Live At The Filmore East : Rumored, delayed, and finally released. Worth the wait? ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY!!!! If you're a casual fan Of Jimi's, you may or may not have heard of the Band Of Gypsys.
This was the band that was put together by Jimi and his friends Buddy Miles and Billy Cox, to help him out of a recording contract dispute. It signalled a new beginning for Jimi musically, jamming and free form playing would be the norm, rather than the basic 3 and a half minute single.
If you're a fan Of Jimi's, you're well aware of the stunning performances from the Filmore concerts. And this release contains 13 previously unissued tracks, 2 from the rare Band Of Gypsys 2 release, and a more complete version of 1 track that appeared on the original Band Of Gypsys release.
Every track on this double CD set is amazing. Everything from the ultra rare Burning Desire, to the double shots of Machine Gun, to the expanded version of We Gotta Live Together which is the one track that appeared in a more edited version on the original album.
I always found that track to be the weakest link on the original Band Of Gypsys album for some reason. It just didn't flow the way the other tracks did. The version on this release is over nine minutes long, compared to about 5 minutes on the original. The track is so much better now, it hardly resembles the original now.
It's still incomplete, the full performance is apparently close to 15 minutes or more in length. Would be nice to hear the complete version, but this one is very very good. There are a few must-have albums/CDs for a Hendrix fan; Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, Cry Of Love/First Rays Of The New Rising Sun, and the original Band Of Gypsys album.
Welcome the new member to the must-have club :)
Quality is top notch, remastered from the original master tapes. Experience Hendrix once again does good by us fans. My only complaint? I want *ALL* the Filmore performances! :)
