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Ghost Canyon

Title - Songs For Groovy Children: Fillmore East Concerts
Artist - Jimi Hendrix

Over the course of four extraordinary years, Jimi Hendrix placed his indelible stamp upon popular music with breathtaking velocity.

Measured alongside his triumphs at Monterey Pop and Woodstock, Hendrix’s legendary Fillmore East concerts illustrated a critical turning point in a radiant career filled with indefinite possibilities.

The revolutionary impact Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles had upon the boundaries and definitions of rock, R&B, and funk can be traced to four concerts over the course of two captivating evenings.

These performances were first celebrated by Band of Gypsys, which featured six songs from the two January 1, 1970 concerts, including 'Machine Gun,' the album’s dramatic centerpiece.

Issued in April 1970, Band of Gypsys challenged and surprised the wide following of Jimi Hendrix with its extended arrangements and vibrant mix of rock and soul.

In June of 1969, at the height of their fame, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, closed a musical chapter. Before the shockwaves could settle, Hendrix assembled a new, expanded ensemble to perform at Woodstock in August.

A new chapter was opened as Hendrix introduced Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. The large ensemble included Jimi’s longtime friend Billy Cox, on bass, whom he had befriended when both were serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky in 1962.

This Woodstock lineup was short-lived; from its ashes a new trio emerged in October that Hendrix dubbed Band of Gypsys, consisting of Hendrix, Cox and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles, who would also contribute occasional lead vocals.

Hendrix was inspired by his collaboration with Cox and Miles and this creative renewal drove the development of promising new material such as 'Power Of Soul,' 'Burning Desire' and the extraordinary 'Machine Gun.'

Their debut live performances were a series of four concerts at the Fillmore East in Manhattan – two on New Year’s Eve 1969 and two on New Year’s Day 1970, each of which were professionally recorded.

Hendrix had sold out Madison Square Garden just nine months prior, but the Fillmore East was chosen as the setting for a live recording.

Experience Hendrix L.L.C. and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, have just released the incredible Songs For Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts by Jimi Hendrix, as a 5CD Box-Set (also digitally, November 22nd, 2019), with an incredible 8-vinyl Box-Set to follow on December 13th, 2019.

This collection assembles all four historic debut concerts by the legendary guitarist in their original performance sequence. Indeed, the 5CD or 8-vinyl set boasts over two dozen tracks that have either never before been released commercially or have been newly pressed and newly remixed.

Furthermore, those who pre-order the digital version will instantly receive the previously unreleased track 'Message To Love,' from the second New Year’s Eve performance on the collection.

Disc One: 12/31/69 - 1st Set
1) 'Power Of Soul'
2) 'Lover Man'
3) 'Hear My Train A Comin’
4) 'Changes'
5) 'Izabella'
6) 'Machine Gun'
7) 'Stop'
8) 'Ezy Ryder'
9) 'Bleeding Heart'
10) 'Earth Blues'
11) 'Burning Desire'

The show opens with Hendrix unleashing his funky guitar solos on 'Power Of Soul,' before backing that up with the frenetic 'Lover Man,' the slow-poke beauty 'Hear My Train A Comin',' the set centerpiece 'Machine Gun,' and then both the foot-tappin' 'Stop' and the thunderous 'Ezy Ryder.'

Culminating the show with the slow, melancholy roll of 'Bleeding Heart,' the rhythmic passion of 'Earth Blues,' and then the longest cut on the live recording, a near-ten minute 'Burning Desire,' Hendrix and his band of merry men were most assuredly on fire that night.

Disc Two: 12/31/69 - 2nd Set
1) 'Auld Lang Syne' (%)
2) 'Who Knows' (%)
3) 'Fire'
4) 'Ezy Ryder' (*)
5) 'Machine Gun' (%)
6) 'Stone Free'
7) 'Changes' (*)
8) 'Message To Love' (*)
9) 'Stop' (*)
10) 'Foxey Lady'

* previously unreleased
% back in print on CD/LP for the first time in a decade, and newly remixed

Kicking this second live disc off is a well-appreciated 'Auld Lang Syne' (which has to be heard to be believed), with both the mid-tempo bounce of 'Who Knows' and then the blistering 'Fire' along next.

After the mid-set anchoring of 'Machine Gun' once again, the pulsating 'Stone Free' (running at nearly 18 minutes) is brought forth and is followed by the rhythmic duo 'Changes' and 'Message To Love.'

Rounding out with the measured hipsway of both 'Stop' and an absolutely searing 'Foxey Lady,' this live performance is my own personal favorite of the bunch.

Disc Three: 1/1/70 - 1st Set
1) 'Who Knows'
2) 'Machine Gun'
3) 'Changes' (+)
4) 'Power Of Soul' (%)
5) 'Stepping Stone' (%)
6) 'Foxey Lady' (+)
7) 'Stop' (%)
8) 'Earth Blues' (+)
9) 'Burning Desire' (%)

+ first time on CD/LP/streaming (previously only available as part of concert film)
% back in print on CD/LP for the first time in a decade, and newly remixed

The uber funky guitar licks and tight drum backing found on the opener 'Who Knows' leads us into yet another wondrous live show from Hendrix and his band. Now deciding to put 'Machine Gun' in second, that frees up the middle third of the live set to jam out.

Tracks such as 'Stepping Stone,' 'Foxey Lady,' 'Stop,' 'Earth Blues,' and an extended cut of 'Burning Desire' round the set out, and leave you wishing you had been at one of these simply incredible, passionate and mesmerizing live shows.

Disc Four: 1/1/70 - 2nd Set
1) 'Stone Free' (%)
2) 'Power Of Soul' (#)
3) 'Changes' (#)
4) 'Message To Love' (#)
5) 'Machine Gun' (%)
6) 'Lover Man' (*)
7) 'Steal Away' (*)
8) 'Earth Blues' (%)

* previously unreleased
# longer, unedited versions of previously released material, and newly remixed
% back in print on CD/LP for the first time in a decade, and newly remixed

Opening with the pulsating 'Stone Free,' the live show moves quickly, burning through 'Power Of Soul,' 'Changes,' Message To Love,' and after the usual mid-set 'Machine Gun,' the short but sweet 'Lover Man.'

Wrapping the live concert with the under valued slow roll viscosity of 'Steal Away' and the blues funk of 'Earth Blues,' the 2nd Set of the night continues on the last disc included in the Box-Set.

Disc Five: 1/1/70 - 2nd Set
1)'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' (%)
2) 'We Gotta Live Together' (#)
3) 'Wild Thing' (%)
4) 'Hey Joe' (*)
5) 'Purple Haze' (*)

* previously unreleased
# longer, unedited versions of previously released material, and newly remixed
% back in print on CD/LP for the first time in a decade, and newly remixed

Well, if ever there was a dream team of Hendrix hits to hear live, this final CD of the 2nd Set is most definitely it!

Everything spectacular about the man and his band is on display here and none of them need any introduction. Running at 25 minutes, it is such an amazing 2nd Set that I have since played it three times now back to back!

The lavish package is filled with unseen photos from talent such as Fillmore East house photographer Amalie Rothschild, Jan Blom (whose iconic, color saturated images provided the original artwork for 1970’s Band of Gypsys) as well as Marshall Amplifier representative Marc Franklin, who had full access to the group in their dressing room backstage.

The booklet features remembrances from bassist Billy Cox and liner notes by author/journalist/filmmaker Nelson George.

Songs For Groovy Children was produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott - the trio that has overseen every project for Experience Hendrix since 1995.

The box set was mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Bernie Grundman.

Official Purchase Links

www.JimiHendrix.com

www.ExperienceHendrixTour.com

www.LegacyRecordings.com





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