Willard's Wormholes

Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle Of Wight (1970/2002)
The Rainbow Bridge Concert (1970/2002)
The Final Months

Double discs of two well-known Hendrix performances, though… the discs themselves aren’t quite as celebrated. The Isle Of Wight concert, one of Hendrix’s last performances was recorded three weeks before his death. Despite the experiments in band personnel during the last year of his life, Hendrix returned to an “Experience” trio format for his last UK gig, with Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox in tow. Great sound. Check out the 22 minute “Machine Gun,” complete with the walkie-talkie interference coming from stage security that adds a new dimension to Hendrix’s famed anti-violence anthem. The Rainbow Bridge concert was recorded a month prior, with the same line-up. This, however, is a bootleg. One that fooled me when I bought it in the stores in 2002 because of the excellent artwork and packaging (and because I was temporarily confused by the recent glut of official Hendrix product that was hitting the shelves at the time). The sound quality ranges from OK to not-OK, sometimes thin and lacking dynamics, other times muddled and just lacking in general. The Late Show (previously unreleased in any form) fares better than the Early Show, but experienced listeners know that any live Hendrix is a quality crapshoot, both sound-wise and performance-wise. You can find Rainbow and Blue Wild Angel at Amazon. This post is also a good excuse to draw attention to our Hendrix archive, now back up and available; First Rays Of The New Rising Sun, Jimi By Himself: The Home Recordings, Jimi Plays Monterey, South Saturn Delta, The Complete Are You Experienced, The L.A. Forum Concert, The Voodoo Chile Sessions, The Winterland Reels, The Last Interview & Winterland.

Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle Of Wight
1
God Save The Queen (3:55)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (0:49)
Spanish Castle Magic (5:10)
All Along The Watchtower (5:40)
Machine Gun (22:14)
Lover Man (2:59)
Freedom (4:37)
Red House (11:38)
Dolly Dagger (6:02)
Midnight Lightning (6:24)
2
Foxy Lady (9:13)
Message To Love (6:24)
Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) (6:59)
Ezy Ryder (4:35)
Hey Joe (4:33)
Purple Haze (3:32)
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (8:18)
In From The Storm (6:15)

The Rainbow Bridge Concert – Early Show
Lover Man (2:33)
Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) (4:36)
In From The Storm (5:00)
Message To Love (4:52)
Foxy Lady (4:45)
Hear My Train A Comin’ (9:08)
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (7:17)
Fire (3:44)
Purple Haze (4:35)
The Rainbow Bridge Concert – Late Show
Dolly Dagger (5:09)
Instrumental (5:28)
Ezy Rider (4:54)
Red House (6:47)
Freedom (4:21)
Jam Back At The House (7:00)
Land Of The New Rising Sun (4:47)