During the past several years, Jimi Hendrix material has been flying out of the vaults. Hear My Train A Comin’ is the third Hendrix release that I have reviewed this year.

This film, originally part of the PBS American Masters Series, is an excellent two-hour documentary of his life. There are home movies by drummer Mitch Mitchell, plus commentary by the likes of Paul McCartney, Billy Cox, Noel Redding, Dave Mason, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Gibbons, and more. Several of the participants have passed away so this will be their final comment on Jimi Hendrix as a person and his career.

The film follows Hendrix from his time in the U.S, Military, to his stints as an unknown sideman for Little Richard, Joey Dee, and the Isley Brothers, to the women in his life, and finally his time as a guitar superstar. Directed by Bob Smeaton (The Beatles Anthology, Hendrix 70: Live At Woodstock) and mixed by former Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer, the picture has a nice clarity with full 1080 high definition and the audio track features a 5.1 stereo sound.

The issue is that no matter how interesting this documentary may be, how many times will a person watch it? That is where the bonus tracks come in. Included are three previously unreleased color performances from different festivals, plus a March 30, 1967 performance of “Purple Haze” on the Top Of The Pops television program.

The best and most interesting of the bonus tracks are from his September 6, 1970 performance at the Love And Peace Festival on the Isle Of Fehmarn, Germany. “Killing Floor,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” “All Along The Watchtower,” and “Foxy Lady” may not have the picture quality of the rest of the material but they were the last performance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience as 12 days later he was dead.

Also included are three songs from the 1968 Miami Pop Festival and five from a July 1970, appearance at the New York Pop Festival. There is nothing earth shattering, but they help fill in the Jimi Hendrix catalogue of performances.

Here My Train A Comin’ is a DVD with two distinct parts that fit together, as after watching the documentary, you are ready to actually see him play.  This is an excellent release for any fan of Hendrix.

Rating: B+

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