The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hollywood Bowl (August 18, 1967) (2023)

[Classic Rock]

There is always a point with archival releases from an artist long gone that it moves from being a moving experience to the release of a commercial product driven by profit. Although many of the recent releases by the Experience Hendrix company have contained some questionable content, this album leaves the listener wondering why from the moment the music begins. The problem here is not the performance, but the sound quality. It is from a radio broadcast, and the instruments were not captured correctly, leaving everything distorted and dull - including Jimi's vocals. That is not to say it is a bad concert - on the contrary, it is a great energetic show - and there are actually precious few complete performances from 1967 available. It should also be noted this is recording even unknown to underground collectors, so it is unearthed treasure. Opening with a shambolic performance of The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' the band then moves into a great version of Howlin' Wolf's 'Killing Floor'. 'The Wind Cries Mary' is next, but mic dropouts leave some unfortunate vocal holes. Other highlights include Robert Petway's 'Catfish Blues' played loud, and a feedback driven version of The Troggs 'Wild Thing' closing the show. A couple of decades ago the Hendrix estate created the Dagger Records label for 'official bootlegs' and had this been on that label, it would have been a perfect addiction. Unfortunately they are now in business with Sony, who demand a new general public release every year. Who knows what may come next?