Stages


A good idea, that just didn't work the way it could have...Stages was supposed to show the development of Jimi and his music over the 4 years chronicled. It just doesn't work though. Maybe it's the repeat of certain songs on each disc (Fire, Purple Haze), maybe it's just the actual concerts chosen. There are better concerts "in the can", yet (with the exception of Atlanta) average concerts were chosen. Better concerts from 1967's tour are known to exist, especially during the Scandanavian leg. Paris 68 is decent enough, San Diego is okay (although very similiar to the L.A. Forum concert on Lifelines). Atlanta 70 is the gem of this collection, although yet again, Alan Douglas has decided we didn't need to hear all of the concert, cutting the performance by a good half. One track, All Along The Watchtower, can be found on the Johnny B. Goode e.p. release. So bottom line, 3 average concerts, one very (incomplete) good one.

Catalog #: Reprise 26732-2