Up Against The Berlin Wall


Recorded in late January '69, Up Against The Berlin Wall is another from the Midnight Beat organization, and a pretty decent addition it is to the Hendrix catalog. Good, solid performances throughout. Jimi's vocal mike seems to feedback and quit during Spanish Castle Magic, but he just keeps playing. A rare Come On (Part One) makes an appearance here, though it's not as solid as Electric Ladyland's version, and the mike problems appear again near the end of the song. Highlight, as with most Hendrix concerts, is Red House, Jimi's blues tour-de-force. Sunshine Of Your Love also highlights this CD, and the concert closes with Purple Haze. However there's more, as a 6 minute clip from a press conference with Jimi ends this CD. Doesn't really have much to do with this concert, having taken place some 11 months apart, but I guess they wanted to fill the CD up a bit more. Not the best quality recording of the press conference available, but very listenable.

Quality is pretty good with this CD, though the bass guitar is very hard to hear at times, if at all. But beggars can't be choosers, especially when most Hendrix concerts weren't professionally recorded, or if they were, the tapes are in the EH vaults or missing. Midnight Beat I would say is Whoopy Kat's biggest competitor, and if they can do close to WK, then we, the Hendrix fanatics will be supporting them with our business.

Catalog #: Midnight Beat MB CD 046