The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hear My Train A Comin'

Overall, a good production
My review of Hear My Train A Comin

First off, the showing I went to happened to also be attended by the director Bob Smeaton! Kind of cool! We got to ask him questions about the doc after it was over. Nice guy and very frank about the challenges of editing a doc like this one with so many voices and pieces of footage to choose from and showcase.

Overall, this is a fine job. Keep in mind that for us "Jimi heads" we've seen the vast majority of the footage that's out there in one form or another. The two or three biggest "new Jimi visuals" included in the doc are Miami (obviously) and we get nearly a complete performance of Foxy Lady. We also get snippets of Tax Free and plenty of footage of the Miami crowd. But given this is a documentary, you're going to have to wait for the "Extras" in order to really enjoy all of the new footage, including Isle of Fehrman, which is briefly shown in the doc when Jimi performs Spanish Castle Magic (with the audience tape the...

Good show/ A cut above the rest
I waited with great anticipation for this release. The previews with the unseen Miami footage
had me really excited to see this production. Understand, this was presented on television on the PBS American Masters Series. This is NOT a look at the sordid details of his drug use or the way he died. What we have here is a look at his life and his music....his wonderful, glorious music. In that endevour, the film succeeds quite well. Using interview segments from friends and bandmates (several who are now deceased), an interesting look at his journey and his struggles emerges. He WANTED to be the best, and as manager Chas Chandler says, "By hell he worked at it."
The film explains how Jimi tried to be BETTER each day. Comments from Paul McCartney,
Steve Winwood and Billy Cox are icing on the cake. The interview segments from Fayne Pridgeon and Collete Mimram are a welcome surprise and touching addition to the film.
Eddie Kramer in studio showing how some of Jimi's...

The Sound Waves of Genius
This is the best documentary about Jimi Hendrix I've seen. His story is nicely related with insightful interviews while the music is perfectly woven throughout. Many rare, or unseen concert clips are included. I'm buying the dvd for the extras as well, because he is a huge part of the soundtrack of my life and I want to fill in all the spaces possible.

I do wish Jimi had liked his own voice better. I think its great, but his unassuming off-stage persona must have let the self doubts enter regarding his vocals.

This is the way Hendrix should be remembered, it honors his innovative, original brilliance and vision. If there is a lack of ugliness about background people or situations, all the better. Its about the music and his legacy as it should be. The documentary is very satisfying and supports all my good experiences with this amazing, original artist.

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