Rare Jimi Hendrix Recordings Released in 2010

By Jackie Gladfelter Devereaux,

Jimi Hendrix fans will get a long-overdue and greatly needed new experience with the release of 12 rare studio recordings.  "Valleys of Neptune" will be released on March 9, 2010 but a partial download of the title song is available from Experience Hendrix,  http://www.jimihendrix.com. The entire title song was pre-released globally on February 2 by Sony Entertainment Legacy Recordings.  

Most of these studio recordings took place in 1969 during a four month period in New York and London. They reveal the musical direction Hendrix was taking after his 1968 release of his "Electric Ladyland" album, and before the 1970 opening of his Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village. Hendrix laid down his final track for the title song, "Valleys of Neptune" at New York's Record Plant in May of 1970.

These rare studio recordings give fans an intimate look at how Hendrix worked in the studio, and gives glimpses of the art facility he started while producing the, "First Rays of the New Rising Sun."  "Valleys of Neptune" has been remixed by engineer Eddie Kramer, who first worked with Hendrix on the album "Are You Experienced " in 1967. 

Hendrix died at the Samarkand Hotel in London on September  18, 1970 at the age of 27 from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills and red wine, according to published reports.  Hendrix died without leaving a will.  A California attorney managed his estate for nearly 20 years until his late father, Al Hendrix, won the rights to his music in 1995.  After Al's death in 2002, a fierce legal battle erupted between a brother, Leon Hendrix,  and an adopted sister, Janie Hendrix over estate valued at $80 million.  In 2004, Janie won control of the estate and became CEO of Experience Hendrix, a company entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy and rights of all his recordings. However, some family members who were left out of the estate continue to criticize the court's decision, claiming Janie manipulated her father to change the will, and that she extorted money from the estate.

However, the executives at Experience Hendrix announced a licensing deal last year with Sony Music for rights to the master recordings Hendrix left behind. (Universal Music Group held those rights until 1997.)  Under the new deal, Sony's Legacy Recordings will be permitted to reissue deluxe editions of the core catalog — "Are You Experienced," "Axis: Bold As Love," "Electric Ladyland," and "First Rays of the New Rising Sun." The bonus material includes a DVD featuring interviews with band members Noel Redding and Billy Cox.. These deluxe editions are scheduled to be released in March.

"My brother Jimi was at home in the studio. Valleys of Neptune offers deep insight into his mastery of the recording process and demonstrates the fact that he was as unparalleled a recording innovator as he was a guitarist. His brilliance shines through on every one of these precious tracks." "It reflects his genius, his showmanship and his leadership," said Janie Hendrix said in a recent published interview. "He was the boss, and you can hear his direction and control in the songs."

Songs on the "Valleys of Neptune" release include:: "Stone Free," "Valleys Of Neptune," "Bleeding Heart," "Hear My Train A Comin'," "Mr. Bad Luck," "Sunshine Of Your Love," "Lover Man," "Fire," "Red House,"  "Lullaby For The Summer," and "Crying Blue Rain."

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Story information and photo was obtained from press releases, archives, published reports, wikipedia.com and other websites.