This is why Hendrix fans are forced to turn to bootleggers and those people get rich. You want to hear to the full, unedited performances of Hendrix at the Fillomre east? Easy, go get the bootlegs. If you want an artifical, bad sequenced, edited performance, get the official release. Experience Hendrix has mostly issued great CD's by Hendrix, but this is an exemption. When Hendirx was here, HE decided to edit some tracks and release a partial performance as Band of Gypsis. That is fine, HE was the artist and we all love and cherish that album. But now that he is gone, NOBODY can make such decisions. So the only right thing to do is release those recordings as they were recorded. Dont get creative people, remember Alan Douglas and all the hell Hendrix fans had to take for 20 years.

After a friend demanded that I buy only one Hendrix album (this was a while ago before cds), Are You Experienced, another friend told me that Band of Gypsies was Hendrix at his peak live. I bought the record and was convinced. Years later, I tracked down the cd, which was an import, that has 3 songs that never appeared on any domestic vinyl or cd release of the single disc edition. To this day, one of those 3 bonus tracks has ever been offically released in the US. As a owner of all 4 shows from the Filmore EAst, I can tell you that it's a shame and a crime to watch material trickle out and premium dollar. Yeah, this set rocks. But what waits in the vaults would really amaze.

Let me begin by stating that, in my opinion, "Band Of Gypsies" (BOG) was one of the greatest albums ever released. And, the recently re-engineered CD version of that album is awesome. So, after reading all the positive reviews concerning "Live at the Fillmore East", I couldn't wait to give it a listen.

Sad to say, I was disappointed. The sound quality of this double CD is so far below that of BOG, I am surprised that the producer of BOG, Eddie Kramer, who has an excellent reputation in the industry, allowed his name to be associated with it.

You would think that, at the very least, the well-mixed tunes from BOG would be copied intact. But, no, even those performances are remixed horribly on this CD. Shame on you Kramer. Even if Jimi's family needs the money, Jimi can't be happy about this one.

Still, dead-hard Hendrix fans will enjoy this one, if for no other reason than to hear the spooky way he plays "Taps" at the end of "Machine Gun", which wasn't captured on the BOG album. There are two versions of "Machine Gun" on this release, and isn't is amazing that Hendrix apparently never played the song the same way twice.

Ok, let me just say that to anyone who hasnt heard this, disregard EVERY review you see that says its uneven, or out of tune, or any other such pretensious notion.
This album along with the original Band Of Gyspies album, are some of the most amazing music you will ever hear. Jimi Hendrix with bandmates Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on Drums, take one of the greatest musical forms: Blues, and mix it with soul, funk, and even a touch of jazz (or jazz influence rather). The finished product is genious. i dont know any other way i can say it, jams on Stone Free, Machine Gun, Izabella, Voodoo Chile, and others just show a young brilliant Hendrix in good company playing the type of music you know he was feeling with all his soul.
This album is enough to make you cry, smile, laugh and drop your jaw. Pure soul, sure its a little uneven in the traditionalist sense, but the raw soul energy coming form this trio is well enough to make up for any minor, insignificant details.
Open your mind and let it in, youll hear it, i promise

-ian

I put off buying this CD because of the negative reviews I had read. What a load of rubbish.

Band of Gypsys is one of the great live recordings released in the 60's and 70's. I always loved the Gypsys rhythm section as opposed to the Experience and always wanted to hear more from this line-up. On these Fillmore concerts, Buddy Miles is right there on the beat, there's no hesitation, no pussyfooting around, he's commital and right there on the beat, rock steady - folks in the Hendrix circle used to call him "the funky cememt mixer". Anyway, I figured if Band of Gypsies was so stunning, how bad could the out-takes from these concerts be?

I'm really amazed that it took until 1999 to get this material out to the public, especially considering all the marginal material that was peddled off to the fans. This is a great, great find for Hendrix fans. If you enjoyed Band of Gypsys then you definitely want to purchase this. I really have no criticisms at all. I am "tickled" that this is so good. Sure, Machine Gun isn't quite up to the same standard as the landmark version that appeared on Band of Gypsys, but both versions are still good. Stone Free is incredible, the "New Rising Sun" material sounds great live and the band is very tight. The Gypsys are a far tighter sounding band than Experience sound on their live releases. This is not just a jam band folks. Michael Jeffries was a complete idiot for working to destroy this lineup.

Let's face it, Jimi's live releases, apart from Band of Gypsys, are very much hit or miss affairs, track back track, CD by CD. Band of Gypsys is the fantastic exception and Live at The Fillmore isn't that far off the mark. It's grrrrrrrrreat! Buy at once!