‘Magic Boy’—An Explosive Jimi Hendrix Concert Album: Review

Jimi Hendrix plays Berkeley

Back in 1982, this writer marveled at the emergence of previously unheard material from Jimi Hendrix “a full dozen years after the death of the ’60s’ most imaginative and influential rock guitarist.” Well, here we are, more than 40 years later, and recordings continue to trickle out. Just how many versions of songs such as “Purple Haze” and “Fire” does one fan need? (Yours truly owns 16 of the former and 11 of the latter.)

That said, Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at Berkeley (First Show), released on Oct. 16, 2026, is first-rate. Recorded on May 30, 1970, less than four months before Hendrix’s death, it preserves a performance for a capacity audience of 3,300 in the Berkeley [Calif.] Community Theatre. Hendrix and his bandmates, Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Billy Cox (bass), delivered an explosive 78-minute set that included early classics as well as new songs.

Among the former group are “Purple Haze” and “Fire” (originally featured on Are You Experienced) and “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” (from Electric Ladyland). Also here are “Machine Gun” and “Message of Love,” both from the then-newly released Band of Gypsys, as well as “Freedom,” “Red House,” “Hear My Train A Comin’,” “Ezy Rider,” Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode, and Hendrix’s famous reinvention of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

At least some of these performances have previously surfaced, but this is the first time the entire concert has been presented on one disc. Moreover, the recordings have been remixed and remastered, resulting in improved sound separation and stellar audio throughout.

The collection is available here.

Related: Our review of Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios boxed set