Jimi Hendrix fans have one final blast of guitar-god greatness to look forward to from the legendary musician, in the form of Valleys of Neptune, a newly curated album of 12 full studio recordings spanning more than 60 minutes of music that never saw proper official release.
Set to drop on March 9, Valleys of Neptune will include 12 tracks recorded at various studios during Jimi’s final recording sessions while working on his ambitious double LP First Rays of the Rising Sun. The title track, "Valleys of Neptune," which was never released commercially will also be released as a single on February 2nd.
The majority of the tracks that were recorded during a significantly turbulent four-month period in 1969 make their way onto the release, serving as Jimi Hendrix Experience's final studio recordings. The group was building the foundation for its follow-up to Electric Ladyland, and Jimi had his sights on the opening of his own Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, which would happen the following year.
Also featured on the album are blazing studio covers of Elmore James' Bleeding Heart and Cream's classic Sunshine of Your Love, as well as debut renditions of original Hendrix tunes like "Ships Passing Through The Night," "Lullaby For The Summer" and the original un-dubbed Jimi Hendrix Experience take on "Hear My Train A Comin'". Also included in Valleys of Neptune is "Mr. Bad Luck," a Jimi Hendrix Experience track, produced by Chas Chandler during the 1967 Axis: Bold as Love sessions. The rest of Valleys of Neptune is produced by Janie Hendrix, John McDermott and Eddie Kramer.
"My brother Jimi was at home in the studio," explained Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC. "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."
Head to Antimusic for the details on each track.
