Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune

As I have said, this record is piece of a trilogy along with Both Sides of the Sky and People, Hell and Angels, as part of the continuing effort by Experience Hendrix LLC to release high quality posthumous material from this genius guitarist. This compilation mostly features the members of the Experience - Mitch Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding on bass and backing vocals - although Billy Cox does make an appearance or two and there are the occasional extra hangers-on adding some percussion and vocals.

While the versions are unreleased, a number of the songs are familiar to fans, including the opening "Stone Free", of course, but there are always variations on the theme - in this case, a different lead vocal, more harmony vocals, a changed solo and an extended ending. "Valleys of Neptune" is a unique song to this record, and it is a typical Hendrix sci-fi-themed number with several changes, although it sounds a bit unfinished - or simply, a little tentative in this form. Another one that was new to my ears, anyway, is "Bleeding Heart", an upbeat funky blues that was originally by Elmore James and sounds familiar to some of Jimi's other posthumous blues, but is pretty damn cool on its own merits and it has a couple of fierce lead breaks. Of course, "Hear My Train A-Comin'" has shown up in numerous incarnations over the years and it's always fantastic - love this Muddy Waters-ish blues! Jimi combines some Bob Dylan-esque lyrics to the riff-rocker "Mr. Bad Luck", which has had some variation released in the past, but this take is exclusive, and then we get an instrumental jam on one of their faves, Cream's hit, "Sunshine of Your Love", including a percussion break with Rocki Dzidzornu, the man who played congas on "Sympathy For the Devil".

Of course, any fan is familiar with "Lover Man", although this slow take is vastly different than any of the others that I have heard. "Ships Passing Through the Night" also appears to be exclusive to this release and is an interesting, keyboard-led jam that seems like it could have used a little tweaking, but is pretty hip regardless, especially the guitar work. Of course, "Fire" needs no introduction and this sounds like an Experience rehearsal with the main difference being extended solo sections - certainly not a bad thing when we're talking about the Experience! "Red House" was a constant in Hendrix' set and is always a treat, as Jimi lets loose on this basic blues with his stellar playing and this is followed by "Lullaby For the Summer", a very cool, upbeat jam that has elements that have appeared elsewhere, but is still great on its own, and it all concludes with "Crying Blue Rain", which, while the title comes from lyrics to "In From the Storm", it is actually a slow blues jam in the vein of "Hear My Train A-Comin'".

I'm a die-hard fan and there is not much that this man has done that I don't think it pretty incredible but even saying that, these new posthumous releases are damn well done, with quality songs and performances, even if some are kinda cobbled together. Well worth it!