Customer Reviews

Jimi Hendrix - The Dick Cavett Show

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

For decades I've read and heard about Hendrix' appearance on the long cancelled Dick Cavett Show. I vaguely remember the show when I was a child, and used to watch it in the early '70s. Later in life, when I rabidly embraced Jimi's guitar wizardry and began obsessively collecting anything and everything I could, I longed for this footage. I bumped into this DVD release in an FYE about a year ago and immediately snapped it up.

What impressed me first was the nostalgic value of the shows. They don't just give you Hendrix' appearances, they give you the entire show, minus the presence of other guests. I mean, the opening, Cavett's monolog, the interview and/or performance, and the show's close. It gives you a real feel for the times. For those that lived through that era and remember the show, it's a real flashback!

Also, the quality of the footage is spectacular! It's almost as though you're watching it aired live for the first time.

For any Hendrix fanatic, this is a must have. For the person who's curious about the man, you will catch a glimpse of the real Jimi, but only under the context of lights and cameras. Jimi was a shy man when interviewed for live broadcast. Get him on stage and it's a whole different story.

I would not suggest this disk for his performance, if you're new to Jimi or just a casual fan. Jimi appears with the show's big band, but only with a small amp and guitar, no pedals. He satisfies his spot on the show but doesn't perform anything that outstanding.

It's well put-together and an interesting watch. I would have loved to see bundled with this release his appearance on the Tonight Show, where he also played with the big band. Perhaps that'll be released separately at a later date.

Think all rock stars are full of themselves, media slick and savvy, arrogant, self-promoting, know-it-alls? Think again. Jimi Hendrix comes across in these interviews as a humble and gentle man, a surprisingly sweet person in the rough and tumble, hedonistic world of rock music. I was expecting the stereotypical, obnoxious rock star. Hendrix has the softspoken, peaceful demeanor of an earnest divinity student or shy artist. He is non-materialistic and quietly laments that there is way too much money in the music world. When Cavett tells Hendrix that he is one of the greatest guitarists in the world, Hendrix appears embarassed and sincerely qualifies that statement and seems to mean it. The great Jimi Hendrix exemplifying the virtues of modesty and humility? It is so unexpected. Would that today's rap thugs, pop tart bimbos, and spoilt rock acts learned a few things from him. He admits to making mistakes when he plays guitar. He is visibly exhausted in one interview and does his gentlemanly best to be gracious while anyone else would have cancelled the interview or been impatient. Where did all of that guitar genius come from? How could such a gentle and sensitive man be such a powerhouse of rock music? To listen to his music, one would expect someone very different. When Hendrix picks up his guitar and plays unaccompanied with a small amp on Cavett's show, he becomes a man transfixed. Clearly, playing guitar and singing was this man's spiritual and emotional outlet. Very interesting dvd.

First let me say I love Hendrix and I really did enjoy what's here....

BUT...

There's really not much content to this disc....it's basically his two cavett appearances, which aren't his two best live performances by a long shot and a "documentary" of which 80% is those two same appearances....

Let's be honest this disc might really be for hardcore Hendrix junkies only....I am one so I liked it, and I always love listening to him talk....but I think most folks would feel there's far too little actual content...

Why not put ALL of Hendrix's television appearances on a DVD ? I'm sure they'd all fit on one....let's hope Experience Hendrix does better then this in the future...Hendrix at Monterey, Hendrix at Berkley, Royal Albert Hall, the remastered Isle of Wight, the rest of Hendrix on TV...where is it?

d

I collected alot of Hendrix material I had seen bits and pieces of The Dick Cavett Show on earlier releases but never thought they would actually release it on DVD. Experience Hendrix did release this on DVD and I bought it the day they came out with it. I was kind of disapointed I mean come on...... this DVD is really all interviews with Dick Cavett and the hendrix performence is O.K........still worth a buy for a Hendrix collector. I think this DVD is is worth 3 stars and I know any true hendrix fan would love this DVD but if your looking for a real good hendrix DVD try looking at The Isle Of Wight Festival. I do still watch the Dick Cavett Show with Jimi Hendrix and I really do enjoy the material they included on this DVD. Enjoy!

The Dick Cavett Show (W/ Jimi Hendrix) is a DVD that celebrates Hendrix's appearance on the famed talk show.

The first part of the DVD compliles Hendrix's 2 appearances on the Dick Cavett show (7/69 and 9/69) in their entirety (including Cavett's opening Monologue on both shows). This does not count though the other guests' interviews, just the one's featuring Hendrix (along with musical performances).

The second part of the DVD contains a 60 minute documentary covering these legendary appearances as well as mention of the Woodstock performance, and Dick Cavett's show that appeared on August 18, 1969 with some performers from the festival. Interviews with Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Cavett, Juma Sulton, and Cavett's band member, are provided to compliment the footage from the Cavett show (much of it shown like in the above mentioned area).

Not much revelation as far as the interviews in the documentary go - apart from Dick Cavett's views of Hendrix as a guest. But the archival footage is priceless! Great quality also!

Definately recommended for the diehard Hendrix fan!

....everything he says. Very introspective and gifted man. As photographer Jim Marshall said: "He had more talent, more energy, and more sex appeal than any one man has a right to." We are even treated to a performance of him playing his three pickup White SG Les Paul Custom from the September 9th show. Well worth it for any Hendrix fan.

One thing: The photo on the front cover is from the Newport Pop Festival (Devonshire Downs 22ndJune1969) and NOT from the Cavett shows! (Anyone notice the Telecaster neck on his Stratocaster?) And why doesn't anyone ever give Juma Sultan any credit?

Thanks for reading:-)

If you add up all of the interview footage of Hendrix, there's not much here. Dick Cavett did not interview Hendrix, he just made comments about how he liked his shirt and and threw in a few funny remarks. The Cavett people had to release this for it's historic value to Rock music, but Mr. Cavett and crew must regret not having more in depth content to offer us 35 years later.

Cavet did not convey to the viewers the importance of the times. There were no in depth questions at all about Woodstock which is hindsight is almost criminal, given that the story lead the evening news with Walter Cronkite. When Hendrix mentions that he he has had three nervous breakdowns, Cavett fails to make a folow up question. The most amazing part of the DVD is when Cavett breaks for a commercial, and Hendrix has left the studio. Cavett explains to his audience that Jimmi is too tired to complete the interview.

The conclusion of the DVD offers a series of present day interviews from Cavvet, to Jimmi's original drummer and Bass guitar player. All of these interviews are interupted every 30 seconds by replays of the interview we just watched.

Borrow this from a friend, or rent it. Don't buy it. This DVD has thirty minutes of content in it, including the music performed by Jimmi on the show.

This short DVD is, historically, a good find for the true, dedicated Hendrix fan and follower. Way, way past his prime, Cavett looks and sounds feeble; the short Hendrix performances and interviews are the only real draws here. Although this may be just one additional opportunity for the Hendrix family to finally "cash-in," we can, nonetheless enjoy it too. I'm glad this was released but maybe it should have been combined with additional performance footage to make it longer and more substantial.

Being a rock icon in the 60s or 70s was very different from what it is today. Here is Jimi, smart, funny, humble and articulate. More inspiration in his little finger than a truckload of angry rappers.

Even his playing came from a different place than today's super guitarists. Nowadays, to play in Jimi's league means spectacular technique--as if someone is giving a test. But Jimi's ability was intrinsic; all he had to do was play what he heard and felt. And what he heard and felt was as cool as it gets.

I saw the original 8/69 show and seeing this DVD took me right back to that summer night. The video transfer is really crisp, and the sound is too. Both shows were out on bootleg video, most were of high generation, so the image was fuzzy to say the least.

The DVD features comments from Dick Cavett and members of Jimi's band, Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell and Juma. But, the star of the show is Jimi Hendrix. Cavett's show was Jimi's first network appearance, and you could tell Jimi was having fun. A lot of us really miss him.