The Dolby Atmos Laboratories in Hollywood hosted a listening experience of the upcoming live album of the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Los Angeles Forum: April 26, 1969, set to release Friday, November 18. On Thursday, November 10, guests were transported to April 1969 to experience one of rock and roll’s most iconic performances by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The historic playback session was accompanied by a discussion with producers Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott, moderated by journalist and music critic Randy Lewis. Kramer, who engineered all major Jimi Hendrix releases, was responsible for the album’s stereo mix. During the discussion, Janie Hendrix, sister of music legend Jimi Hendrix, described the timing of the live album as the perfect moment in which “technology finally caught up to Jimi.” When asked by Lewis whether Jimi Hendrix was aware of the potential of the live recording of the Forum show all three producers confirmed he listened to it but the plan for a live album never came, that is until now.
The Atmos version of the Los Angeles Forum – April 26, 1969, offers a truly immersive and memorable experience. The playback session in the Dolby Screening Room transported guests on to the stage with Jimi Hendrix. The recording was made in the spring of 1969 at the Forum in Inglewood, California during a sold-out performance during the group’s last North American tour. Floor seats cost $6.50, which with inflation would now be $51.20.The album is the first full live release by the original trio with vocalist and legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.
Following the 30-minute discussion with producers of the live album, the theater went completely dark allowing guests to truly focus on the audio. Within moments the room was immersed into the live performance at the Forum. Guests could clearly hear Jimi Hendrix address the crowd as he walks on stage, giving us a taste of what his shows were like first hand.
The Atmos version of the live album picks up every little sound throughout the live recording. Listeners can hear the crowd’s subtle conversations and screams for Jimi Hendrix. Listeners can also hear the instrumental tuning and the faintest guitar and drum sounds as Hendrix quiets down the music to the bare minimum.
The 11-track live album features Hendrix’s hits “Foxy Lady,” Purple Haze,” the unreleased “Red House,” and the reimagined U.S. national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Right off the bat, the listener gets lost into the live album overpowered by Hendrix’s instrumental expedition with “Tax Free,” by Swedish duo Bo Hansson and Janne Karlsson, losing oneself in Hendrix’s legendary hypnotic guitar.
From beginning to end, listeners can hear Hendrix address the crowd attempting to keep the peace, as during this time concerts often came hand-in-hand with chaos and loss of crowd control. To keep the crowd rushing to the stage, cops lined up in front of the stage. At the end of his performance of “I Don’t Live Today,” listeners can hear Hendrix attempting to calm the crowd down as tensions rose and those in power threatened to cut the power to end the show early.
The release of Jimi Hendrix Experience: Los Angeles, Forum – April 26, 1969 arrives just in time to celebrate what would be Jimi Hendrix’s 80th birthday. An advance track from the album “I Don’t Live Today” is now available but the record is scheduled to release on Friday, November 18 on 2LP vinyl, CD and all digital platforms.
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