Woodstock Performance

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Lore & Background

The 1994 album Woodstock serves as a transitional but all-important live document of Hendrix's career. Music critic Robert Christgau described the music as under-rehearsed and highly eccentric, characterizing it as a basic rock concert act of flawed genius that occurred on a scale unlikely to be seen again. He noted that while Live at Woodstock (1999) provided a more comprehensive record, the 1994 version's condensed reconfiguration uniquely magnified the event's aura. Conversely, AllMusic's Jason Anderson offered a less enthusiastic perspective, deeming the album very significant but poorly recorded. Anderson specifically criticized the versions of "Fire" and "Purple Haze" as being fairly dull compared to other iterations.

In Their Own Story

The recording features Jimi Hendrix on lead guitar and vocals, supported by a distinct lineup that expanded beyond his previous groups. The rhythm section included Billy Cox on bass guitar and Mitch Mitchell on drums, while Larry Lee joined on rhythm guitar. Percussion duties were shared between Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez, creating a denser sonic texture than Hendrix's earlier work. This specific configuration performed at the festival on August 18, 1969, delivering a set that Christgau observed as highly eccentric. The resulting album, released over two decades later in 1994, preserved these performances until they were superseded by the edited but more complete Live at Woodstock in 1999.

Reader's Guide

Listeners should be aware of the two distinct releases available for this performance. The first, Woodstock (August 20, 1994), offers a condensed version that critics like Christgau argue enhances the concert's specific aura. It features the full band lineup including percussionists Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez. However, those seeking a more comprehensive record of the August 18, 1969 set should look to Live at Woodstock (1999). This later release includes more performances but comes with edited versions of certain tracks. Fans analyzing specific songs like "Fire" or "Purple Haze" may find Anderson's critique relevant to the 1994 version, which he found less well-recorded and duller than other recordings.

Did You Know?

• The album Woodstock was released posthumously on August 20, 1994.
• Robert Christgau described the music as under-rehearsed and highly eccentric.
• A more complete version titled Live at Woodstock replaced the original in 1999.
• Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez both played percussion on this recording.
• Jason Anderson of AllMusic called the versions of "Fire" and "Purple Haze" fairly dull.