Jimi Hendrix - Blue Wild Angel (2002)

Those familiar with the original Isle of Wight DVD/VHS release will be pleasantly surprised by Blue Wild Angel. For one thing, the soundtrack has been remixed in both stereo and 5.1 surround. Hendrix's legendary Isle of Wight show may have been notoriously riddled with technical difficulties, but in all honesty, it is one of his better live recordings, and Eddie Kramer's remix sounds superb. Next, Blue Wild Angel includes many songs missing from the original release such as "Lover Man," "Foxey Lady," "Message to Love," "Ezy Rider," and "Purple Haze." By far the highlights of the performance are the mesmerizing, newly unedited versions of "Red House" and "Machine Gun." Finally, as an added bonus, the concert is introduced by a mini documentary about Hendrix's involvement with the Isle of Wight festival. This introduction is told through new interviews with Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, and Eddie Kramer and footage from Murray Lerner's Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival rockumentary. Blue Wild Angel is a great addition to any Hendrix fan's collection. --Rob Bracco Amazon.com

superb

I really like this concert. Jimi was tired, jet lagged, and also had the flu from what i read in "the final days." despite all of that, the man rocked!! May 7, 2008

What was the editor thinking?

What a waste! Great show and great sound, but unfortunately, 95% of the visual is of the back of Jimi's head. If you are seeking a film of Jimi actually playing a guitar, don't by this frustrating montage. Seriously, entire songs pass by without the viewer able to see one glimpse of Jimi's left hand. I haven't the vocabulary to explain how painful it is to watch this film. If you are some sort of fan of Mitch Mitchell, fire in on this one. There's plenty of footage of him. But the editing, for some reason, prefers Jimi's head and back before his hands. Horrible. February 21, 2008

the Best DVD (until Maui or Atlanta comes on DVD)

Great to see Jimi in a LONG video w/o being so edited down for times sake.

The show was plauged with techinal difficulties and Jimi and the band took stage at 1 am, so not at their best, but its a great show, great filming, great 5.1 sound mix and great editing.

I hope the go into the vaults and release the 1970 Atlanta show un-edited because it was a much much better performance.

Also, I'd love the see the 1970 Hawaii concert done right, small crowd with a beautiful Hawaiin landscape, what can bet better than that! January 18, 2008

Honest Portrayal of a Guitar Genius

This movie is an honest glimpse into what it is to be Jimi Hendrix on stage. It's not just clips of the performace edited together; it is a rolling scene of the performance. The line-up, including Billy Cox on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, is perhaps the most inspired line-up that Jimi performed with! The direction and production is straight-forward and a true attempt at an objective view of the show. August 23, 2007

Well done documentation of a flawed performance

The video is great. ANY Hendrix fan (and I am definitely one) ought to own this. It is a very well done video, in terms of camera, not too much bio material, just a good recording of a sub-par performance.
I don't know what other folks are seeing here, but if you read about Hendrix, he was apprehensive, he was thin, dead tired, and there were also technical glitches. Hendrix' performance at Berkeley (BREATHTAKINGLY soulful) and other are so superior to this performance.
I am a guitarist, and know the frustration he was obviously feeling (I've even done the sigh, like he does about a third of the way through...he was just not happy with his playing himself that night) and look at how much time he is running to the side of stage, trying to tell them things to fix. Everything was going wrong for him that night. From the start, he didn't want to be closing band (but Jethro Tull beat him out of being second from last), power problems...he had to wait to go on til they could sort that out, then just as he was going to go on, he ripped the seat of his costume...which anyway had sleeves that got in the way of playing. Then his sound onstage...it was NOT what he wanted. The feedback was not controlled...not coming when he wanted it, and WAS feeding back when he didn't want, pedals flipping over, queues missed... lackluster (some of them) solos...it was frustrating as can be for him.
So I don't know how so many others are missing this. He has to ruch lyrics, makes false starts at some, forgets lyrics, The strat goes out of tuning right off, and never quite gets back, and the flying V also.
and I love Hendrix. He was fantastic, and he does have his moments. He was definitely throughout ALMOST getting there...but he had so many unfortunate things going on, it was a huge effort. I think that's what he meant about 2/3rds of the way through when he mentiond "I just woke up", I think it was his state of mine, yes, but also that he just started getting "locked in", getting things grooving. It picks up at the end, and even in the beginning there are ALWAYS moments where he is brilliant...even here. Any Hendrix Fan ought to have this performance, and this is the best DVD to own of it. Just, you ought to know going in, it doesn't have the soulful moments...the amazing extended sidetrips like Berkely, or Band of Gypsys. He really doesn't look well here, and Mitch Mitchell tries to help out, being given several drum solos, trying to give Hendrix a breather so he can gather his strength and make a new stab.

Simply put, the performance never gels, never quite gets off the ground. Not for want of effort, just...the gods were not with him that day. I don't think he was inspired, but at teh same time he DID manage to keep going..playing a full set. And there are definitely moments here too, as I think probably in ALL Hendrix performances. At one point the camera for some reason focuses on a guy in the audience who at that moment is into what Hendrix is doing (because it IS good) and while playing...it is like the air goes out of the solo, and you can read it on this guys face too.

I get tired from it, it is frustrating. July 23, 2007

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