For those Jimi Hendrix fans who can't wait until the Experience Hendrix show at the Uptown on March 16, there will be something special a week earlier, on March 9. That would be the release of something that hasn't happened in nearly 40 years -- a new Hendrix album. Valleys of Neptune is 12 tracks drawn from the original Jimi Hendrix Experience's final studio recordings. These songs bridge the gap between Electric Ladyland and First Rays of the New Rising Sun.
There are covers of Elmore James' "Bleeding Heart" and Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love," as well as the much-sought-after title track. These are what the press release calls "fully realized studio recordings," meaning that these aren't beefed-up demos. This is stuff that might've seen release at a later date, as B-sides or something of that nature, had Hendrix not died at 27. True, there are rerecorded versions of "Fire," "Red House" and "Stone Free," so it's not all new studio shiz, but some's better than none, right?
Also available on March 9 will be the complete Hendrix back catalog (the LPs Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, and First Rays of the New Rising Sun, in addition to the best-of Smash Hits) as deluxe CD/DVD combos, as well as vinyl LPs. Each DVD will feature a documentary.
Of course, if that's not enough, you'll be able to pick up Live At Woodstock on DVD and Blu-ray. It's not quite the Beatles remastered, but for a generation of kids raised on Guitar Hero, it's pretty swank that they'll be able to get their mitts on the God of the Guitar himself in a nicer version.
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