Product Description

Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 10/03/2006

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26970 in DVD
• Brand: MCA
• Released on: 2003-09-16
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Live, Original recording remastered, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 116 minutes

Amazon.com
There is no denying it: Jimi Plays Berkeley ain't The Last Waltz. Visually, Peter Pilafian's direction and camerawork look like a student film compared to Scorsese's rock masterpiece. Instead of thanking fans and formally saying farewell to the road, Hendrix's manager Michael Jeffery created an exploitation film to simply squeeze as much cash he could out of the overworked guitarist. Despite the cheesy documentary footage, clips of silly protesters, butchered songs ("Hear My Train A Comin'" is literally chopped in half!), and the continuously shaky head shots, Jimi Plays Berkeley is great. Why? Because of Hendrix's flawless performance with Mitch Mitchell on drums and Billy Cox on bass. The band never sounded better live, and Eddie Kramer's 5.1 surround remix on the DVD really lifts the sound to a new level. In addition, the DVD includes the entire audio recording of Jimi Plays Berkeley: 2nd Set, arguably Hendrix's best live performance ever recorded. It's just perfect. --Rob Bracco

Customer Reviews

Hodge-podge editing and no new surprises here
Clocking in at a woeful 56 minutes, this DVD represents only a fraction of the two concerts JImi performed on May 30, 1970. The packaging itself comes with a nice booklet that explains the background on how the concert was filmed, and the events that unfolded with it after JImi's unfortunate demise. The only 'real' bonus footage is a complete 5.1 surround sound audio for Jimi's second concert (which is essentially a different mix to the newly released Jimi Plays Berkeley CD, also available.)

In all fairness, the sound for the video has been substantially overhauled. But, the haphazard edits and shaky camera movements that plagued the original documentary (rockumentary?) still exist. One would have figured that today's technology could have at least fixed the 'shaky camera' problems, but I digress.
Pciture quality is clean - though one can clearly see the limitations of the original equipment used to record the show. Given that it's one of only a handful of live Hendrix videos available, one can't be too picky I suppose. Highlights include Jimi's screaming rendition of "Johnny B. Goode", "Star Spangled Banner/ Purple Haze", and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", only because these songs are more or less complete. The other songs on the DVD are all significantly edited down from their original length.

One interesting tidbit gleaned from the accompanying booklet is that Experience Hendrix was not able to include any outtakes because they haven't been turned over 'by the previous administration' that controlled the guitarist's legacy. Which probably means that Alan Douglas or Michael Jeffery's estate is probably sitting on the rest of the film.

Jimi's performance itself warrants 5 stars, but given the sheer lack of extra material, my rating stays firm at 3 stars for this release. Mildly recommended.

It is what it is and you should consider yourself lucky we have this much
I agree that Jefferies is a total schmuck and this was basically an 'exploitation flick' at the time of its original release. But at this point, it is all we have of this performance and therefore it is a interesting historical document that has been *lovingly restored* by the Experience Hendrix project and should be treasured as such. To the reviews here at Amazon such as the one by C.METHOT I can only say this: READ THE DARN BOOKLET before you post your ill-begotten reviews. OF COURSE we would all rather be watching Hendrix play than watch a bunch of students boycott the release of the 'Woodstock' film; as the text in the booklet very plainly states, this stuff was largely inserted to cover for MISSING concert footage due to Jefferies' complete mishandling of the whole affair. You folks who are asking for the 'missing' footage to be 'inserted' in some kind of expanded release: THERE IS NONE. I'm sure if it existed, it would be here. That is probably a big reason why this is offered as a 'budget' release, cheaper than an audio CD.

People need to get a clue, realize how much work goes into audio and film production, let alone restoration, and that they get what they pay for. This is a fine addition to any Hendrix collection. Quit your whining. And I happen to think the scenes of the riots at Berkeley over the soundtrack of 'Machine Gun' actually works pretty well. So there!

FINALLY JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY ON DVD
This DVD is a favorite not just to me but alot of people out there Hendrix fans mostly. I ordered this DVD from amazon and recieved it a few days latter. I loved the DVD I mean of course it was just like the orginal JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY but the sound quality was unbelieveable. JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY was never released on DVD until now the music is so vibrant this is a must have for you Hendrix fans (including me). The bonus features are all audio but the thing that brings this DVD to 5 stars is not just the music but The booklet which gives you an inside on the filmmakers and the story behind JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY +plus very rare photos in the booklet hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!