This brand-new, completely unreleased studio album features 12 previously unreleased studio recordings totalling over 60 minutes of unheard Jimi Hendrix. Ten of these recordings were made between February and May, 1969, as the Jimi Hendrix Experience set out to create the sequel to their groundbreaking 1968 double-album Electric Ladyland. The album features "Valleys Of Neptune," one of the most sought after of all of Hendrix's commercially unavailable recordings, and includes exciting 1969 arrangements of the classic signature songs "Red House," "Fire," and "Stone Free." Also includes unheard studio versions of Hendrix's inspired interpretations of "Bleeding Heart" (Elmore James) and Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love." Mixed by Eddie Kramer, the engineer for all of Hendrix's albums throughout the guitarist's lifetime. Produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, and John McDermott, the team behind all of the acclaimed Jimi Hendrix CD and DVD releases since 1996. VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE: Track by Track All of the 12 recordings featured on the album have never before been released on a CD/LP. The songs document the pivotal time period after Electric Ladyland and before Electric Lady Studios and the recordings made there that would later take form as Cry of Love and First Rays. Valleys of Neptune documents both the final studio recordings Jimi made in 1969 with the original Jimi Hendrix Experience and the first efforts with new bassist Billy Cox. As a number of the song titles will be familiar to fans and buyers alike, the following details the key characteristics of each of the tracks on Valleys of Neptune. "Stone Free": The original 1966 recording by the original Jimi Hendrix Experience is best known as one of Jimi's signature songs. The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set (2000) featured a new remake by the original group. Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, and Billy Cox recorded this version in May 1969. It is a different recording entirely. "Valleys of Neptune": This track was recorded in September, 1969, and May, 1970. This full-band version has never been released. An extract of a demo Hendrix made of this song -- featuring just Mitchell on drums and percussionist Juma Sultan -- was part of the short-lived Reprise/Polydor album Lifelines,which was in the marketplace between 1990 to 1992. "Bleeding Heart": This cover of the classic blues song by Elmore James is different entirely from the versions featured on South Saturn Delta and (originally) on War Heroes. This recording has never been issued and features Jimi, Billy Cox, and drummer Rocky Isaac. It was recorded in April, 1969. "Hear My Train A Comin'": This electric, full-band version is different from the famous 12-string acoustic version that was featured in the 1973 documentary Jimi Hendrix and subsequently on the album Jimi Hendrix: Blues. "Mr. Bad Luck": Like "Valleys of Neptune", a different version of this song was part of Lifelines in (1990). Jimi would later develop this song as "Look Over Yonder," issued as part of South Saturn Delta. "Sunshine of Your Love": A stage favorite for the group during the 1969 period which has never been released. "Lover Man": Jimi recorded many different arrangements of this song, including the versions on both the Jimi Hendrix Experience box set (2000) and South Saturn Delta. This is an entirely different recording made in February, 1969. "Ships Passing Through the Night": A never-before-released track taken from the last recording session by the original Jimi Hendrix Experience on 4/14/69. "Fire/Red House": Both of these songs by the original Jimi Hendrix Experience were recorded at the same February, 1969, session. They feature the expanded stage arrangements Jimi had developed and are not alternate takes of the original 1967 recordings. "Lullaby for the Summer/Crying Blue Rain": These April, 1969, recordings by the original Jimi Hendrix Experience have never been released.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
The Man With The Blue Guitar:
A Hendrix release is always a bit of an event and thankfully this one justifies all the praise. A blues-drenched psychedelic daydream of an album with the usual mighty guitar stylings of the maestro. The songs are OK, a lot of funky riffs and good-time "Yeah, yeah's" but the title track has a classic feel and all the versions of older songs are just wailing! The guitar playing and watershed of blues rock is what elevates this album and I think maybe the brightest burning moment of it all is his cover of... more info
Hit-and-miss compilation:
This latest track compilation on the works of Jimmi Hendrix has got plenty of ups and downs. Great tracks crammed together with mediocre or pedestrian tracks.Not essential, unless you're a big fan of the man and his legacy. I recommend as essential items to any rock fan three of his four studio albums (not "Axis: Bold as Love" for my taste)released during his lifetime and the posthumous "The First Rays of Sun..." (the title escapes me).
No Scraps Here!:
First off let me say up front I've been listening to the Great Jimi Hendrix all my life. Am I obsessed? Possibly, Am I crazy? Maybe, Am I the biggest Hendrix fan in the galaxy? Absolutely! I own everything Hendrix ever made that's out so far. From all the bootlegs, To the Dagger Stuff, And by the way the dagger concerts are great! Pick them up when you can. I also own all the Michael Jeffery Estate Tapes. And I can say with out a doubt that VALLEY'S OF NEPTUNE is one of Jimi's great album's!!! That's right... more info
For true fans:
If you're new to Hendrix, this is not the album for you. If you casually know Hendrix, this is not the ablum for you. If you are a true Hendrix fan, then this album is not for you. The album features much of Hendrix's unfinished works. It is amazing to see this man's unfinished scraps of gutiar licks, and realizing that they still put guitar players to shame. Because much of the material is unfinished, I would not recommend this for a new, curious Hendrix fan. Hendrix was very particular... more info
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