On Thursday, October 15th at 8:00 PM ET the Jimi Hendrix YouTube Channel will be offering a one-time only, special live screening of the 1971 theatrical film Jimi Plays Berkeley. The performances that were captured on this expanded cut of Jimi Plays Berkeley were drawn from two shows at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970. The version that will stream on Thursday was digitally restored and transferred from the original 16mm negative. Click here for the link to the Thursday stream.
Today we are premiering the version of “Johnny B. Goode” that appears in the film. Jimi Plays Berkeley features the final lineup of the Jimi Hendrix Experience with Hendrix on guitar/vocals, Mitch Mitchell on drums and Billy Cox on bass. The Berkeley concerts took place during a moment in Hendrix’s life when he was devoting much of his time to building Electric Lady Studios. As a result, he curtailed his touring, which led to outsized demand for the sold-out Berkeley shows.
The exclusive Thursday livestream will be presented just prior to the Friday release of the new album Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live At Berkeley (First Show). Magic Boy will drop on Friday, October 16th via 2LP Vinyl, CD, Digital and Streaming. It is now available for pre-order.
Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. notes, “Jimi called himself a ‘Magic Boy,’ so this title has a very personal meaning. He was always reaching for something new—exploring, experimenting and pushing his music forward. At Berkeley, you can hear that journey happening in real time. He gives the audience the songs they already loved while opening the door to where he was headed next. More than fifty years later, that magic is still there. Magic Boy lets us experience Jimi’s brilliance, energy and imagination all over again.”
The Magic Boy vinyl and CD tracklists appear just below our “Johnny B. Goode” premiere.
Magic Boy Vinyl
LP ONE
SIDE A
1. Fire
2. Johnny B. Goode
3. Hear My Train A Comin’
SIDE B
1. Machine Gun
2. Freedom
3. Red House
LP TWO
SIDE A
1. Message To Love
2. Ezy Ryder
3. Star Spangled Banner
4. Purple Haze
SIDE B
1. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Magic Boy CD tracklist:
1. Fire
2. Johnny B. Goode
3. Hear My Train A Comin’
4. Machine Gun
5. Freedom
6. Red House
7. Message To Love
8. Ezy Ryder
9. Star Spangled Banner
10. Purple Haze
11. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
