The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Monterey

 The Way To Monterey
June 18, 1967.

On that date, at The Monterey International Pop Festival, the Jimi Hendrix Experience exploded onto the American music scene through an incredible, historic performance.

By taking the visual aspect of the art of music to new heights, this was Hendrix setting a course which redefined rock and electric guitar as a lead instrument through the driving force in a power trio.

Introduced by the Brian Jones, Hendrix launched the set with a rapid-fire romp of Howling Wolf's Killing Floor. But it is the ever-changing moods in the numbers - The Wind Cries Mary, Foxey Lady, Rock Me Baby, Like A Rolling Stone - which shows the genius of Hendrix.

In 43 minutes, Hendrix began a revolution in sound that still sounds fresh some 40 years later. This is one of a handful of essential live releases and a sonic reminder of the vision of a true artist. April 27, 2008

 MUDDY AUDIO, NOT THE BEST VERSION AVAILABLE

I'm always interested in having the best audio version of any recording. Therefore, when this new version was released, I picked it up and compared it to another, older edition.

The previously released version was the fourth and final disc of the Rhino Monterey Pop Box, released in 1992.

Upon A/B comparison, I was very surprised and dismayed to find the new disc does not have the clarity of the Box CD. The drums & cymbals especially sound muffled.

From a historical standpoint, it's interesting to hear the small snippets of Hendrix' conversation in between songs that do not appear on the Box disc, and yes, the new CD packaging & photos are excellent.

However, it's no fun, after listening to the Box CD for the past 16 years, hearing a recording that sounds this muddy.

I haven't heard the other previous Monterey Pop editions, which were released after the Box, but I sure can't recommend this one. April 17, 2008

 Hendrix In His Prime
Jimi's historical Monterey, CA show is fanastic! If you are a Hendrix fan this is a must have. Before this show a very small precentage of the US even knew about him, but after Monterey he became a household name. One of the best live recordings ever. Jimi's attitude is very carefree and his personality really shines through. As a guitar player he had no equal in 1967 and this CD proves the point well. March 3, 2008

 stolen shipment
I had to reorder because someone stole it. My package containing 3 cd's came empty with an apology from the post office. February 11, 2008

 Historic recording... a "must have" for any rock enthousiast
There are certain moments in rock history that are just monumental and this is one of them, Jimi Hendrix's coming out party to US audiences at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in June, 1967.

"The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at Monterey" (10 tracks, 43 min.) brings the band's performance at the festival it its totality. After a quick announcement from the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones, the band crashes in with "Killing Floor", a ground-scorcher of a song. "Foxy Lady" follows and after it Jimi delivers some great stage banter, as he does throughout the band's set, making this such a delight. The band's cover of "Like a Rolling Stone" is a gem. After a great "Rock Me Baby", Jimi asks the audience to indulge the band for fine-tuning his guitar, "Let us tune up because we care", what a great statement! The set closes down with "The Wind Cries Mary", which Jimi announces as the next single to some out (following the hit "Hey Joe"), and it ends with the now legendary "Wild Thing", featuring the guitar burning, which you can hear on the CD.

Couple of thoughts as I was listening to this: for one, the audience's response was timid at best, you can hardly hear any crowd reaction between songs. For another, this is the Jimi Hendrix Experience at its best, nevermind the many other live recordings out there. It wasn't possible at that time to register or recognize the importance of this live set, but this is a true defining moment in rock history. In a way, it has been cheapened by the overwhelming attention that the guitar-burning segment has gathered, but the full set as heard here just demonstrates what a defining moment this was for Hendrix and indeed rock history. February 5, 2008

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