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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Experience Hendrix
Salesrank: 215053
Released: November 12, 2002 |
| Our Price: $29.19 |
| Used Price: $10.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
Full title - Blue Wild Angel/Live At The Isle Of Wight. This special limited edition double-disc marks the first complete release of Hendrix's headlining set at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970, his last major public appearance. It's a recording that reveals a guitar legend in good humor, yet restlessly exploring the broader musical directions he'd just laid down on sessions for what would become 'First Rays of the New Rising Sun' (initially released posthumously as 'Freedom'). Backed by Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell & Band of Gypsies bassist Billy Cox, Hendrix ranges from the improvisatory cacophony of 'Machine Gun' & reworkings of his standard blues workouts 'Red House' & 'Hey Joe' to renditions of 'Dolly Dagger', 'Ezy Rider', 'Freedom', & 'Hey Baby' that trade on the more rhythmic R&B & jazz influences he'd diligently worked into his music. In its original sequence available for the first
Description of Jimi Hendrix: Blue Wild Angel Live at the Isle of Wight (Digipak):
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix returned to the country where he'd skyrocketed to fame and gave his first performances in almost two years when he headlined the Isle of Wight festival. Sadly, it was also to be his last major public appearance: less than three weeks later, he would be dead. This double-disc marks the first complete release of Hendrix's set at the festival, a warts-and-all recording that reveals a guitar legend in good humor, yet restlessly exploring the broader musical directions he'd just laid down on sessions for what would become First Rays of the New Rising Sun (initially released posthumously as Freedom). Backed by Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and Band of Gypsies bassist Billy Cox, Hendrix ranges from the improvisatory cacophony of "Machine Gun" and reworkings of his standard blues workouts "Red House" and "Hey Joe" to renditions of "Dolly Dagger," "Ezy Rider," "Freedom," and "Hey Baby" that trade on the more rhythmic R&B and jazz influences he'd diligently worked into his music. At times jagged, and straining the limitations of the trio format (Hendrix had publicly mused about working with a big band shortly before his death), it's nonetheless a passionate, intriguing clue as to Hendrix's true ambitions and potential beyond his initial hype and stardom. --Jerry McCulley
Jimi Hendrix: Blue Wild Angel Live at the Isle of Wight (Digipak) Reviews:
One of His Worst Performances 
2006-06-09 - There are so many other performances out there that merit putting on to CD. Hendrix is just not with it for this show. You are better off buying Live at the Fillmore East. I guess the "Isle of Wight" name carries some weight (The Who released a great Isle of Wight performance a few years back). The only other significance is that this is Hendrix' last major public performance, so there is the curiosity factor.
goodstuff 
2005-10-13 - "i wanna tellyou, lord, i'm a lover. i said i'm a lover."-jimi hendrix
Not Jimi's best... (3.5 stars) 
2004-08-03 - While the Isle of Wight concert contains some great playing (as any Jimi Hendrix release does), it is not close to as good as some other Hendrix releases. I do not find myself listening to it very often at all, despite the fact that I am a big Hendrix fan. Certainly there are some enjoyable numbers (a rarely seen live Watchtower, newer songs like Dolly Dagger and Midnight Lightning) but overall Jimi seems somewhat sloppy and tired. I find myself wishing I only bought the single CD. I leave open the possibility that this album may grow on me, but for now I don't listen to it much.
One Of The Last Hendrix Concerts
2004-05-08 - The Isle Of Wight was one of the last Jimi Hendrix concerts before his death in Semptember 1970. Their were many other bands that night including The Who, and The Doors. Jimi Hendrix did many great things that night including his highlighted performence Machine Gun that seems to run on too long. Their are many of his known hits that were played including Purple Haze, and Foxy Lady. But their were also his latter songs that were really interesting to hear including Freedom, and Dolly Dagger. Hendrix was at the peek of his career he was on too much drugs.
Watching the Concert captures the intesity that was played that night. My favorites are LoverMan, All Along The Watchtower, and In From The Storm. Jimi Hendrix did some crazy blues solo's on songs like Red House wow. I still cant believe some of the great things hendrix was doing on the guitar during 1970. Blue Wild Angel is a great concert but not one of his best. I recomend this concert to a real Jimi Hendrix fan for the rest im leaving this one up to you enjoy!
My Favorite Hendrix Show!
2004-04-27 - Jimi Hendrix's performance at the Isle of Wight festival is definitely my favorite for many reasons. There's nothing about this performance I don't like. Hearing live versions of Ezy Ryder (Probably my favorite Hendrix track), Dolly Dagger, Freedom, In From The Storm, and Midnight Lightning are rare treats, considering they weren't performed too many times. First off, Dolly Dagger is great in studio form, and this live version makes it so much better, it's the best version any Hendrix fan will ever hear, and that's saying a lot. Freedom has such a cool riff, hearing it live only makes it better, this song should not be missed at all. Ezy Ryder is such a foot-stomping song live. And is performed at a faster pace. I can't get enough of Ezy Ryder from Isle of Wight. Midnight Lightning is such a rare spectacle to hear, it's a great blues track, and really flows from Jimi.
Machine Gun is mind-blowing. The guitar and drum solos in the jam section are excellent, this track, at first listen left me in a state of shock and awe, definitely his best version of Machine Gun ever performed. Another is Red House, this song is performed with amazing enthusiasm and ability the solos never fail to amaze me, in fact this song challenges the version on the Jimi Hendrix Experience Box Set (which is amazing as well) as the best performed. A final spectacular performance of a song by Jimi would be one of my favorite Hendrix tunes (especially live) Spanish Castle Magic. Jimi really jams on this version better than any other I have heard. His guitar sounds as if it's about to combust, and that's a great thing. One word to describe this version of Spanish Castle Magic. Electrifying.
Next are the songs performed by Hendrix performed plenty of times, and are never boring, but magnificent. Lover Man is performed with great enthusiasm and at a lightning pace which is great for this song. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) was a staple of the 1970 tour and rightfully so, the song is incredible, really makes you think in the direction where Jimi was going. It's my favorite version performed live. And the proper arrangement of Message to Love is my favorite at this show as well, it's performed with such effort and charisma it can't be passed up.
Finally, are the old Hendrix classics that we all started out on (Hey Joe, Purple Haze, All Along The Watchtower, Foxey Lady, and Voodoo Child (Slight Return). I won't go into detail, but the version of Foxey Lady is the best and my favorite, All Along The Watchtower is great as well, Purple Haze and Hey Joe are always great, and this version of Voodoo Child (Slight Return), is amazing, I love this version it gets my fists in the air and my feet stomping on the ground. Electrifying.
It all ends with In From the Storm, this is a great way to end the show with a lot of power. This is my favorite Hendrix show ever and once you listen to this, you'll see why. This should be in your Henrix collection for it's power to amaze, excite, and astonish.
