Historic Concert


While checking this CD to see if the complete concert was presented or not, I found this concert review which I think sums things up quite nicely.
Special thanks to Chris Dixon and the Just Ask The Axis web page for the information.

August 23, 1998 marks 30 years since Jimi's show at the Singer Bowl outside NYC. The tape's a bit distorted and trebly but the balance is really pretty good-it's one of the few audience tapes where the voice is actually louder than the guitar (though the PA sounds a bit tinny). Jimi seems in good spirits and this is backed up by some backstage shots where he looks relaxed and happy. He's wearing a stage suit that is familiar from the BoG shows. A shot recently surfaced of him working intently on his guitars before the show- no guitar techs in those days!

Third recorded show in a row that opens w/ 'Are You Experienced?'. The guitar goes way out of tune in the middle and then drops out. Film reveals that he lays it on the stage and plays it with his feet while he straps on another! This show has him playing a Lake Placid Blue Strat that to my knowledge does not show up again. 'Red House' has some of it's opening solo (before vocals) cut on tape. Some nice soloing after vocals then guitar drops briefly out. He returns with the 'slapped' chordal interlude but it has a much sharper attack than usual- may be playing it with a drumstick? 'Like A Rolling Stone' makes a rare appearance, the first recorded example since the previous spring. This is one of the few, if not only, songs he did live that had no solo proper, but his fills and chordal embellishments on this never fail to amaze me!! 'Star Spangled Banner' makes it's second concert appearance, still just a snippet. It appears during the outro of Purple Haze during a little 'joking around' section- I also hear snatches of 'Amazing Grace' and 'Home On The Range'! A full version of SSB appears the following week...'Hey Joe' has regained it's extended intro. Jimi dedicates it to "...all the Village people..."- now *there's* a creepy prophecy! Specifically mentions Tim Rose, whose version of Hey Joe apparently inspired Jimi to cover same- maybe Rose was in the audience and Jimi was giving him a tip of the hat?

...and now, back to me :)
Qualitywise, this is a pretty decent CD. The recording levels seem to stay pretty constant throughout and there's little crowd noise to distract. The mid-range seems either high, or the bass and treble are a little low, which give this a somewhat hollow and muffled sound. But still very listenable, and correctable with a good equalizer in your home system. Midnight Beat is right up there in quality releases, probably just behind Whoopy Kat, and this is a nice addition to the Midnight Beat catalog, and will make a pretty good addition to your collection.

Catalog #: Midnight Beat MB CD 017