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First Rays of the New Rising Sun

Jimi Hendrix - First Rays of the New Rising Sun Audio CD

A fair review of the Jimi Hendrix "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jimi Hendrix reviews here, or go back to the Jimi Hendrix tabs.

Band: Jimi Hendrix
Title: First Rays of the New Rising Sun
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-04-22
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Freedom 2: Izabella 3: Night Bird Flying 4: Angel 5: Room Full of Mirrors 6: Dolly Dagger 7: Ezy Ryder 8: Drifting 9: Beginnings 10: Stepping Stone 11: My Friend 12: Straight Ahead 13: Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) 14: Earth Blues 15: Astro Man 16: In from the Storm 17: Belly Button Window

Great but i dont like 1 song
its all good. i think this cd is an amazing hendrix record in its own right.

stand outs are hey baby, freedom, angel and others. .

however i find myself skipping "my friends" a lot. . seems out of place. i would have loved for pali gap to have been there instead. i would die lol.

Critically his Best work...sadley will never sell like his earlier Albums
It shows terrific songwritting skills, lavished arrangements and excellent playing. Jimi had advanced very much as a songwriter and producer from 1966 to 1970, (1970 when this album was being made). Sadly the majority "fans" will nevre care for it, even had it been released when Jimi was alive, they cry for more "Purple Haze" and who knows, the next album mighta been a return to a more straight forward rock, or Jimi mighta just carried, no longer wanting to be a show freak and known for burning his guitar, but known as a ARTIST. . . . just look at the DVD's "Moneterey" where he's showboating around, then watch the DVD "Wild BLue Angel" he died just 3 weeks after that concert and you see him just standing. . . . just standing and playing some amazing Guitar! (with exception on a few songs like Foxey lady" where he has fun and showboats).

Jimi died before this album was completed, but the majority of songs were finished and I think this CD comes pretty close to what Jimi wouda have released in 1971, a few notables: "My Friend" was recorded in 1968, good song, but woud not have been included, "Pai Gap" from 1970 probbaly wouda have been included (You can find that song on a compolation CD called "South Saturn Delta").

Jimi had a few new songs he had just started that may have made it onto the new album, "The Valley of Neptune" stands out os one of them, "Saving my Love for Linda" less so but a possibility".

But what we have here is 17 of his best creative work, songs that carry a message of peace and undersatnding, "Straigh Ahead", "Hey baby" "Belly Button Window" ect. Songs well crafted, songs Jimi had actually been working on since 1969 and woud not have been released until 1971. Jimi had such a backlog of songs, at one point, he actually though of releasing it as 3 record set, who knows, he still might have, but what we have here is a great representation of his Final vinal vision. . . . . . . enjoy!.

Happy with CD!
Prompt delivery. CD exactly as represented. Would buy from again. : ) A++.

Headed to a new, exciting path (unfortunately did not live long enough).
It really doesn't matter some of them were left unfinished - what did surface showed a great but unfulfilled promise. The tracks display a vibrant Jimmi & band combining Rock, R & B in an exciting new direction.
God only knows what he could've accomplished. Great stuff !.

Not the final word on Jimi's last album
Several posthumous releases have attempted to put this issue to rest. Ever since Jimi's untimely death in September 1970 people have debated over what exactly his last album would have sounded like had he lived to finish it. The official "First Rays Of The New Rising Sun" is the best attempt to date. However, it could have been a lot more comprehensive and true to Jimi's vision.

As noted by previous reviews, the producers should have considered Jimi's own handwritten notes. He left pretty detailed instructions about the title to use, songs to include, cover art and even the running order. Unfortunately, most of this was disregarded by Experience Hendrix/MCA.

For details on Jimi's wishes for his fourth studio album read the article on Wikipedia on First Rays or the book "Black Gold" by Steven Robey.

If I could take over Experience Hendrix for a day, I'd issue a 2CD set
called "People Hell and Angels" and include the majority of actual
songs (not jams) that Jimi recorded for his planned triple album. Anything from May 1969 to his late sessions in August 1970. I would have used the cover art Jimi drew up in the summer before his
death. Without a doubt, Jimi probably would have changed his mind about what he wanted on his next album. But Jimi's handwritten ideas are better than the guess work that's been going on since 1970.

Here's my version of a 2 disc version of First Rays Of The New Rising
Sun. All of the songs are included on the official First Rays except
where noted. Maybe EH will reissue the album as a deluxe edition and include more of these tracks.

DISC ONE
1. Dolly Dagger
2. Night Bird Flying
3. Room Full Of Mirrors
4. Belly Button Window
5. Freedom
6. Ezy Ryder
7. Astro Man
8. Drifting
9. Straight Ahead
10. Drifter's Escape (from South Saturn Delta)
11. Come Down Hard On Me (from the JHE box set)
12. Beginnings
13. Cherokee Mist (from the JHE box set)
14. Angel
15. Stepping Stone
16. Izabella
17. Hear My Train A Comin' (the outstanding May 1969 Band of Gypsys version. An outtake from the :Blues album)

DISC TWO
1. Bleeding Heart (from South Saturn Delta)
2. Earth Blues Today
3. Country Blues (from the JHE box set)
4. Midnight Lightning (from South Saturn Delta)
5. Burning Desire (edited version of Baggy's Rehearsal studios 1st take)
6. Valleys Of Neptune (Heard on Lifelines but unavailable commercially)
7. Heaven Has No Tomorrow (Heard on Lifelines but unavailable commercially)
8. Sending My Love (Heard on Lifelines but unavailable commercially)
9. Pali Gap (from South Saturn Delta)
10. Hey baby (New Rising Sun)
11. Message To Love (from the JHE box set)
12. Power of Soul (from South Saturn Delta)
13. Once I Had A Woman (from :Blues)
14. Bolero (cool instrumental. Unavailable commercially)
15. In From The Storm

My version would feature 2 1/2 hours of music. If 2Pac can put out a
2CD posthumous studio album so can Jimi! And I'm sure people would buy
it.

.

You can see a complete list of all Jimi Hendrix discography, or go back to the Jimi Hendrix tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.