Hendrix, Jimi - The Dick Cavett Show

Year of Release: 2002
Label: MCA Records
Catalog Number: 1128939
Format: DVD
Total Time: 90:00:00

The Dick Cavett Show was one of the biggest and most influential television shows of its day. It was a different time then, with only three networks to choose from for viewers, you were bound to get noticed if you had a spot on a show like Cavett's. Jimi Hendrix was a ferocious guitar player and an animated actor onstage. Up close and in person he was humble and reserved man, at least that is what I saw in his interviews with Cavett. His appearances were absolutely huge in magnitude for his career and it gave his adoring fans a chance to finally meet him, even if it was through a TV screen.

This DVD has put together all of Hendrix's appearances on the show as well as live footage from "The Monterey Pop Festival," "Woodstock," and TV performances of "Hear My Train A Comin'," "Izabella," and "Machine Gun." In addition, colorful and insightful documentaries from Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, old army buddy and bass player Billy Cox, and Cavett himself, make it an enriching and well rounded experience.

Jimi worked at a torrid pace for three straight years, and he makes note of that in one of the interviews, which he actually leaves early because of exhaustion. Mitchell and Cox also make mention of the demands of management on Jimi. Nobody ever seemed to get enough and that all took its toll eventually. He never made it to the post Woodstock interview on Cavett's show because the band didn't go on until 6AM, which was several hours later than planned. Jimi ended up passing out in his hotel room. Cavett had members of Jefferson Airplane, CSNY, and Joni Mitchell on the show to give his young audience an up close view of their music idols in an effort to make up for Jimi's absence.

I noticed during the interview process that Jimi was a very engaging and an intelligent conversationalist, yet very shy and embarrassed over all the attention that he was getting. He would answer questions sometimes by putting his hand over his mouth while bowing his head, and then he would begin to laugh. He had a good sense of himself and who he was, but he didn't want any attention for it, he just wanted to create his music and turn people on.

I, like many others, didn't discover Hendrix until after his death; I was too young to appreciate him at the time of his popularity. I do remember my sister having this huge poster of him with his date of birth and death on it. Boys that are 8-10 years old are (or were) too busy playing outdoors and just being a kid. I left all of that stuff to my brother who was eight years older than I. By the time I was 15 I was into everything, and then I discovered Hendrix and a whole lot more. Just remember it's never too late to discover great music!

When you sit down to watch this DVD, it will really hit home why Jimi Hendrix was so important to music. Listen carefully to what people have to say about him during all the interviews, it gives a clearer picture of the times and the man that was right in the middle of all of it that helped to make music what it is today. When this all ended I could understand why he wanted to escape all the madness and demands that he dealt with every day being a star. It's just too bad his escape was so final.

Tracklisting:
Monologue / Jimi Hendrix Interview / Hear My Train A Comin' / Closing / Monologue / Izabella / Machine Gun / Jimi Hendrix Interview / Closing / Behind The Scenes Documentary

Musicians:
Jimi Hendrix - guitars
Mitch Miller - drums
Buddy Cox - bass

Discography:
Are You Experienced? (1967)
Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
Electric Ladyland (1968)
Smash Hits (1969/2002)
Band Of Gypsys (1970)
Jimi Hendrix Rock N Roll (1990)
Blues (1994)
Crosstown Conversation (1997)
First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (1997)
South Saturn Delta (1997)
BBC Sessions (1998)
Experience Hendrix - Best of Jimi Hendrix (1998)
Jimi Hendrix Story (1998)
NYC '68 (1998)
Woke Up This Morning/Found Myself (1998)
Live At The Oakland Coliseum (1998)
His Greatest Hits 2 (1999)
Live At Woodstock (1999)
Live At Fillmore East (1999)
Live At Clark University (1999)
Vol. 1 - His Greatest Hits (1999)
Drivin South (2000)
Early Years (2000)
Experience Hendrix (2000)
Jimi Hendrix: Audio Biography (2000)
Best Of (2001)
Summer Of Love (2001)
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix Collection (2001)
Live In Ottawa (2001)
Fire (2002)
Jimi Hendrix Experience Live In (?) (2002)
Jimi Henndrix As It Happened (2002)
Morning Symphony Ideas (2002)

The Dick Cavett Show (DVD) (2002)
Jimi Hendrix - The Last 24 Hours (DVD) (2004)
Live At Woodstock (DVD) (2005)

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: August 5th 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.jimihendrix.com
Hits: 2956
Language: english