Jimi Hendrix - Rainbow Bridge

 

Despite the extremely misleading title, this is not the soundtrack to the movie Rainbow Bridge but rather a compilation of some songs that Jimi was working on prior to his untimely (to say the least) death for his fourth album, along with a live version of "Hear My Train A Comin'". I had actually forgotten what was on this album but picked it up at a discounted price just to check it out again.

Most, if not all, of these songs have since been released on various posthumous records, of which there have been a glut recently, although I am not complaining, as they have contained some amazing music. But at the time of this original release, this album was a treasure trove of terrific "new" songs that continued to show the man's songwriting greatness and made it all that much sadder that he left us far too young.

Most of the tracks are cut with Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox, although on "Room Full of Mirrors" Buddy Miles takes over the drum seat and there are some extra guests/friends making appearances here'n'there.

This set opens with the now-classic "Dolly Dagger", kinda funky, with a damn catchy chorus, lots of great licks (of course), hip arrangement and plenty of Jimi coolness. "Earth Blues" was originally cut with Miles but Mitchell overdubbed drums on it but I can see it as a Buddy-esque semi-funky number, but through Jimi's unique window, of course, and again with plenty of riffage throughout, "Pali Gap" is a quieter, cleverly melodic instrumental, showing Jimi's breath-taking mastery of melody and guitar, "Room Full of Mirrors" has lots of echo-laden guitar work and some rare (for Jimi) slide playing over a fairly fast-paced backing before we get to a solo take on the "Star Spangled Banner" which is very different from the Woodstock version and while the guitar sounds are smart, varied, layered and harmonic, it is pretty straight-forward without any of the amazingly bombastic, and therefore somewhat politically charged, sonic blasts of the more well known take.

"Look Over Yonder" comes back into the group rock'n'roll territory with some classic Hendrix sounds and guitar work, albeit with a few corny verses, I have yet to hear a bad version of "Hear My Train A Comin'" and here Jimi continues to amaze'n'astound with his incredible playing, dynamics (from everyone involved) and wah-wah work (and it's a great song based on a Muddy Waters riff), and then we end with another fantastic'n'melodic number (and one of my faves), "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)", a great jam, cool chord progression and catchy as hell chorus!

So, don't buy this thinking it is a live recording - or even a soundtrack - but if you haven't gotten these tunes on any other releases yet, this is some strong stuff, even if I believe that Jimi would have tightened things up a bit before he put them out himself.