. . .or click on the link here for Audio Player – Jimi Hendrix – Live in San Diego – May 24, 1969 – Wally Heider soundboard
More milestones in Rock this weekend. The legendary Jimi Hendrix, along with Mitch Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding on bass, recorded in concert in San Diego on May 24, 1969.
During an interview with Elvis Presley from 1956, he was asked how long he thought Rock n’ Roll would be around before it faded away. Presley answered 4 years. Clearly, no one had any idea or even a clue that it would evolve the way it did, and artists like Jimi Hendrix would emerge and take things to a whole new level.
Hendrix’ influence on music has been so all-pervasive that it’s hard to imagine what it would have sounded like had he not exploded on the scene when he did. When you consider that his music has been transposed and played by the likes of everyone from Gil Evans to The Kronos Quartet, you realize just how epic his contribution was. How it has managed to sound fresh and vital, almost 50 years after it was first heard is another indication of just how unique and inventive he was.
There is certainly no shortage of albums, films and books dedicated to the life and music of Jimi Hendrix. But his live concerts have always been enjoyable experiences. Not just for the ability to hear how many times he could play the same song differently, but in a live setting there is the extra added magic of audience-performer energy exchange. In short, every concert is different; no two sound quite the same.
Genius works like that.
Here is that concert from May 24, 1969 – recorded by the Wally Heider Sound truck, possibly for an album, but thankfully for posterity.
Play very loud.
