Customer Reviews
Memorable, Essential, But Not His Best - By: Geoffrey Millar, 30 Oct 2006 
Despite the hype, this was not Jimi's best concert: it had some great moments butin many places is rather shambolic. This is not surprising, as the Gypsy Sun & Rainbows was under-rehearsed.
The footage is OK, although it concentrates on Hendrix (of course).
Most of the Hendrix hits are there, along with new material like Mitch's `Beginnings' (aka Jam Back at the House, with composition credits going to Jimi) & 'Izabella'. The Star Spangled Banner & the instrumental which follows are the best thingsin the show.
The DVD is almost twice as long as the original VHS release & has much better sound. However, as with the video, the mix buries the other members of the band (second guitar & two percussionists) apart from Mitch & Billy.
The concert sounds more or less like it's being played by a three-piece band; this is usually a good thing as Larry Lee is not that great a guitarist & the percussion seems to getin the way, at least when you can hear it. But it does mean that you're not hearing the true sound of the show.
The omission of Larry Lee's songs yet again is inexcusable, as apparently they weren't that bad & footage must exist.
The extras on the second DVD are welcome, but you'll probably only watch them once. The interviews with Mitch Mitchell, Larry Lee & Billy Cox are worthwhile, even if you'll be shocked by how different Mitch & Larry look these days. The `bonus' black & white footage is OK but doesn't really add much to the proceedings.
Despite the caveats, this is a must-have if you're a Hendrix fan.
Gypsy Sun And Rainbows - By: Chris C, 01 Feb 2006 
As a novice guitarist, I am very much inspired by Jimi Hendrix. Whilst many players like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Tom Morrello have updated the sounds considerably, none of these have left so much impactin music. However, whilst his music was considered amazing, it's his showmanship on the live stage that made him legendary.
Woodstock is cited as Hendrix's greatest performance. Played to 300,000 peoplein 1969, Jimi extended his 'Experience' group from three to six members to expand his sound. When watching the dvd, its easy to see how it wasin that era.
Hendrix's band of gypsies are really tight as a unit from the opening Message to Love, classic songs like Fire, Loverman & Purple Haze, to the classic Voodoo Child. Of course, Woodstock will always be remembered for Jimi's take on the Star Spangled Banner.
The 'Second Look' dvd basically extends the performance with less cuts & including Hear My Train A Comin' for the first time. The bonus features are very smallin numbers with Billy Cox (Bass) & Larry Lee (Rhythm Guitar) talking about their Nashville Roots & memorabilia of the Woodstock festival. I find the press conference is a treasurable piece of footage & Eddie Kramer's (Hendrix's record engineer)talk about the festival is very interesting.
Woodstock is a fantastic introduction to the style & music of Jimi Hendrix. Whether people say songs are missing etc, it does not really matter as a whole since this is the DEFINITIVE Hendrix dvd.
Buy it now :-)
*BUY IT* - By: , 16 Jan 2006 This DVD is amazing - it's Hendrix at his best! Buy it, watch it & own the best live music performance you will ever see.
All of the existing film footage? - By: Kenny Coughlan, 30 Oct 2005 Forgive me for being a skeptic but before buying this, I knew what to expect. I knew Larry Lee's songs would not bein there, the string break during Red House would not be included, Larry Lee's solo during Voodoo Child would be cut & all of the clips between songs would be cut.
But of course ALL cameras managed to simultaneously down their tools during these parts. So I believe it is false advertising when they say "...Features all of the existing film footage from Jimi's unforgettable August 1969 Woodstock concert newly re-edited & presented uninterrupted &in it's original performance sequence".
I could perhaps understand why they would do this with the main first DVD. But the "Second look" second DVD, I expected more. I hoped to see the full concert uninterrupted by the simple black & white camera at the side of the stage, but I wasn't suprised when they chopped chunks out of that as well.
I am perhaps being over-critical about this however, as this remains a fantastic DVD with many interesting features & the more vibrant colour breathes new life into the set - Especiallyin the newly released tracks. I would have easily rated this 5 out of 5 if I was satisfied they used all of the existing footage, but I don't believe they did. Perhapsin 5 years there will be another Hendrix at Woodstock DVD, again with "all" existing footage...
Incomplete, but extraordinary. - By: J. Berry, 27 Sep 2005 It is incomplete but otherwise extraordinary. Let me explain, through the late 70s & 80s I was one of the largest collectors of Jimi's materialin the world. I stayed at Al Hendrix's housein Seattle as well as Noel Redding, Kathy Etchingham & Monica Danneman's house, met Mitch Mitchell & many others, put on the UK's largest Jimi Hendrix Conventionin 1984 & had a collection second to only perhaps one or two. My priorities changedin 1985 when I became a Christian. I had Jimi's complete Woodstock gig on audio tapein superb quality just over 20 years ago. For 36 years it was rumoured that the entire gig was filmed but I had to make do with my excellent audio recording. Anyway for me the highlights of the gig were the last 30 minutes from Voodoo Child onwards AND two numbers called 'Gypsy Woman' & 'Call Me Mastermind'. These two songs were sung by Larry Lee & Jimi took a step back & played some remarkable rhythm guitar. Gypsy Woman is the Curtis Mayfield number & Jimi's rhythm is absolutely exquisite as it is on Call Me Mastermind. It made such a pleasant musical break from the otherwise high octane funky blues rock lead guitar which Jimi displays practically all the way through with a touch of flamenco at the end. I really was looking forward to these two numbers so that the world could hear Jimi's awesome rhythm playing & not just his lead work which everybody already knows.
This was the only time Jimi played these two numbers livein concert & the powers that be have omitted them - That's why I am disappointed. I suppose contractual reasons have come into play since they are not Jimi's songs.
I guess I like complete Jimi Hendrix concerts & there is not one that exists on DVD to this day. However for those who are not bothered by this it is definitely 5 STAR. OK, this is Jimi's set list at Woodstock:
1.Message to Love
2.Hear my train a'coming
3.Spanish Castle Magic
4.Red House
5.Call me Mastermind
6.Lover Man
7.Foxy Lady
8.Jam Back at the House
9.Izabella
10.Gypsy Woman
11.Fire
12.Voodoo Child
13.Star Spangled Banner
14.Purple Haze
15.Woodstock Flamenco Improvisation
16.Villanova Junction Blues (Gorgeous beyond belief)
17.Hey Joe
So what we have missing on the DVD are: 'Call me Mastermind' 'Gypsy Woman' the incredible call & response intro to Hear my Train a'comin' & much banter between the songs which does make it a two hour concert.
However although the extended & experimental band are under rehearsed Jimi really does play some extraordinary guitar which even today nobody has matched. Jimi's fretting technique is astonishing - & notice how he hardly ever looks down at his hands on the neck, a pure natural. Villanova Junction Blues is one of those pieces why Jimi is cited as the greatest & most creative electric guitarist of all time. This really is 5 star all the way.
