Jimi Hendrix’s First Band of Gypsys Show Scheduled for Release

A new Jimi Hendrix album will document the late legend’s first-ever concert with Band of Gypsys. Machine Gun: The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/69 will be released on Sept. 30.  This isn’t the first time some of this material has been issued. The Band of Gypsys performed two New Year’s Eve shows at New York’s Fillmore East in 1969, and then two more on New Year’s Day 1970. The latter shows were combined and edited for the Band of Gyspys album in April 1970. This new album marks the first time the complete early set has been released on record.

Most of these performances were never collected on any of Hendrix’s many posthumous recordings. In addition to the title track, one of Hendrix’s last classics, the 11-song set collected here in its entirety and in order  includes songs like “Hear My Train A Comin’” and “Ezy Ryder” that he was still fine-tuning at the time of his death on Sept. 18, 1970.

The original Band of Gypsys album included Hendrix’s first work with his new trio, rounded out by bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles, following the breakup of the Experience in 1969. Machine Gun: The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/69 chronicles the group’s first-ever live performance.

“We didn’t know what to expect from the audience, and the audience didn’t know what to expect from us, but from the time we hit that first note, they were in awe,” Cox notes in a press release announcing the set. “You had Jimi Hendrix, a drummer who had been with the Electric Flag and Wilson Pickett, and I was the new kid on the block.”

The album will be released on on CD, two-LP 180 gram vinyl, high resolution SACD and digitally. It’s available for pre-order now.

Jimi Hendrix, ‘Machine Gun: The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/69′ Track Listing
“Power of Soul”
“Lover Man”
“Hear My Train A Comin’”
“Changes”
“Izabella”
“Machine Gun”
“Stop”
“Ezy Ryder”
“Bleeding Heart”
“Earth Blues”
“Burning Desire”