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I stll want more...   January 30, 2005
Rick Bulwicz (Central Jersey)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

The music on these 2 CDs is incredible, especially considering the BOGs didn't have much time to write and/or rehearse new and old material. Being that the music is so great, the CD layout itself is a dissapointment.
The 4 shows at the Fillmore were all recorded in their entirety, and should have been released that way. The chopped-up order and deleted songs are an insult to the band and listeners. Bootleggers have done a better job on this material.
This CD is the left-overs from the shows that were recorded to get out of a contract Jimi signed with Capitol before the Experience. Wanting to legally fulfill his obligation, he recorded his 4 shows at the Fillmore in NYC and picked a few songs to make up the Band of Gypsies album.
With that said, it's still worth buying. The alternate versions of "Machine Gun" alone are worth the price. When Jimi kicked the Fuzz Face and Uni-Vibe on, his guitar took off even farther than before.
I think a special mention should go to Jimi as a person. There he was, a super-star with unparalleled abilites, and he still shared the mike and songwriting with Buddy Miles. Very honorable.
Jimi's playing on all 4 sets was excellent, and the technical difficulties that usually plagued him were kept at bay. Buddy Miles' drum kit was solid, and his presence lended a smooth vibe to Jimi's music. Although I've seen criticism on Billy Cox's bass playing, I feel it was perfect for Jimi. With Jimi's playing style of doing both lead and rhythem work, Billy was an excellent anchor for the music. You can't have everyone flying all over the fretboards and come out with anything that sounds like solid music.
Buy this along with the Band of Gypsies album and you'll have a nice archive of a short-lived but important piece of Hendrix (and musical) history.


If only the estate were as good as Jimi!   January 1, 2002
Eric E. Weinraub (Issaquah, Washington United States)
21 out of 27 found this review helpful

After a friend demanded that I buy only one Hendrix album (this was a while ago before cds), Are You Experienced, another friend told me that Band of Gypsies was Hendrix at his peak live. I bought the record and was convinced. Years later, I tracked down the cd, which was an import, that has 3 songs that never appeared on any domestic vinyl or cd release of the single disc edition. To this day, one of those 3 bonus tracks has ever been offically released in the US. As a owner of all 4 shows from the Filmore EAst, I can tell you that it's a shame and a crime to watch material trickle out and premium dollar. Yeah, this set rocks. But what waits in the vaults would really amaze.


Varying performances and quality, but good overall!   December 12, 2006
Herr Tarquin Biskuitfass (Luton)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

"Live at the Fillmore East" was one of those long-awaited purchases for me. After having heard "Band of Gypsys" almost 20 years ago on cassette and again on CD, I was excited to hear about the release of more footage from one of my favorite concerts ever.

When I finally did get it, I felt disappointed at first. Edits sounded clumsy, the microphones are way off on some tracks (because of technical problems, I learned later), and the performances are variable or take some getting used to, at least.

Highlights: my favorite is the jam on "Auld Lang Syne", even though the sound quality is bad and takes some getting used to, Jimi and company bring the 1970's to New York in style. "Hear My Train A Comin'" is the most intense version I've heard yet of Hendrix's deeply personal song, and "Izabella" has more life than his version from Woodstock. "Who Knows" takes some getting used to if you've heard the excellent version on the "Band of Gypsys" CD, because it departs quickly into a jam session, with Jimi even apologizing to the crowd. But on its own, no apologies are necessary, and you call tell that the band is tight and having fun. "Stepping Stone" also translates well with vibrant intensity on stage.

Indifferent: Two versions of "Machine Gun" are interesting to hear, and good performances, but nowhere near the version on Band of Gypsys. (Then again, how can you come close to that definitive version?) "Earth Blues", "Stop", "Voodoo Child" and "Changes". The last one ("Changes") starts and sounds almost identically to the "Band of Gypsys" CD version until it reaches a part where Buddy Miles improvises vocals. I prefer the other version with fewer vocals.

Not so good: Sound quality and the remaining tracks. Even the weakest songs aren't that bad though.

Overall, I have to say that I prefer the Band of Gypsys ensemble over The Experience. Nothing against Noel Redding or Mitch Mitchell, but Billy Cox and Buddy Miles provided a more cohesive sound and I always got the impression that Hendrix-Miles-Cox love the blues, which is a must if you were to play with Hendrix. In addition, with the Band of Gypsys group, the music is more 'simple' (if you want to call it that), but it is the music, rather than showmanship, that take center stage. I think that Buddy Miles made an excellent foil to Hendrix, with the additional talent of having lead and backup vocals that worked well with the music, allowing Hendrix to focus more on his guitar.

I'd recommend this to fans of later Hendrix, but I'd recommend people to get the "Band of Gypsys" CD first, since it contains the definitive performances and is also less expensive, being one disc versus two. Only then should you venture into "Live at the Fillmore East", and with the strong caveat that the sound travels into uneven territory that is unexpected from a digitally remastered release.


Uneven But Tasty Leftovers!   July 10, 2005
M. McKay (Downey, CA United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

No..."Band of Gyspys" is a better album between the two but like Amazon's review says, this album does offer some cool revelations and is worthwhile for a Hendrix completist. I haven't read one review mentioning how awesome the featured version of "Stepping Stone" is here. What were Jimi, Billy, and Buddy trying to do, invent punk rock before there was such a thing? I mean how many Jimi Hendrix songs (live or studio) would be at home in a mosh pit? Jimi was the greatest and his talent for reinventing his material live on stage was limitless.