Winterland (5 CD Box Set) (Amazon.com Exclusive) [Box set]

Jimi Hendrix | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony Legacy
• ASIN: B0055PL5KO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,445 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Tax Free

2. Lover Man

3. Sunshine of Your Love

4. Hear My Train A Comin

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Tax Free

2. Like a Rolling Stone

3. Lover Man

4. Hey Joe

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Fire

2. Lover Man

3. Like a Rolling Stone

4. Manic Depression

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Foxy Lady

2. Are You Experienced

3. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

4. Red House

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Disc: 5

1. Killing Floor

2. Red House

3. Catfish Blues

4. Dear Mr. Fantasy [Part One]

See all 5 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Winterland is drawn from six stellar shows recorded over three days (October 10, 11 and 12, 1968) at San Francisco's historic Winterland Ballroom. These special performances celebrated the two year anniversary of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and came just as the groundbreaking album Electric Ladyland was released.

Winterland presents some of Hendrix s most spectacular guitar work and is filled with rare live versions of classic songs such as "Manic Depression," "Are You Experienced?," "Tax Free," and "Little Wing" that are not part of any other Sony Legacy release. Fans will also enjoy Hendrix's dramatic interpretations of Cream s "Sunshine Of Your Love" and Howlin Wolf s "Killing Floor" [with the Experience joined by Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady] as well his rendition of Bob Dylan s "Like A Rolling Stone," which has been selected as the lead track for this special release.

This special deluxe box set features never before released music from each of the six unforgettable Winterland performances. The new standard and deluxe editions of Winterland are markedly different from a single disc compilation, long out of print, that was briefly issued by Rykodisc in 1987 and 1988.

The deluxe edition also presents a rare interview with Hendrix recorded backstage at the Boston Garden a few weeks after the Winterland performances. This previously unreleased bonus provides fans with a unique window into Hendrix's views about his background, his approach to the guitar and songwriting and future direction of his music.

The deluxe edition also features a 36 page booked filled with previously unpublished images by acclaimed photographers Robert Knight, Allen Tannenbaum and Jim Marshall as well as an essay by noted Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke.

The bonus disc features an amateur stereo recording made of Jimi's sold out February 4, 1968 Winterland performance.

This official bootleg recording showcases Jimi's love for the blues and includes versions of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor," the Muddy Waters influenced "Catfish Blues" as well a majestic rendition of "Red House". The recording also features an impromptu, extended rendition of Traffic's "Dear Mr. Fantasy" with Buddy Miles sitting in for Mitch Mitchell. "Dear Mr. Fantasy" is presented here in two separate parts. When the recording was originally made, the first side of the tape ended abruptly and came off the spool. The tape operator then hurriedly flipped the reel over, rethreaded the tape and snapped on the record button.

Fortunately, this rough hewn, soundboard recording survived and provides another compelling chapter in Jimi's rich legacy.
Disc Five (Amazon Exclusive)
1. Killing Floor
2. Red House
3. Catfish Blues
4. Dear Mr. Fantasy [Part One]
5. Dear Mr. Fantasy [Part Two]

This is a available for a limited time only.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 113 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars SOME GOOD HENDRIX-BUT WHERE ARE THE COMPLETE CONCERTS? September 13, 2011

By Stuart Jefferson TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

In a nutshell-this box contains some very good Hendrix/Experience. This compilation will be good value for most Hendrix fans (like me) who don't own the complete concert series released a number of years ago. Each disc contains over an hour of music, except disc 4, which has about 3/4 of an hour of music plus an almost 20 minute interview with Hendrix. The "bonus" disc contains about 33 minutes of music from the second show on 02-04-68. The discs are snapped in, inside the front and back covers of the holder. The "bonus" disc slips inside a cardboard holder and can fall out if you're not careful. The booklet is stapled inside the hard covers.

The sound is fine (excepting the "bonus" disc which is of lower fidelity-a bit distant sounding), and the performances across the 4 discs are good to stunning. The extra CD has some good Hendrix guitar on "Killing Floor". "Red House" is relatively short but exciting and to the point. "Catfish Blues"-very loose and jammy sounding-begins fine and then slips into a go nowhere drum solo before Hendrix comes back in. "Dear Mr. Fantasy (Part One)"-another jam sounding tune, (both parts are instrumental)-with Buddy Miles on drums-begins with a 1 1/2 minute "tune up" and has that typical Miles relentless drum sound, and some good, intense guitar. "Part Two" has Hendrix in fiery form with Miles keeping up all the way. The Hendrix interview is interesting, but once you've heard it non-essential. The booklet has some great photographs-some never seen before, and the essay by David Fricke is insightful and interesting as far as it goes. He combines an overview of Hendrix and the band, the era, and the Winterland concerts in particular. The "bonus" disc is extra value for those who don't (again) already own it. It's stuck on the front of the book-style holder with that sticky glue that can be rubbed off.

But I can't help but wonder why the complete concert series wasn't released (like the GRATEFUL DEAD have recently done with the 73 CD release of their '72 European tour) either as one package, or broken up into volumes. The fourth disc has tracks from the first night for example, so even though this is a compilation, what's here isn't in a night by night chronological order. On disc 4, (for me at least), the one-two punch of "Foxey Lady", and "Are You Experienced?" (from the third and first nights respectively), is devastatingly spectacular. Maybe I'm being picky, but I think it would have been nice to have some semblance of correct order with the tracks that are included. It would've given some feel for what the various nights were like. I was lucky enough to have attended one of the shows, and besides being deafeningly loud, the total experience was almost overwhelming-the thick sound just washed over and through you, but, in some weird way it was a very satisfying feeling. My friends and I walked out afterward a bit stunned by both Hendrix and the drumming of Mitchell.

Collectors and hardcore Hendrix fans will already own this, but for the rest of us-this is some prime Hendrix from an era when the music was still exciting-for both the band and listeners. It's both interesting and exciting to hear how Hendrix and the band approach their music from night to night-listen to the subtle changes in the versions of "Tax Free", or how "Are You Experienced?" is deconstructed and then put back together in the two versions heard here. The subtle changes combined with the fire power of Hendrix' guitar make this box set well worth owning.

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Something Old That's Something New September 13, 2011

By Dave "Fever Tree" Sigmon

Format:Audio CD

Never mind the historical context of this music. Because Jimi led so far into the future back in 1968, this still sounds futuristic. Another factor that makes this indispensable is that the music has received the much-needed sonic boost from 1987's briefly available "Live At Winterland" on Rykodisc.

Here he transmuted his live shows by expanding his repertoire and occasionally augmenting the lineup (e.g. Jack Casady, Herbie Rich). These shows indicate that he and the band had come a long way and were well-poised to plunge into more risk taking. Not every performance here is stellar, but they seemed to be interested during these three nights. Both versions of "Like A Rolling Stone" are punchier and more confident than that at Monterey. Choice riffs abound on the foot-stomping "Killing Floor", aided here by Jack Casady. He ventured further into improvisation and both versions of "Tax Free" sound substantially more focused (and alive) than its studio counterpart on "South Saturn Delta". What's sometimes overlooked is what a great interpreter he was.

Much of his original material benefits too. "Are You Experienced?" is as loud and free-form as it's ever been in all its renditions. "Little Wing" retains its delicacy but gets lovingly expansive at its ending. And when he charges into "Manic Depression", he redefines it as his battlecry.

He may have played his magic closeup at Winterland but it sure went the distance and seldom did he ever sound played out. Mitch and Noel deserve special mention too because here they drafted some of their greatest support.

And wow! That cover art rushes a spectrum of colors in flight, just like the music. You'd almost think it's psychedelia.

P.S. For the budget-conscious, there's a single-disc alternative that simulates a single performance. All the performances are strong and it holds together remarkably well. In fact, the one-disc is far more consistent as a whole than the box and makes a great companion for those that already have the great Rykodisc version. Included in this are the definitive Winterland versions of "Fire", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and "Like A Rolling Stone" plus that superb live rarity that Jimi pulled out of his back pocket, "Manic Depression".

93 of 102 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars EH have got the scissors out September 22, 2011

By Mr. P. D. Simpson

Format:Audio CD

This set would have been great if they didn't make edits on 3 of the songs, a staggering 4 minutes including the brilliant intro to 'Are You Experience' and the excellent Gonzales Flute solo are missing on Disc Four (who makes these odd decisions, there is also a shorter different version of AYE included?). On the other Discs, Two of Hendrix solo's on Red House have been edited out (have not EH criticised The Douglas albums for the same problems), but this is Live Hendrix even the 'Tune Ups' are enjoyable) and the great build up intro to Foxey Lady has also been shortened. Another complaint is the excellent Spanish Castle Magic has been released on a single exclusive to the EH website, as with other songs, which if ordered the expensive postage charges bump the price up which is unfair and unrelistic for a lot of fans to have to pay. Spanish Castle should have been on the box. Who are Experience Hendrix marketing this box to, that is the Question ? The Hard Core fans want it all 'warts and all', the more casual fans are happy with a highlights Cd this set caters for neither the hard core fan or casual so in my opinion is a total missed oppurtunity and there fore, I will only give it 2 stars for the fact there is still some great music untampered within and its a good price, but I personally would rather have songs not butchered than a free Bootleg type Cd stuck onto the box, (causing problems to the packaging if not removed very carefully). I do not understand why we get an edited Winterland but a near complete Isle Of Wight which was a much poorer performance from Hendrix and Co??

This Boxset is unfortunatly a case of EH not 'Practising What They Preach'