This Friday, Legacy Recordings will release a 24-track live album box set chronicling Jimi Hendrix‘s four performances at New York City’s The Fillmore East on New Year’s Eve 1969 and New Year’s Day 1970 with his then-brand-new outfit Band Of Gypsies. The previously-announced archive release will be titled, Songs For Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts, and will highlight Hendrix ferocious live performances of “Hear My Train A-Comin’”, “Machine Gun”, “Fire”, “Foxey Lady”, and more.
On Tuesday, Legacy shared the previously-unreleased recording of “Ezy Ryder”, which was performed during the second set of the band’s December 31st show at the famous former New York City venue. The recorded performance of “Ezy Ryder” was the second time the band had played it that day, allowing Jimi and his new Band of Gypsies to work out any musical kinks they may have felt about the lively rock tune the first time around.
Listen to the NYE 1969 recording of “Ezy Ryder” below.
Jimi Hendrix – “Ezy Ryder” – 12/31/69
[Video: Jimi Hendrix]
“I distinctly remember you could see people with their mouths hanging wide open about five, six, 10 rows,” bassist Billy Cox added in a statement in relation to the New Year’s 1969/1970 performances. “They had never heard anything like that, but evidently it had sounded good to them, because we got almost a standing ovation after every song.”
Cox continued in saying, “The Band of Gypsys was a group about growth, and evolution without ego,” Cox tells Rolling Stone of the experience. “It was just musicians loving each other and loving the music. It was another way to express the music.”
Songs For Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts is now available for pre-order here.
[H/T Rolling Stone]