THE BAGGY'S REHEARSAL SESSIONS

Several tracks are to be found in a more achieved version on earlier posthumous Hendrix albums (this one was released as an ''official bootleg'' in 2002 on the Dagger Records label).

The opening number (repeated as closing track as well) ''Burning Desire'' and the blues cover ''Hoochie Coochie Man'' for instance were already available on ''Loose Ends''. And they were the two best songs out of it (but this album as a whole was not really exciting).

From all the possible line-up who played with Hendrix, the ''Band Of Gypsys'' was my least favourite. Too soul and blues oriented to my taste. But they didn't last for long and will remain famous for the very good live album they released from their four Fillmore performances.

The sound recording is not bad at all (very decent I should say) and even if the form in which the tracks are played here is not polished of course, this raw aspect is not a handicap. On the contrary, it gives another angle to all these studio releases which will flower after his death.

In this optic ''Ezy Rider'', ''Earth Blues'' and ''Message To Love'' are probably more sincere here than they were on ''Cry Of Love'', ''Rainbow Bridge'' or ''Crash Landing''. The first version of ''Earth Blues'' is particularly well achieved: backing vocals at their best and very cohesive band as well. One of my fave from these sessions together with ''Lover Man''. This one was already a classic live song (Woodstock).

The last two songs are repetition of ''Earth Blues'' and ''Burning Desire''. The previous ones were better played IMO. ''Earth Blues'' is somewhat accelerated here. Some other titles are less known and almost only belong to the ''Gypsys'' repertoire (the heavy blues ''Power Of Soul'' and the weak and soul-oriented ''Changes'').

After all, this is a good ''Band Of Gypsys'' compilation which is intended for devoted fans but not only. Therefore, I rate this album with three stars.