DVD review: JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE Electric Church/Atlanta Pop Festival

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Church - Atlanta Pop Festival

Experience Hendrix/Sony [Release date 30.10.15] Also available as a 2-CD, Bluray

Just eight weeks before his last major appearance  in the UK, Jimi Hendrix played the second Atlanta Pop Festival and the DVD version is now expanded to include material not seen in the original TV broadcast.

The actual performance is generally considered one of the guitarist’s best live outings, and the more familiar songs were spiced with some yet to be released material in the shape of ‘Freedom’ and ‘Straight Ahead’.  The only omission from the actual running order is ‘Hey Baby’ when Jimi’s guitar was out of tune due to the sweltering 104 degree Georgian heat.  The DVD also omits ‘Lover Man’, ‘Hear My Train A Comin’ and ‘Message To Love’ which are included on the 2-CD set.

Buyers should be aware that 11 of the Atlanta tracks appeared on the ‘Stages’ boxed set in 1991 although sound quality is improved.  But you can’t help feeling cynical about this constant recycling of material.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Atlanta Pop Festival

As you’d expect audio (and visual quality for 1970) is excellent and there is a 5.1 surround mix by Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer.  Perhaps because it’s a review copy my version lacked any sort of inlay with descriptive essay.

The film is expanded with a documentary about Hendrix’s role in the event against a backdrop of civil rights unrest, Vietnam refuseniks, and the emancipation of young people with a hippie culture that had been encapsulated at Woodstock less than a year earlier.

When Hendrix plays the searing ‘Star Spangled Banner’ there is a sense of déjà vu and also a definite air of fin de siècle that was perhaps more firmly underlined at the Isle Of Wight.  As a window to social history, the documentary also highlights that in parts of the American south, mixed race performers did not share the same stage.  In addition, there was the threat of southern rednecks preying on the “long hairs”.

As a package, the CD and DVD provide the definitive Atlanta account and although the  footage is taken from film stock  exhumed more recently “in a barn”,  you have to ask why it has taken so long to put it all together (excerpts have been available for years on VHS, whilst the audio has been well bootlegged) and why we have to keep re-buying Hendrix’s heritage?  Those enthusiasts who bought ‘Stages’ will want to claim their “missing” five tracks, clenching their teeth in the process.  ****

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Win the CD/DVD and Lyric Book!



Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio


David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply