Jimi Hendrix/CA,USA 5.30.1970 First Show

In his later years, Jimi Hendrix produced many great performances under the name of the Cry of Love Tour. Not only that, but it is also a big feature of Jimi’s late live performances that the sound source is very good. As if to prove that, last year they released the best audio album “NEW YORK POP FESTIVAL 1970 COMPLETE AUDIENCE RECORDING”. There are also other sound sources, some of which have even been officially released. In other words, there are many stages that were officially recorded using a multi-track recorder. The Berkeley performance held on May 30th was one such day, and both stages were recorded as multi-tracks with the premise of release. Regarding the second show, the official “LIVE AT BERKELEY” was released over 15 years ago, but the first show has been sold separately for a long time. This episode is very famous because “Johnny B. Goode” was played. The song became widely known when it was included in the famous live compilation album “IN THE WEST”, but the movie “JIMI PLAYS BERKELEY” that was released after that was also a mixture of two shows. In the end, the release of the entire first show has not yet been realized. However, for enthusiasts and collectors, the first show has become a star sound source, and “THE BERKELEY CONCERTS” has revealed the whole story of the first show for the first time. On top of that, I think the leaked multi-track sound source also had a big impact. “PROTEST SONGS FROM BERKELEY!”, which was released after that, was also called a new definitive edition. Of course, they were antiques, and by now they each had their own problems. First of all, both were based on out-of-gen cassette copies, and of course there was a problem with the pitch, and the label-specific equalization was applied. What’s more, the official release of the second show was realized shortly after its release, and it is also true that the value has now been halved. Because of this, Berkeley’s leaked multi-sound source itself was not talked about among enthusiasts, and the masterpiece that was once a classic among the classics was overlooked. In the 2010s, this situation suddenly disappeared. In the first place, it was the sound source owned by one core trader that led to the spread of the original version. A sound source left behind by a person named Bob Terry. In other words, the low generation version that he owned, which was the source of the previously mentioned item, quickly became popular. It was a similar situation to the discovery of Mike Millard’s master earlier this year. Included in that was this Berkeley first show. As expected, it is a low generation version of Oomoto, so the sound quality is the best. It was restored by ATM, Jimi’s ironclad trader network. It was originally a rough mix of the sound source recorded on multi-track, but since it is a low generation version, the sound quality is finally at the official level. This is what a multi-track sound source is all about. That’s not the case, even though it was Jimi’s first stage of the day, he fired up his engine from the opening song “Fire”. Not only does he play the guitar, but he also sings well. That led to the hyper performance of “Johnny B. Goode.” In the movie I mentioned earlier, Jimi was captured playing this song with intense action, but these early two songs alone make you realize that he was in top form. Among the new songs that inspired Jimi at the time, “Ezy Rider” was a masterpiece. When Jimi plays the song out of tune, Billy Cox ends up matching it, resulting in a thrilling change of key midway through the performance. From there, when the song returns with Mitch Mitchell’s drum solo in between, it returns to its original key, but this time the guitar goes out of tune. It was typical of Jimi that he ran through these troubles without worrying about them. When it comes to the finale “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, the tuning error is even more difficult for Jimi, and these happenings are probably the reason why the official complete version is not released. However, it’s amazing how they manage to overcome these troubles. Anyway, it’s a sound source that I can’t complain about, so I’ve only made minor adjustments to this release. The masterpiece “Johnny B. Goode” that represents this episode is currently being officially released on CD versions such as “IN THE WEST” and “JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE” boxes. Whereas those were mixes in which Jimi and the trio’s performances were carefully distributed, here there is no such extreme sense of separation. Rather, I prefer the natural stereo feel of a rough mix. And unlike those that have been remastered or remixed using digital technology, the sound quality is much more natural and warm. Among them, the rich presence of Billy’s bass is a listening experience that cannot be compared to the current fragmented mix of official releases. Rather, the charm of the raw, analog-like sound is on full display. Still, the performance and sound quality are definitely top notch. This is the ultimate multi-track soundboard album that not only Jimi Hendrix maniacs but all rock fans would like to recommend with pride! Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA, USA 30th May 1970 First Show STEREO SBD Disc 1 (43:26) 1 Intro 2 Fire 3 Johnny B. Goode 4 Hear My Train A Comin’ 5 Foxy Lady 6 Machine Gun Disc 2 (48: 27) 1 Freedom 2 Red House 3 Message to Love 4 Ezy Ryder 5 Star Spangled Banner 6 Purple Haze 7 Voodoo Child (slight return) Jimi Hendrix – vocals, guitar Billy Cox – bass, vocals Mitch Mitchell – drums STEREO MULTITRACK SOUNDBOARD RECORDING