Jimi Hendrix - Valley of Neptune

Whos got it and what do you think?

I don't own it yet but I plan to buy it soon, but I don't have to hear it to know that it is going to be great.

Who?

Schbopo wrote:

Who?

No not the f**king Who, Jimi Hendrix!

manny wrote:

Schbopo wrote:

Who?

No not the f**king Who, Jimi Hendrix!

I swear he played for the Raiders....

I really like it a lot, so far the title track is my fave. I remember reading about the song Valleys Of Neptune on the liner notes of First Rays Of The New Rising Sun when it first came out and thought that was a great title and I so wanted to hear the song. I even have the Valleys Of Neptune single with the Wal-Mart exclusive song Peace In Mississippi where Jimi just friggin' jams.

Only had a chance to listen to it a few times, but so far the standout tracks are:

Stone Free - completely different arrangement of this classic tune, more soul oriented and very funky.

Valleys of Neptune - beautiful song, would love to hear what a full arrangement would have sounded like

Sunshine Of Your Love - instrumental jam of this classic tune, just plain RIPS!

Lover Man - another very different arrangement of a familar song, I like the slower groove on this take.

Ships Passing Through The Night - this is an earlier version of "Night Bird Flying", another pleasant surprise.

Red House - I was skeptical at first because of how many versions of this tune are floating around out there....but I was wrong. This version absolutely KILLS, could be one of the best I've heard, Hendrix was seriously ON during this session.

I have heard other versions of some of the tunes and like D said, the instrumental "Sunshine" is great. This version of "Red House" showcases Jimi's blues playing.

If I get a chance I will be purchasing this today.

Id like to get this for my wife as shes a huge Jimi fan

How is it that this thing remained unreleased for so long? Anyone thinking maybe this wasn't complete but has been completed recently?

Eyesore wrote:

How is it that this thing remained unreleased for so long? Anyone thinking maybe this wasn't complete but has been completed recently?

Jimi was a notoriously sloppy housekeeper. His maid just found the master tapes waaaaaaaaayyyy in the back of the closet.

But seriously folks... I heard a song from this on the local rock station a couple of weeks ago. Never been a huge Jimi fan but it sounded pretty cool to me. The DJ was a like a kid on Christmas morning when he intro'd the song. He sez "Ladies and gentlemen, I have been in radio for almost 30 years and I never dreamed that I'd get to say these words... here's a new song by Jimi Hendrix!"

Eyesore wrote:

How is it that this thing remained unreleased for so long? Anyone thinking maybe this wasn't complete but has been completed recently?

For the last ten years the Hendrix estate was in another legal battle with another major record label, that claimed they owned rights to certain mastertapes of Hendrix recordings, this is one of many albums that you will see issued by his estate.

I need to get this. Any Hendrix is essential IMO.

Hey if Tupac can keep putting out albums after he's been dead then why not Jimi? hehe

Eyesore wrote:

How is it that this thing remained unreleased for so long? Anyone thinking maybe this wasn't complete but has been completed recently?

Some of the songs were assembled from multiple takes....for example the title track instrumental take is from 1969, the vocal line was taken from a version recorded the year earlier. Eddie Kramer did all the mixing and since he was Hendrix' personal recording engineer I can't think of anyone more qualified.

In addition Hendrix had a habit of re-arranging and recording his songs many times, in many different moods. I've heard 7 or 8 different arrangements of Lover Man for example.

According to the Hendrix estate, there are still hundreds and hundreds of hours of "officially" unreleased material. So expect many more CDs.

I've listened to it a couple of times. It's pretty cool.

Listening to it right now and it is an excellent release, some of the tunes that are different takes sound nothing like the versions he choose (or where choosen for him after his death) to release, 'Stone Free' being radically different.

His guitar playing and soloing on the Cream instrumental 'Sunshine of Your Love' and 'Ships Passing Through the Night' show why 40 years after his death, fellow musicians, fans and guitar magazines still revere him. Hard to believe he was able to make such an impact, in a recording career that lasted only a few years (1967-1970) and by the age of 27.

I'd like to hear his version of (Sunshine)...

Here you go TZ





BTW this is not version that is on the new Hendrix album.

manny wrote:

Here you go TZ





BTW this is not version that is on the new Hendrix album.

It's a lot more funky than the original.

The more I listen to this disc the more incredible it gets, about 3/4 of this record is jaw-dropping awesome.

Interesting that 2 of the songs included here were missing for over 30 years (cut off the original session reels). That's quite a discovery!

I just found out there's a Target exclusive version with 2 extra songs (Slow Version & Trash Man) and we don't have a friggin' Target here in the boonies!

akeldama wrote:

I just found out there's a Target exclusive version with 2 extra songs (Slow Version & Trash Man) and we don't have a friggin' Target here in the boonies!

FYI. Both of those bonus tracks were pulled from the Dagger Records release "Hear My Music"...they fit better on that release. In fact, that's an essential Hendrix album to own.

http://www.daggerrecords.com/disc7.html