Valleys of Neptune

Valleys of Neptune
Studio album by Jimi Hendrix
Released March 5, 2010 (2010-03-05) (details)
Recorded 1967 (1967)–1970 (1970) (details), {1987}
Genre Blues rock, psychedelic rock, funk rock, acid rock
Length 61:40
Label Legacy
Producer Jimi Hendrix, Chas Chandler, Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, John McDermott
Jimi Hendrix chronology
Live at Woburn
(2009)		 Valleys of Neptune
(2010)		 West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology
(2010)
Singles from Valleys of Neptune
  1. "Valleys of Neptune"
    Released: February 9, 2010
  2. "Bleeding Heart"
    Released: March 1, 2010

Valleys of Neptune is the posthumous, eleventh studio album by American psychedelic 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] Recorded mostly 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.

Contents

Background

The majority of the tracks featured on Valleys of Neptune were recorded in early 1969, while Hendrix was experimenting with songs for his unfinished fourth album, following the successful release of Electric Ladyland in September 1968. Numerous 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, albeit sometimes in inferior quality or different versions.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
Washington Post (favorable)[5]
Lincoln Journal Star (A)[6]

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".[7] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney in the Financial Times was 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."[8] Ann Powers in the Los Angeles Times awarded the album "Two and a half stars (Out of four)", summarising her 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."[9]

Track listing

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

No. Title Length
1. "Stone Free"   3:48
2. "Valleys of Neptune"   4:05
3. "Bleeding Heart" (Elmore James cover) 6:23
4. "Hear My Train a Comin'"   7:32
5. "Mr. Bad Luck"   2:58
6. "Sunshine of Your Love" (instrumental Cream cover) 6:48
7. "Lover Man"   4:17
8. "Ships Passing Through the Night"   5:54
9. "Fire"   3:14
10. "Red House"   8:22
11. "Lullaby for the Summer" (instrumental) 3:51
12. "Crying Blue Rain"   4:59
Total length:
 61:40
Target bonus tracks
No. Title Length
13. "Trash Man" (instrumental) 7:27
14. "Slow Version" (instrumental) 4:58
Total length:
 73:59

Recording details

All recording details are included in the Valleys of Neptune booklet,[2] except for the Target tracks, which are listed on the inside of the Digipack behind the CD.

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 [10][11]
April 9, 1969 Guitar and vocal overdubs [10][11][12]
April 14, 1969 Guitar and vocal overdubs [10][11]
May 17, 1969 Additional recording —
2 "Valleys of Neptune" September 23, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York Master recording [13]
May 15, 1970 Additional recording [14][15]
3 "Bleeding Heart" April 24, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [16][17]
4 "Hear My Train a Comin'" April 7, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [10][11]
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 [18][19]
7 "Lover Man"
8 "Ships Passing Through the Night" April 14, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [10][20]
9 "Fire" February 17, 1969 Olympic Studios, London, England All recording [21][22]
10 "Red House"
11 "Lullaby for the Summer" April 7, 1969 Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York All recording [10][11]
12 "Crying Blue Rain" February 16, 1969 Olympic Studios, London, England All recording [18][19]
June 5, 1987 Air Studios, London, England Bass and drum overdubs —

Target bonus tracks

No. Track Date Studio Details Ref.
13 "Slow Version" February 14, 1969 Olympic Studios, London, England All recording —
14 "Trash Man" April 3, 1969 Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York All recording —

Album artwork

The album artwork is based on a painting by Hendrix himself in 1957. "He went through a phase doing watercolors at school and this was one of the 110 drawings of his that our father kept. When I saw this one he did in 1957, it screamed 'Valleys of Neptune' to me so we knew we'd use it for this project," said his step-sister, Janie. The album artwork is a mix of his painting and a Linda McCartney photograph of him with a blue tint.[23]

Personnel

Primary musicians
Additional musicians
Original production personnel
Posthumous production personnel
  • Janie Hendrix – production
  • John McDermott – production, essay
  • Chandler Harrod – engineering assistance
  • Rick Kwan – additional engineering
  • Derik Lee – additional engineering
  • Charlie Stavish – additional engineering
  • Aaron Walk – additional engineering
  • George Marino – mastering
Graphic personnel
  • Phil Yarnall – graphic design
  • Linda McCartney – front cover photography
  • James Davenport – back cover photography, booklet photography
  • Jerry Schatzberg – booklet photography
  • Jonathan Stathakis – booklet photography
  • Graham F. Page – booklet photography
  • John Sullivan – booklet photography
  • Ulvis Alberts – booklet photography
  • Willis Hogan Jr. – booklet photography
  • Peter Riches – booklet photography

Release details

Region Date Label Format Catalog Ref.
Benelux March 5, 2010 Sony Music CD 886976405625 [24]
Germany [25]
United Kingdom March 8, 2010 Sony Music CD 88697640562 [26]
France March 8, 2010 Strategic Marketing CD — [27]
United States March 9, 2010 Legacy Recordings CD 8869764056 [28]
Double LP album 88697640591 [29][30]
Japan March 10, 2010 Sony Music CD SICP2662 [31]

Chart performance

Chart Peak position
Billboard 200 4[32]
US Rock Albums 2
UK Albums Chart 21[33]
Argentine Albums Chart 7[34]
Australian Albums Chart 8[35]
Swedish Albums Chart 7
Polish Albums Chart 23[36]
Hungarian Albums Chart 11[37]

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Billboard 200 124[38]

References

  • Geldeart, Gary; Rodham, Steve (2007), Jimi Hendrix: The Studio Log, Warrington, Cheshire: Jimpress, ISBN 9780952768647 
  1. ^ a b (2009) Album notes for Valleys of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix [front cover sticker]. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C..
  2. ^ a b c McDermott, John (2009). Album notes for Valleys of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix, pp. 20–23 [booklet]. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C..
  3. ^ "Jimi Hendrix's rare blues cover to be released after 40 years". NME. February 18, 2010. http://www.nme.com/news/jimi-hendrix/49823. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  4. ^ Westergaard, Sean. "Review: Valleys of Neptune". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1716710. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  5. ^ Richards, Chris (March 7, 2010). "Washington Post review". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030405761.html. 
  6. ^ "Lincoln Journal Star review". http://journalstar.com/entertainment/music/article_865c59d4-2afc-11df-803d-001cc4c03286.html. 
  7. ^ Bosso, Joe (February 23, 2010). "Jimi Hendrix Valleys Of Neptune review: track-by-track". MusicRadar.com. http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/jimi-hendrix-valleys-of-neptune-review-track-by-track-237776. Retrieved February 23, 2010. 
  8. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (March 5, 2010). "Jimi Hendrix: Valleys of Neptune". Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8b4b8d82-2676-11df-aff3-00144feabdc0,s01=1.html?nclick_check=1. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  9. ^ Powers, Ann (March 5, 2010). "Album review: Jimi Hendrix's 'Valleys of Neptune'". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/03/album-review-jimi-hendrixs-valleys-of-neptune.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 73
  11. ^ a b c d e "April 7, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19690407,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  12. ^ "April 9, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19690409,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  13. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 84
  14. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 101
  15. ^ "May 15, 1970". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19700515,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  16. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 74
  17. ^ "April 24, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19690424,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  18. ^ a b Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 68
  19. ^ a b "February 16, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19690216,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  20. ^ "April 14, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19690414,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  21. ^ Geldeart & Rodham 2007, p. 69
  22. ^ "February 17, 1969". The Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.. http://jimihendrix.com/encyclopedia/document,19690217,1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  23. ^ "Rolling Stones article". http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/01/29/hendrixs-valleys-of-neptune-off-lp-of-last-recordings-hits-the-web/. 
  24. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune, Jimi Hendrix" (in Dutch). bol.com. http://www.bol.com/nl/p/muziek/valleys-of-neptune/1000004007772999/index.html. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  25. ^ "The Jimi Hendrix Experience/New Unreleased Studi: Jimi Hendrix" (in German). Amazon.de. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00328G4V6. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  26. ^ "Valleys of Neptune: Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.co.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0034XRDQE. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  27. ^ "Valleys of neptune: Jimi Hendrix" (in French). Amazon.fr. http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00328G4V6. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  28. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune: Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00328G4V6. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  29. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune (2 LP Vinyl): Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0033AGPEE. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  30. ^ "Jimi Hendrix Valleys Of Neptune USA DOUBLE LP (495895)". eil.com. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=495895. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  31. ^ "Valleys Of Neptune(Limited, Digipack)". HMV Group. http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/3734760. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  32. ^ Billboard album charts info - Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune at Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  33. ^ "UK chart history - Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune". www.chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=49123. Retrieved 6 September 2011. 
  34. ^ http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PeriodoPublicado_AA=2010&PeriodoPublicado_MM=3&CO=6&CODOP=ESCM&ACCION=+Listar+
  35. ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp?chart=1G50
  36. ^ http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=572&lang=pl
  37. ^ http://mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=top_40_album_es_valogataslemez_lista
  38. ^ "Best of 2010 - Billboard Top 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-year-end/top-billboard-200?year=2010. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 

External links

"World wide chart info - Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune". www.ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Jimi+Hendrix&titel=Valleys+Of+Neptune&cat=a. Retrieved 6 September 2011. 

Jimi Hendrix | Jimi Hendrix Experience | Band of Gypsys
Studio albums
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Smash Hits · Electric Jimi Hendrix · Soundtrack Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix · Musique Originale du Film Jimi Plays Berkeley · Re-Experienced · The Essential Jimi Hendrix · The Essential Jimi Hendrix Volume Two · Stone Free · The Singles Album · Kiss the Sky · Live & Unreleased: The Radio Show · Cornerstones: 1967–1970 · Lifelines: The Jimi Hendrix Story · Sessions · Footlights · Stages · The Ultimate Experience · Blues · Voodoo Soup · First Rays of the New Rising Sun · South Saturn Delta · Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix · BBC Sessions · The Jimi Hendrix Experience · Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection · The Singles Collection · Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Jimi Hendrix · West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology
Official bootlegs
Singles
"Hey Joe" · "Purple Haze" · "The Wind Cries Mary" · "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" · "Foxy Lady" · "Up from the Skies" · "All Along the Watchtower" · "Crosstown Traffic" · "Stone Free" · "Fire" · "Stepping Stone" · "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" · "No Such Animal" · "Freedom" · "Angel" · "Gypsy Eyes" · "Dolly Dagger" · "Johnny B. Goode" (live) · "Hear My Train a Comin'" · "Day Tripper" · "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" · "Valleys of Neptune" · "Bleeding Heart" · "Love or Confusion" · "Fire" · "Like a Rolling Stone"
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Book:Jimi Hendrix  · Category:Jimi Hendrix  · Portal:Rock and Roll