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The Elusive Jimi Hendrix film?

brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,068
edited November 2013 in Other Music
On November 5th PBS/American Master is releasing a film: "Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin'". After seeking out and watching pretty much every film of or about Jimi Hendrix, I'm crossing my finger that this will be the one. I can't help but ask: Is this it? I'm kind of keeping my hopes tempered. I suspect part of what any new film is up against for me is my having lived in and through that era, and seen Hendrix twice. There are some decent Hendrix videos out there (one of my favorites is an obscure and somewhat tired copy of a VHS tape I bought from a video store about 16 years ago for a few bucks) but so far every one has left me feeling a bit disappointed in some significant way due to either the sound, visual, editing, song order or other formatting, or reproduction quality, etc.

Maybe the ultimate Hendrix film really is elusive. I hope not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Coming soon:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters ... omin/2660/
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













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Comments

  • foodboyfoodboy Posts: 988
    true most films they made were not good in my opinion. they didn't shoot enough of him actually playing for long periods. lots of shots of face expression. stupid in and a shame in my opinion. whoever filmed these things really missed it. his playing was the key. his hands on the guitar were the key. not enough of this.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,068
    foodboy wrote:
    true most films they made were not good in my opinion. they didn't shoot enough of him actually playing for long periods. lots of shots of face expression. stupid in and a shame in my opinion. whoever filmed these things really missed it. his playing was the key. his hands on the guitar were the key. not enough of this.

    Some of the best footage is from the movie "Rainbow Bridge". The film itself is an embarrassing mess but the live performances contain some excellent playing and great shots of Jimi's magical hands at work. "Machine Gun" from Filmore East is stunning as is the Woodstock version of "Star Spangled Banner". There's enough footage out there that, using today's technology, could be cleaned up (the way, for example, "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones" film was) to make exciting viewing. I'll post a mini review here when I see it in November and maybe some others will do the same here.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Posts: 12,223
    It's been claimed by people close to Experience Hendrix that Gold and Goldstein shot a few complete shows during the European tour of January-February 1969, including at least both Royal Albert Hall performances. Horrendously bad bootleg copies of the second show have been knocking around for years, but Noel Redding claimed to have seen a pristine edit at a private viewing. Whether we'll ever get to see them is another matter.
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Posts: 12,223
    More info:

    http://crosstowntorrents.org/showthread ... AH-Lawsuit
  • Leezestarr313Leezestarr313 Posts: 14,352
    Sounds good! I'm bookmarking this. Hopefully someone bumps the thread before the airing date :D Thanks for the heads up, brianlux :thumbup:
    Please, Pearl Jam, consider a Benaroya Hall vinyl reissue!
    http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/148993/please-pearl-jam-consider-a-vinyl-benaroya-hall-re-issue


  • Bronx BombersBronx Bombers Posts: 2,208
    When is the biopic coming out can't find a trailer or anything even though it premiered at the Toronto film festival a few weeks ago. Too bad his family wouldn't give permission to allow his music in the film oh well maybe they will do a proper one down the road.
  • Bathgate66Bathgate66 Posts: 15,813
    http://www.inthestudio.net/redbeards-bl ... rsarypt-1/



    Jimi Hendrix Experience-Electric Ladyland 45th Anniversary,pt 1
    Share/Bookmark
    JIMIHENDRIX-5073462504_9a5c6fe308_

    It does not take too much contemplation to figure out why Electric Ladyland, the third and, as it turned out, last Jimi Hendrix Experience album, is my favorite of the three. “A fever dream of underwater electric soul…” is how Rolling Stone editors describe the double album when ranking Electric Ladyland at #55 on their Top 500 Albums of All Time. Hendrix’s return to the homeland security of New York City after living and recording Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold As Love in London is reflected in his embracing so many Afro-American musical touchstones on Electric Ladyland, including falsetto background vocals of “Crosstown Traffic”, the rave up rhythm and blues of Earl King‘s “Come On pt 1″, the jazz of “Rainy Day Dream Away/ Still Raining, Still Dreaming” with Buddy Miles laying down an Elvin Jones-like groove, and the steamy hot midnight blues of “Voodoo Chile” featuring the thunderous bass of Jefferson Airplane‘s Jack Casady, the soulful Hammond organ of Traffic’s Steve Winwood, and the wettest, widest lead guitar ever captured on tape courtesy of James Marshall Hendrix. Biographer and reissue producer John McDermott is featured along with one of the last interviews with dear sweet Experience drummer John “Mitch” Mitchell in the first of of our two-part In the Studio special on Electric Ladyland‘s 45th anniversary. -Redbeard
    For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
    That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
    platessmall.jpg
    ORGAN DONATION SAVES LIVES
    http://www.UNOS.org
    Donate Organs and Save a Life
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,068
    Some cool stuff here-

    Thanks FinsburyParkCarrots for the Crosstown Torrents link. Might have to carve out a little time to post there.

    Thanks Bathgate66 for the Electric Ladyland link. I'll listen to the whole program later today.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,068
    "Hear My Train A Comin'" PBS 9 PM

    Anybody watching this tonight? I'm waiting for the DVD so I can tune in through my stereo, no interruptions, and ahh, you know, get in the right mood! ;)
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Bathgate66Bathgate66 Posts: 15,813
    brianlux wrote:
    "Hear My Train A Comin'" PBS 9 PM

    Anybody watching this tonight? I'm waiting for the DVD so I can tune in through my stereo, no interruptions, and ahh, you know, get in the right mood! ;)

    I DVR'd this tonight , will watch when i have the time . Looks great !
    For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
    That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
    platessmall.jpg
    ORGAN DONATION SAVES LIVES
    http://www.UNOS.org
    Donate Organs and Save a Life
  • Leezestarr313Leezestarr313 Posts: 14,352
    We watched it (thanks again brianlux for the heads up :thumbup: ) I thought it was well done :) But i have no comparison to other Hendrix docus.
    Please, Pearl Jam, consider a Benaroya Hall vinyl reissue!
    http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/148993/please-pearl-jam-consider-a-vinyl-benaroya-hall-re-issue


  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    Just finished watching it. It was about like every other PBS American Masters. Good not groundbreaking.
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,068
    dankind wrote:
    Just finished watching it. It was about like every other PBS American Masters. Good not groundbreaking.

    And no doubt sort of like when you've seen a band and then watch a film of the band- at best good but not ground breaking. I'm just keeping my finger crossed that at least there's something I haven't seen on film or perhaps better images/sound of video I have seen. Opted to hold out for when the disc arrives.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,068
    Finally got to see the American Master Hendrix film. I thought it was very good- well sequenced, some nice footage and interviews I hadn't seen before. For me it's one of best I've Hendrix documentaries I've seen definitely there is definitely some room for improvement. One big glaring omission for me is that there are no interviews, no mention, not even an image of any sort of Jimi's brother, Leon Hendrix, who was very important in Jimi Hendrix' life. Knowing a bit of the history behind it, this omission is not surprising but it is inexcusable. It's a damn shame that Leon has been cut out of the Hendrix family. He has far more legitimacy in terms of being a part of Jimi Hendrix' life than Janie Hendrix does. Jimi would no doubt be very pissed and hurt by this. Shameful.

    For me Leon's book, Jimi Hendrix, A Brother's Story is an essential document, more so (despite it being well done) than this film.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













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