Review: The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Magic Boy: Live at Berkeley (First Show)
Martien Koolen reviews the first Berkeley performance by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, recorded on 30 May 1970
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at Berkeley (First Show)
Format: 2LP, CD, Digital
Label: Experience Hendrix / Legacy Recordings
Release date: 16 October 2026
Text: Martien Koolen
Let me start this review by saying that Jimi Hendrix is the most brilliant and innovative guitar player that ever roamed this earth; in other words: Jimi Hendrix is my guitar god of all times! 56 years after his death another notorious live album – ‘Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at Berkeley (First Show)’ – of this guitar legend sees the light of day.
This fantastic live album was recorded at the Berkeley Community Theatre on 30 May 1970 three months before his death and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, consisting of Jimi Hendrix (guitar, vocals), Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Billy Cox (bass guitar) played eleven songs at this 1st show.
The magnifying set/show kicked off with Fire, a track from Jimi’s debut album ‘Are You Experienced’ (1967), followed by the Chuck Berry classic Johnny B. Goode. Then it is time for the first iconic Hendrix track Hear My Train A Comin,’ clocking in at almost twelve minutes, this is Hendrix at his best for sure.
Machine Gun, another iconic song, is next and this one is a superb example of Jimi’s signature polyphony, moving between rhythm and lead guitar, as well as moving between an arsenal of weapons.
Another great blues song where Hendrix shines like no other guitar picker can is of course Red House, a firm fan favourite and an instant classic when it was released.
Freedom, Message to Love, Ezy Ryder (with a superfluous drum solo) and Purple Haze are other Hendrix classics highlighting his guitar abilities at which you can only marvel indeed.
This first Berkeley Show closes with the third iconic Hendrix track featured here, namely Voodoo Child (Slight Return) from his masterpiece album ‘Electric Ladyland’ (1968) and it is a titanic rock classic indeed, where Hendrix “does” things on and with his guitar that no one else probably can….
This thrilling live album also contains a wild version of the Star-Spangled Banner, but the Woodstock version is slightly better tough…
‘Live at Berkeley’ is fantastically remixed by Eddie Kramer and this live recording shows again the brilliance and the magic – Hendrix called himself Magic Boy – of Jimi Hendrix, and so this album is not only a MUST for die-hard Jimi fans!!
Play it LOUD and enjoy the wizardry of the world’s greatest guitar picker ever!
Tracks:
01. Fire
02. Johnny B. Goode
03. Hear My Train A Comin’
04. Machine Gun
05. Freedom
06. Red House
07. Message To Love
08. Ezy Ryder
09. Star Spangled Banner
10. Purple Haze
11. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Website: https://www.jimihendrix experience.com
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