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Valleys of Neptune

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Untitled

Valleys of Neptune is a posthumous studio album by American blues-rock musician Jimi Hendrix. Released in the United States on March 9, 2010, the album boasts "12 previously unreleased studio recordings,"[1] including the title track, "one of the most sought after of all of Hendrix's commercially unavailable recordings."[1] The tracks on Valleys of Neptune were largely self-produced by Hendrix, and received extra posthumous production from Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott for Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.[2] Largely recorded in 1969 following the release of Electric Ladyland, the album predominantly features the original lineup of The Jimi Hendrix Experience: vocalist and guitarist Hendrix, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.[2] The lead single released from the album was "Valleys of Neptune", on February 1, 2010, followed by "Bleeding Heart" on March 1;[3] music videos were produced for both songs.

Background and previous releases

The majority of the tracks featured on Valleys of Neptune were recorded in early 1969, while Hendrix was experimenting with songs for his (never released) fourth album, following the successful release of Electric Ladyland in September 1968. Numerous different versions have been released, both officially and otherwise, and the majority of the 'previously unreleased' recordings present on the 2010 album have been released in one form or another before.

"Stone Free" was originally recorded on November 2, 1966 and featured as the B-side to The Jimi Hendrix Experience's first single "Hey Joe", released on December 16, 1966. A version of "Bleeding Heart" recorded on March 24, 1970 was featured on the 1972 posthumous album War Heroes, while an alternate version was included on the 1994 release Blues. The first studio release of "Hear My Train a Comin'" was a heavily-edited recording on 1975's Midnight Lightning, while a live version was originally featured on Rainbow Bridge (and later Blues) and an acoustic version on Blues. "Mr. Bad Luck" is an early version of "Look Over Yonder", featured on Rainbow Bridge, while numerous live renditions of "Lover Man" have been released following Hendrix's death. Finally, "Fire" and "Red House" were originally featured on The Experience's debut album Are You Experienced in 1967.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times awarded the album "Two and a half stars (Out of four)", summarising their review by saying: "Fans will be fascinated by these bluesy riffs with the Experience, but this album of unreleased material from the archives doesn't convey much that was unknown."[4] Writing for music website MusicRadar.com, critic Joe Bosso compiled a track-by-track review of Valleys of Neptune, an album in the whole that he described as "one of the best albums of 2010".[5] The Financial Times were equally positive, awarding the album a four-star (of a maximum five) rating and describing it as "a cut above the many posthumous cash-ins released in [Hendrix's] name."[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jimi Hendrix, except "Bleeding Heart" by Elmore James and "Sunshine of Your Love" by Pete Brown, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton

No.TitleLength
1."Stone Free"3:45
2."Valleys of Neptune"4:01
3."Bleeding Heart"6:20
4."Hear My Train a Comin'"7:29
5."Mr. Bad Luck"2:56
6."Sunshine of Your Love" (instrumental Cream cover)6:45
7."Lover Man"4:15
8."Ships Passing Through the Night"5:52
9."Fire"3:12
10."Red House"8:20
11."Lullaby for the Summer" (instrumental)3:48
12."Crying Blue Rain"4:56
Total length:61:40

Recording details

All recording details are included in the Valleys of Neptune booklet.[2]

No. Track Date(s) Studio(s) Details Ref(s).
1 "Stone Free" April 7, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York Master recording [7][8]
April 9, 1969 Guitar and vocal overdubs [7][8][9]
April 14, 1969 Guitar and vocal overdubs [7][8]
May 17, 1969 Additional recording —
2 "Valleys of Neptune" September 23, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York Master recording [10]
May 15, 1970 Additional recording [11][12]
3 "Bleeding Heart" April 24, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [13][14]
4 "Hear My Train a Comin'" April 7, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [7][8]
5 "Mr. Bad Luck" May 5, 1967 Olympic Studios, London, England All original recording —
June 5, 1987 Air Studios, London, England Bass and drum overdubs
6 "Sunshine of Your Love" February 16, 1969 Olympic Studios, London, England All recording [15][16]
7 "Lover Man"
8 "Ships Passing Through the Night" April 14, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [7][17]
9 "Fire" February 17, 1969 Olympic Studios, London, England All recording [18][19]
10 "Red House"
11 "Lullaby for the Summer" April 7, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [7][8]
12 "Crying Blue Rain" February 16, 1969 Olympic Studios, London, England All recording [15][16]
June 5, 1987 Air Studios, London, England Bass and drum overdubs —

Personnel

Release details

Region Date Label Format Catalog Ref.
Benelux March 5, 2010 Sony Music CD 886976405625 [20]
Germany [21]
United Kingdom March 8, 2010 Sony Music CD 88697640562 [22]
France March 8, 2010 Strategic Marketing CD — [23]
United States March 9, 2010 Legacy Recordings CD 8869764056 [24]
Double LP album 88697640591 [25][26]
Japan March 10, 2010 Sony Music CD SICP2662 [27]

References

  • Geldeart, Gary; Rodham, Steve (2007), Jimi Hendrix: The Studio Log, Warrington, Cheshire: Jimpress, ISBN 9780952768647
  1. ^ a b Valleys of Neptune (Media notes). Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. 2009. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c McDermott, John (2009). Valleys of Neptune (Media notes). Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. pp. 20–23. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Jimi Hendrix's rare blues cover to be released after 40 years". NME. February 18, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Powers, Ann (March 5, 2010). "Album review: Jimi Hendrix's 'Valleys of Neptune'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 8, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Bosso, Joe (February 23, 2010). "Jimi Hendrix Valleys Of Neptune review: track-by-track". MusicRadar.com. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  6. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (March 5, 2010). "Jimi Hendrix: Valleys of Neptune". Financial Times. Retrieved March 8, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 73
  8. ^ a b c d e "April 7, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  9. ^ "April 9, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  10. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 84
  11. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 101
  12. ^ "May 15, 1970". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  13. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 74
  14. ^ "April 24, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 68
  16. ^ a b "February 16, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  17. ^ "April 14, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  18. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 69
  19. ^ "February 17, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  20. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune, Jimi Hendrix" (in Dutch). bol.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  21. ^ "The Jimi Hendrix Experience/New Unreleased Studi: Jimi Hendrix" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  22. ^ "Valleys of Neptune: Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  23. ^ "Valleys of neptune: Jimi Hendrix" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  24. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune: Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  25. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune (2 LP Vinyl): Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  26. ^ "Jimi Hendrix Valleys Of Neptune USA DOUBLE LP (495895)". eil.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  27. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune(Limited, Digipack)". HMV Group. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
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