Hendrix in the South

You don’t have to be an expert in Southern rock lore to know that 1970’s Atlanta International Pop Festival, held 100 miles south of the city, near the tiny town of Byron, Ga., hasn’t received the same respect as other major festivals of the era: Monterey Pop, Woodstock, Isle of Wight, or even the Altamont Speedway disaster. But with attendance estimated at over 300,000 during its three-day run (July 3-5), and headlined by Jimi Hendrix, it needs to be acknowledged as one of the most significant, and peaceful, rock gatherings of its kind.

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One explanation for its modest place in history is the lack of professionally shot video and scarce amounts of audio the fest generated. Despite an impressive release of The Allman Brothers Band Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival, in 2003, and most but not all of Hendrix’s performance documented on the pricey 1991 Stages box set, there hasn’t been much to remember the weekend by. This changes, however, as Showtime is set to air a documentary film, built upon footage that has languished in a vault since 1970, titled “Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church,” on Fri., Sept. 4. In the meantime, a double CD/LP release of Hendrix’s Fourth of July closing set, Freedom: Jimi Hendrix Experience Atlanta Pop Festival, will jog AARP music fan’s recollections and renew interest in this unfairly neglected music festival.

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The events surrounding the Alex Cooley-promoted extravaganza are detailed in Freedom’s extensive liner notes: This was not only Hendrix’s largest US audience ever, it was captured just 10 weeks before he died. That adds an extra few layers of cachet to what is already a solid performance. It also makes this release especially mouthwatering to the insatiable Hendrix fan base that has lapped up a seemingly endless supply of the guitar legend’s posthumous odds and ends.

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Musically, Freedom finds Hendrix in yet another transitional phase. Earlier that year he had dissolved the short-lived Band of Gypsys, reclaimed the Experience moniker, and replaced drummer Buddy Miles with original Experience member Mitch Mitchell, keeping the Gypsys’ Billy Cox on bass. This 80-minute, 16-song set eschews all but one Gypsys tune, “Message to Love,” in favor of established material such as “Fire,” “Foxey Lady,” “Stone Free,” and “Hey Joe,” along with as-yet-unreleased songs “Straight Ahead,” “Freedom,” and “Room Full of Mirrors.” Studio versions of these latter numbers were only available after Hendrix’s death.

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Even the oldest selections crackle here. And when the guitarist digs into the blues, always at the core of his music, in a nearly 10-minute version of “Hear My Train A Comin’,” and another eight dedicated to a gripping “Red House,” he’s especially inspired. The CD and LP include Hendrix’s entire concert in exceptional audio. Still the sight of him ripping into the “Star Spangled Banner” with fireworks going off on the Fourth of July is something anyone who was there will never forget. It’s reason enough to own the sound and the vision that’s destined to put the Woodstock of the South back on history’s radar. (4 out of 5 stars)