Customer Reviews

Jimi Plays Berkeley

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Clocking in at a woeful 56 minutes, this DVD represents only a fraction of the two concerts JImi performed on May 30, 1970. The packaging itself comes with a nice booklet that explains the background on how the concert was filmed, and the events that unfolded with it after JImi's unfortunate demise. The only 'real' bonus footage is a complete 5.1 surround sound audio for Jimi's second concert (which is essentially a different mix to the newly released Jimi Plays Berkeley CD, also available.)

In all fairness, the sound for the video has been substantially overhauled. But, the haphazard edits and shaky camera movements that plagued the original documentary (rockumentary?) still exist. One would have figured that today's technology could have at least fixed the 'shaky camera' problems, but I digress.
Pciture quality is clean - though one can clearly see the limitations of the original equipment used to record the show. Given that it's one of only a handful of live Hendrix videos available, one can't be too picky I suppose. Highlights include Jimi's screaming rendition of "Johnny B. Goode", "Star Spangled Banner/ Purple Haze", and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", only because these songs are more or less complete. The other songs on the DVD are all significantly edited down from their original length.

One interesting tidbit gleaned from the accompanying booklet is that Experience Hendrix was not able to include any outtakes because they haven't been turned over 'by the previous administration' that controlled the guitarist's legacy. Which probably means that Alan Douglas or Michael Jeffery's estate is probably sitting on the rest of the film.

Jimi's performance itself warrants 5 stars, but given the sheer lack of extra material, my rating stays firm at 3 stars for this release. Mildly recommended.

I agree that Jefferies is a total schmuck and this was basically an 'exploitation flick' at the time of its original release. But at this point, it is all we have of this performance and therefore it is a interesting historical document that has been *lovingly restored* by the Experience Hendrix project and should be treasured as such. To the reviews here at Amazon such as the one by C.METHOT I can only say this: READ THE DARN BOOKLET before you post your ill-begotten reviews. OF COURSE we would all rather be watching Hendrix play than watch a bunch of students boycott the release of the 'Woodstock' film; as the text in the booklet very plainly states, this stuff was largely inserted to cover for MISSING concert footage due to Jefferies' complete mishandling of the whole affair. You folks who are asking for the 'missing' footage to be 'inserted' in some kind of expanded release: THERE IS NONE. I'm sure if it existed, it would be here. That is probably a big reason why this is offered as a 'budget' release, cheaper than an audio CD.

People need to get a clue, realize how much work goes into audio and film production, let alone restoration, and that they get what they pay for. This is a fine addition to any Hendrix collection. Quit your whining. And I happen to think the scenes of the riots at Berkeley over the soundtrack of 'Machine Gun' actually works pretty well. So there!

This DVD is a favorite not just to me but alot of people out there Hendrix fans mostly. I ordered this DVD from amazon and recieved it a few days latter. I loved the DVD I mean of course it was just like the orginal JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY but the sound quality was unbelieveable. JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY was never released on DVD until now the music is so vibrant this is a must have for you Hendrix fans (including me). The bonus features are all audio but the thing that brings this DVD to 5 stars is not just the music but The booklet which gives you an inside on the filmmakers and the story behind JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY +plus very rare photos in the booklet hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tracklist: Johnny B. Goode (missing the spoken intro heard on "In The West"), Hear My Train A-Comin', Star Spangled Banner, Purple Haze, I Don't Live Today, Hey Baby (New Rising Sun), Lover Man, Machine Gun, Voodoo Chile The video has been edited from two performances that day, and some of the songs have been cut down in size. Whole thing runs under an hour. The concert footage is dark, but watchable, and there is also footage of the Berkeley riots. But if you're new to Hendrix, go for Monterey or Woodstock first.

....but whoever allowed this to be released in the butchered state that it's in should be shot!!!! I have waited for this complete show/movie to come out with good sound and uncut now for so many years, when I found out that they did this to it, my jaws just droped.... I will buy it but I am so angry that some of his best playing has actually been cut out.... Get your act together "the people who are in charge of Jimi's music" please, you are doing him a great diservice..... If Jimi was alive he would be doing the shooting himself....Enough said but the dvd is still worth it because of the 5.1 and stereo sound remastering.....(if it was not cut i would have given it a 5)...Buy it anyway it's still worth it..."Purple Haze" "Johnny B Goode" and what is left of "Hear my Train A Comin" alone are invaluable...ROCK ON JIMI (the undisputable master!!!!)

I was at this show (second set)...a 14-year old Berkeley hippie kid...and it was awesome!

This was one of the first rock concerts at the Berkeley Community Theater (which was also the auditorium for Berkeley High School), and security was minimal at best, which accounts for the scenes of people breaking windows to sneak into the sold out concert.

I remember arriving and waiting outside...when the first set let out, the audience was clearly blown away. The only thing I remember anyone saying is "wow..." And when the second set was over, our reaction was exactly the same.

So the movie doesn't show the whole concert, many songs are cut up, the camera work is jerky, etc. So what? This is a documentary of one of Hendrix's finest live performances. And the inclusion of the audio tracks from the second set is well worth it...you really get a chance to hear what an incredible blues guitarist Hendrix was.

About the Berkeley riot footage...the concert took place almost exactly one year after the battle over People's Park, when the cops fired buckshot at protestors in the street, killing one person, blinding another, and sending scores to the hospital. So there's something fitting about contrasting the riots with the bliss of the Hendrix concert.

As for the protestors outside the theater showing Woodstock...it never really stopped people from seeing the movie. The theater was right next to a little redneck bar, which explains the heated arguments outside the theater.

This DVD is a great demonstration of the hard, cold fact that Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitar player of all time. He truly amazes. Hendrix's control of his instrument, the power he wields when he plays his guitar, is inspiring. Many people who play their guitars let the guitar play them, but Jimi Hendrix plays his guitar. Whenever I watch this concert, I fall into a trance watching him play. Mitch Mitchell is an amazing drummer an I don't think he's appreciated enough- he really gives power to the songs, especially Machine Gun. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is amazing. Hendrix does an excellent rendition of Machine Gun. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) sounds beautiful. Hendrix alone makes this DVD worth buying.
That said, the camera work is horrible. For some reason the camera kept focusing on the lights. At random points in the DVD, the scene will cut to rioters at Berkeley- while somewhat interesting, these scenes bear no relation that I can see to the concert. I'm sure people would rather watch Hendrix play. Also, some songs got cut off in the middle. The DVD should have just played the concert straight through to the end, including everything.
All in all, I highly recommend this DVD. The technical work is terrible, but Hendrix more than makes up for that.

Jimi Hendrix is so good at playing the guitar! That alone makes this a 5 star show. With the limited amount of material out there of him, you just have to suck it up and ignore some of the little let downs (in light of the other reviewer). During Johnny B Good he takes charge and shows his moves (he was one with that guitar), and pulls off at all the stops with his bag of tricks. For the price it's well worth the buy.

You can't go wrong with this dvd. You get to SEE Hendrix play "Johnny B. Goode", "Hear My Train A Comin'", "I Don't Live Today", "Machine Gun", "Purple Haze", "Star Spangled Banner", and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". Plus you get the rowdier second set (in audio only), which is almost twice as long as the video (and has some great stuff on it as well - the star-spangled banner is particularly inspired here).

As for the video, it's mind-blowing. So why quibble about the photography which lacks polish, but includes lots of things that work quite well. Hendrix is well covered. So is the audience. You really get a feel for the times. I didn't mind gratis shots of a Berkeley riot! I thought they were exciting and worked very well with Hendrix's playing in the background - they'd lost some footage of the concert and this was filler I guess, but really it's not that long, and it does bring you into what was going on at that time and in that place. Other small flaws on my video included movie titles in the begining that are slightly clipped, and grainy, unrestored color which looked similar to Woodstock quality footage.

I guess after reading all the moaning and groaning about video quality, I was expecting much worse, when it wasn't really that bad (we're talking the year after Woodstock) - BUT what's more important - Hendrix's playing at this show is incindiary - on fire. He writhes like a man possessed, plays the guitar every which way and we get to watch it, nay own it, for less than ten bucks! You can't go wrong here, and you'll have fun showing this little ditty to your friends for years to come.

Together with the bonus live concert the price isn't bad then, although I'd hesitate paying full-price for this disc. That's because like others have mentioned the songs are really chopped up, so if you know these songs it can be a frustrating experience. Some great moments are here, like the complete 'Johnny B. Goode', most of a brilliant 'Voodoo Child', possibly the best song here, and some brilliant moments from a heavily abbreviated 'Machine Gun'. Possibly what disappoints most people is to hear and watch one of Hendrix's all-time brilliant performances, the great version of 'Hear My Train A Comin', jerking clumsily in a few minutes of horrible editing through it's complete 12 minutes or so. 'Lover Man' goes directly from intro to outro, possibly to include a short, blistering guitar solo at the end, and the editing of other songs is also quite shocking, enough that one could be forgiven for thinking one was viewing one of the failed entries in a student film competition where each entrant was given footage of two Hendrix concerts and asked to produce a 49 min film. However, I vote this 5 stars on the basis of it being one of Hendrix's best concerts with many great moments, as well as it being an interesting historical document nonetheless. Note that you need a DVD player for the audio, it won't play on a CD player. I tried to rip the audio to get it on a CD for more convenient listening and to convert it to MP3 but failed. Any ideas on how this can be done can be entered as a comment to me in the box below and will be greatly appreciated.