Hendrix sends music from beyond the grave
Ben Skipworth
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Life
On the last track of the 1968 Electric Ladyland album, Jimi Hendrix sang, "If I don't meet you no more in this world, then uh, I'll meet you in the next one and don't be late."
That line from the epic closing track titled "Voodoo Child" has been suspended in time ever since. Hendrix would never formally release another studio album, dying at the age of 27 just two years later.
It has been 40 years since Hendrix entered the studio to begin recording what is now known as his posthumous Valleys of Neptune record. The album dropped worldwide this past Tuesday and featured 12 previously unreleased tracks.
It's no secret that the last two years of Hendrix's life had literally been a roller coaster.
Halfway through the making of Electric Ladyland, his producer, Chas Chandler, walked out on him. Hendrix's relationship with bassist Noel Redding quickly began to deteriorate. Years of touring and hard partying had taken their toll as well.
Hendrix had become an icon and a superstar; however, it seemed that by 1969 nothing was going his way.
Hendrix had experimented with a new form of recording. He wouldn't hand Redding any chord charts or anything else to use as a crutch, he simply began to jam.
Sometimes the band would come out with a great foundation to a song, but more frequently they would leave completely empty handed. This hit or miss style of creativity would be the thing that pushed Redding out of the band.
Hendrix called long-time friend Billy Cox to fill the void of the bass player. To those that have already heard the CD, the general feeling is that Cox and Hendrix seem be on the same brain waves musically.
Eddie Kramer was brought in to convert the material from analog to a digital format and aptly so. Kramer worked on many of Hendrix's original recordings.
The liner notes also feature the dates, studios and personnel for each song.
The title track "Valleys of Neptune" isn't a rough demo, it has clearly defined verses and a chorus. Like "Voodoo Child" from Electric Ladyland, "Valleys" leaves the listener hanging by a fragile thread.
The song is without lead guitar, yet at times it you can almost imagine Hendrix breaking out in signature licks amidst the silence.
The Hendrix estate plans to re-release several other classic Hendrix albums through a new agreement with Sony.
That line from the epic closing track titled "Voodoo Child" has been suspended in time ever since. Hendrix would never formally release another studio album, dying at the age of 27 just two years later.
It has been 40 years since Hendrix entered the studio to begin recording what is now known as his posthumous Valleys of Neptune record. The album dropped worldwide this past Tuesday and featured 12 previously unreleased tracks.
It's no secret that the last two years of Hendrix's life had literally been a roller coaster.
Halfway through the making of Electric Ladyland, his producer, Chas Chandler, walked out on him. Hendrix's relationship with bassist Noel Redding quickly began to deteriorate. Years of touring and hard partying had taken their toll as well.
Hendrix had become an icon and a superstar; however, it seemed that by 1969 nothing was going his way.
Hendrix had experimented with a new form of recording. He wouldn't hand Redding any chord charts or anything else to use as a crutch, he simply began to jam.
Sometimes the band would come out with a great foundation to a song, but more frequently they would leave completely empty handed. This hit or miss style of creativity would be the thing that pushed Redding out of the band.
Hendrix called long-time friend Billy Cox to fill the void of the bass player. To those that have already heard the CD, the general feeling is that Cox and Hendrix seem be on the same brain waves musically.
Eddie Kramer was brought in to convert the material from analog to a digital format and aptly so. Kramer worked on many of Hendrix's original recordings.
The liner notes also feature the dates, studios and personnel for each song.
The title track "Valleys of Neptune" isn't a rough demo, it has clearly defined verses and a chorus. Like "Voodoo Child" from Electric Ladyland, "Valleys" leaves the listener hanging by a fragile thread.
The song is without lead guitar, yet at times it you can almost imagine Hendrix breaking out in signature licks amidst the silence.
The Hendrix estate plans to re-release several other classic Hendrix albums through a new agreement with Sony.
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