very good for the time recording and mix. The show itself is stellar and contains the only live version of Driving South that I've heard. I don't think any others exist. The other two live shows are show one and two from 01/09/69 in Stockholm and are recorded very well. The first set is somewhat lackluster and desultory, and of course that's the one that was filmed, doh! The DVD is available as Stockholm Concerts (I think). The second one is quite good, excellent even. The playing is sharp. Once again the sound quality is pretty good.

For the non-obsessive Hendrix collector this is pretty good, the three live shows being the real highlight although much of the studio material will hold your interest. For the obsessive collector, the live stuff is great but you probably already have the Paris Stages 68 show. The studio stuff is a mixed bag and much of it can be found elsewhere in a better recorded version. That's of course if you're lucky or obsessive enough to find or track all this stuff down. And of course the booklet, which has LOTS of pictures (cool) is not to be trusted. As it is, not bad at all, but kinda bootleg like.

I got Astro Man for 30 dollars used and at that price it is well worth picking up and I consider myself a mildly obsessed Hendrix fan.

I stumbled on this here at Amazon, and based on the other review, decided to take a chance on it. I sure am glad that I did. The studio session in particular are excellent. There are a few issues with the editing, such as a couple of songs that seem to cut off abruptly, but I presume that this is the way the tapes are. So, it's not "sweetened", but it is sweet! Seriously, the sound quality of these tapes is good, the versions of songs here are fascinating to listen to, and the box really does make a fine companion to the Experience Box, which is also truly excellent. I would think that this is not going to be around for very long, so you might want to catch it while you can! The live material is certainly worth hearing, but for me the studio cuts are where it's at.

First of all I own this. And I can tell you that it is Great!!! But that is NOT! Why I'm writing today. I'm writing because of the price! I paid 29 Dollars for this. And now i see it cost $125 Bucks? Come on people! Stop trying to rip people off!!! You people should be ashamed of yourself! LONG LIVE THE MASTER OF THE STRATOCASTER!!! PEACE!