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The first CD has the more polished recordings and is a great example of Jimi's singularly pure, unworldly music. With such superb takes of the gamut of his repertoire, it's like having Electric-Ladyland-quality on every song. The second CD has a lot of sloppy takes and frankly bad lyrics, singing and playing (no wonder they weren't released!) As a musician, though, I found it inspiring to hear that it didn't always work perfectly, to hear him and the others working it out. There are more of the BBC voice-overs on the second CD to make up for the bad takes though. It's a great slice of history, and it's remarkable they were willing to release it. I recommend this to anyone who loves that time in music, who loves Hendrix, who plays in any kind of band, or who just loves the guitar.


Get this instead of 'Radio One'   August 23, 2005
 18 out of 18 found this review helpful

'BBC Sessions' is an expanded 2-disc version of an out-of-print Rykodisc CD called 'Radio One.' If you've already got 'Radio One,' you've already got most of the good stuff here and will probably want to pass on this. If you haven't, you're in for a treat, although you might end up wishing for a slightly shorter-running time if you aren't an absolute Hendrix fanatic.

In virtually every way, this is an improvement over the Rykodisc version. There's a better cover photo, for starters (the Ryko featured a hideous hand-tinted Jimi photo). There are better liner notes - Ryko should be downright ashamed of themselves for implying that John Lennon sang backup on Jimi's version of 'Day Tripper.' (The rumor, as anyone with ears will tell you, simply isn't true). There's also a more careful sequencing of songs, and some of the patter between the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the program hosts have been restored.

As I have several other live Hendrix CDs, my favorite parts of the BBC Sessions are the songs that Jimi simply didn't perform elsewhere. "Killing Floor," "Driving South," "Catfish Blues," and "Hoochie Koochie Man" all give Jimi lots of space to play around with the blues, which was something his first two studio LPs didn't allow him to do. We also get two off-the-cuff rock covers, one of "Day Tripper" and one of "Hound Dog." Yes, Hendrix' solo in "Day Tripper" isn't one of his best, but at least it shows that he wasn't going to copy George Harrison note-for-note either. There's also the fun "Radio One" jingle goof, and I'll note that other rock bands such as the Beatles and the Who also did their own jingle spoofs when they appeared on the Beeb. There's also the only known live version of "Burning the Midnight Lamp" and an early version of "Hear My Train A'Comin" which would eventually evolve into a real showstopping blues tune during the Woodstock era. For what it's worth, I always thought that "Hear My Train A'Comin"'s evolution was far more interesting than "Voodoo Child"'s, even though the latter is one of Hendrix' best loved songs.

The sound quality of these discs, as with almost all BBC recordings, is almost unnaturally crisp and clean. Most likely this is due to the BBC engineers insisting that the volume levels in the studio be kept to a certain level. (It seems of all the classic rockers, only Jimmy Page was able to break these rules with Led Zeppelin). While this isn't typical of Jimi Hendrix' signature sound, the crisp clear and relatively undistorted Strat playing proves that Hendrix never used distortion effects like a crutch. Hendrix could really play, and I enjoyed being able to hear his songs in non-distorted versions.

Despite my generally positive review, I would also suggest that you start your Hendrix collection with his three studio albums (Are You Experienced, Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland) and then start exploring his live output. "BBC Sessions" is a fine place to begin your journey into the world of live Hendrix.


An Absolute Hendrix Gem-- Thanks BBC!   April 28, 2000
 15 out of 17 found this review helpful

If you're a Hendrix fan, you NEED this two-CD set! What could be better than the JHE in its prime, recorded meticulously in a "live-studio" format, in Swinging London, where it all "began" for him? These BBC recordings are remarkably crisp, and you'll hear a happy Hendrix absolutely soaring in his "first blush" of fame. This is possibly the most consistently excellent "live" stuff you'll hear. Be warned, these BBC mono recordings sound quite different from the usual classic live stuff-- Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock; "Machine Gun" at the Fillmore East; "Johnny B. Goode" at Winterland; "Like A Roling Stone" at Monterey; and "Little Wing" at the Royal Albert Hall. But in this BBC set, Hendrix' performances are consistent, conscientious, and his virtuosity is absolutely unquestioned. He mostly stays within the lines-- which can be a good thing, because I for one enjoy the exquisite tension borne when his infinity of ideas are balanced and honed within a psychedelic "pop" sensibility. And interestingly, I enjoy the tight, trebly mono sound because it provides another angle from which to enjoy Jimi's playing. There's also an intimate, conversational, "in the studio with Jimi" feel; his playing is red hot, and it cuts through like a thin laser here. I particularly love "Love or Confusion," "Wait Until Tomorrow," "Burning of the Midnight Lamp," "Hound Dog," and of course "Day Tripper" (in this CD version, unlike the earlier "Radio One" release, you can hear Hendrix doodling with Harrison's "I Want To Tell You" guitar intro before lurching into the famous "Day Tripper" riff). For those of you intensely involved with Hendrix' music, you'll dig the exquisite rhythm guitar he lays out throughout these cuts. For me, his soloing is almost of secondary interest compared to his unparalleled rhythmic ability. Let's face it-- with Hendrix, rhythm and lead often become meaningless categories, so integrated and complete is his playing. Hendrix is indeed the supreme rock instrumentalist of all time.


God its difficult to like real music...   June 7, 2001
 7 out of 10 found this review helpful

I'm sick of being jerked around because of my affection for classic rock. Most wouldn't care, but when people relaize I'm fourteen and my three favourite bands are Pink Floyd Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, they act like I'm an invalid. I'm not a reject, people, I just understand music.

When you play the guitar four two years as I now have been, you pick up some of the instrument's heritage. While some are content to detune their guitar to Drop Z and pick away one string patterns, I decided to delve deeper into the realm of the electric guitar.

When someone associates a name with the guitar, more often than not it's one of two people: Jimmy Page or Jimi Hendrix. Since this is a review for BBC Sessions, I'll stick to him.

Jimi Hendrix remains the most influential electric guitarist of the twentieth century. If you listen to any rock piece, you will undoubtedly hear the strains of the many innovations of Jimi Hendrix. From the wah to the Octaver, Jimi was a master of innovation, and with BBC Sessions, this fact is just exemplified further. Being too young to have ever heard the original Jimi Hendrix Radio One disc, this review is more from the eyes of a person who knew not what had happened during this time.

Although the last official Hendrix album I bought, it is undoubtedly one of the two best post-humous releases from Experience Hendrix/MCA (The other being First Rays Of The New Rising Sun).

Although many do have Radio One, or various bootlegs, that doesn't mean you still shouldn't purchase this album. The sound quality is much improved, and each piece has been remastered excellently by (who else?) Eddie Kramer. The first disc starts off in a blues rock vein, and pretty much stays that way to the final track of the first disc. Foxey Lady is better than the AYE? version, and many of the blues numbers are unique to this set (I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Hound Dog, Driving South). It rocks the entire way through, only stopping for various introductions and a short interview section (Goooood Eeeeeeevening). The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp is another unique song. It was never again (to my knowledge) to be played live anywhere. Disc two has a softer feel most of the way through, and it has more of a "fun" atmosphere to it than the first disc. I was Made To Love Her, Jammin' and Radio One are all examples of the upbeat mood found throughout this recording. Radio One is yet another unique song, as this is the only place to get it. It is in fact a quick song in the form of a station identification that is pretty funny (Radio One/You stole my gal/But I love you just the same). The CD remains at peak intensity throughout, and after continued listening remains an incredibly enjoyable experience.

There are generally two types of Jimi fans. There are those who prefer the three studio recordings, citing them as the peak of perfection, and believing that the live recordings are far to messy and unorthodox. And then there are those who prefer the live Jimi, saying they appreciate the unorthodoxy and inventiveness, and who see the studio recordings as just too polished. This set will please either camp. Although they are technically studio recordings, there were never more than two overdubs. The feeling of unorthodoxy is there, but it is found in the face of music just as beautiful as that on any of the studio recordings.

So you want my opinion? It's a must have for any Jimi fan. Fans new to Hendrix might want something a bit more reliable like Electric Ladyland, but never the less, I still see this collection as pure genius, that anyone with half a brain can appreciate. Kudos to Experience Hendrix for giving something to us Jimi-nuts while we wait for something big to drop.

Peace, love and happiness...


THIS IS NOT THE RYODISC RADIO ONE LIVE SESSIONS   June 23, 2006
 6 out of 11 found this review helpful

these are pre-canned radio shows with the ever unbearable alexis korner talking on top of the songs as wow cool groovy DJ "intro". the old Radio One was a real live in studio show that was GREAT. THese are mostly studio released cuts from the first and second album mixed with DJ chatter and one HEndrix interview with a phoney, well let's hear that song now shall we intro to the recorded album version! As one who has been seriously burned by repackaged Hendrix stuff in the past, and as a loong time fan (I remember when he lived and died) it takes alot for me NOT to recommend all things Hendrix, but I cannot recommend this. Find the actual LIVE RAdio One recording, not these packaged cut and pasted radio shows