Here is the box set “Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix vision”
On September 13th, “ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS: A JIMI HENDRIX VISION” will be released, a deluxe box set featuring 39 tracks (38 of which previously unreleased) recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (featuring Billy Cox on bass, Mitch Mitchell on drums) at Electric Lady Studios between June and August 1970, shortly before Jimi Hendrix’s premature death on September 18, 1970.
The set also includes a Blu-ray featuring 20 new 5.1 surround sound mixes of the entire “First Rays Of The New Rising Sun” album plus 3 bonus tracks (“Valleys Of Neptune,” “Pali Gap” and “Lover Man”). The Blu-ray features the documentary “Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision.” The film chronicles the creation of the studio, which rose from the ashes of a Manhattan nightclub to become a state-of-the-art recording facility, inspired by Hendrix’s desire for a permanent studio. Directed by John McDermott and produced by Janie Hendrix, George Scott and McDermott, the film features exclusive interviews with Steve Winwood (who joined Hendrix on the first night of recording at the new studio), Experience bassist Billy Cox and the original Electric Lady crew members who helped Hendrix realize his dream.
The documentary features previously unseen footage and photos, as well as analysis of classic Hendrix songs like “Freedom,” “Angel” and “Dolly Dagger” by engineer Eddie Kramer. The new release follows another documentary from the same team, “Music, Money, Madness… Jimi Hendrix Live In Maui,” which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Music Film in 2022.
The box set includes an extensive booklet with previously unseen photos, Hendrix’s handwritten song drafts, and detailed liner notes.
Headlining the project is an unreleased version of “Angel (Take 7).” This newly mixed version features the original performances recorded by Hendrix, Mitchell and Cox on July 23, 1970. It does not include any of the additional drums and percussion that Mitchell decided to add to this main version after Jimi’s death. Check out the new music video for “Angel (Take 7)” here.
The “Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision” box set is available in two versions: 5 vinyls or 3 CDs containing the 39 tracks recorded by Jimi and his band, consisting of bassist Billy Cox and drummer Mitch Mitchell, in the studio during the last four months of the guitarist’s life.
Hendrix was hard at work creating First Rays Of The New Rising Sun, the double album that would follow 1968’s Electric Ladyland. Inspired by the possibilities of the new studio, the Experience created classic songs like “Night Bird Flying,” “Freedom” and “Dolly Dagger” from scratch. The set offers a comprehensive look at the work Hendrix undertook during that summer of 1970. The music ranges from four-track demo recordings of “Valleys Of Neptune” and “Heaven Has No Sorrow” to alternate arrangements of new songs like “Come Down Hard On Me” and “Belly Button Window,” live studio sessions of “Tune X/In From The Storm,” “Astro Man” and “The Long Medley,” a 26-minute exploration of “Beginnings,” “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun),” “Keep On Groovin'” and “Freedom.” Additionally, the set features many of the mixes the guitarist completed with engineer Eddie Kramer before departing for a European tour on August 30 at the Isle of Wight Festival in England. Hendrix would never return to Electric Lady Studios.
The 5.1 surround sound tracks on the Blu-ray release of “Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision” include all 17 tracks from the posthumous album “First Rays of the New Rising Sun” (1997, recorded 1968-1970), as well as “Pali Gap” from “Rainbow Bridge” (1971, recorded 1970), “Lover Man” from “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” box set (2000, recorded 1970), and “Valleys of Neptune” from “Valleys of Neptune” (2010, recorded 1969-1970).
“My brother had a musical vision,” Janie Hendrix reflects. “With this project, it seemed fitting to highlight not only his music, but also his lasting contribution to Electric Lady Studios. He was driven by an inner desire to build a base of operations where he could record everything he heard. Although his life was cut short, many other talented artists continue to express themselves within those magical walls of 52 West 8th Street.”
In celebration of the release, New York City will temporarily rename the portion of West 8th Street between 6th Street and MacDougal Street as JIMI HENDRIX WAY on August 8. This is the block where Electric Lady Studios was built and still stands today. There will also be a media screening event inside the studio that evening.
Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision 5LP TRACKLIST:
DISC ONE
SIDE ONE
1) Ezy Ryder (Alternate Mix)* 6/18/70
2) Valleys Of Neptune (Alternate Version)* 6/15/70
3) Straight Ahead (Takes 1 & 2)* 6/17/70
4) Astro Man (Takes 9 & 10)* 6/24/70
5) Drifting (Takes 1 & 2)* 6/25/70
6) Night Bird Flying (Take 25)* 6/16/70
SIDE TWO
1) Earth Blues (Alternate Mix)* 6/26/70
2) Drifter’s Escape (Takes 1 & 2)* 6/17/70
3) Astro Man (Take 14)* 6/24/70
4) Further Up The Road* 6/24/70
DISC TWO
SIDE ONE
1) Dolly Dagger (Takes 17 & 18)* 7/1/70
2) Lover Man 7/20/70
3) Freedom (Take 4)* 6/25/70
4) Angel (Take 7)* 7/23/70
5) Beginnings (Take 5)*
SIDE TWO
1) The Long Medley (Astro Man / Beginnings / Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) / Midnight Lightning (Keep On Groovin’) / Freedom)* 6/24/70
DISC THREE
SIDE ONE
1) Freedom (Alternate Version)* 7/19/70
2) Valleys Of Neptune (Demo)* 6/70
3) Tune X*/Just Came In (Take 6)* 7/22/70
4) Drifting (Alternate Version)* 8/20/70
5) Messing Around (Take 17)* 6/16/70
SIDE TWO
1) Tune X* / Just Came In (Take 8)* 7/22/70
2) Dolly Dagger (Alternate Version)* 7/19/70
3) Come Down Hard On Me (take 15)* 7/15/70
4) Heaven Has No Sorrow (Demo)* 6/70
DISC FOUR
SIDE ONE
1) Midnight Lightning* / Beginnings* 7/1/70
2) Dolly Dagger (Mix 2)* 8/20/70
3) Belly Button Window (Take 1)* 7/23/70
SIDE TWO
1) Night Bird Flying (Alternate Version)* 8/20/70
2) Freedom (Alternate Version)* 8/20/70
3) Straight Ahead (Alternate Mix)* 8/20/70
4) In From The Storm (Alternate Mix)* 8/24/70
DISC FIVE
SIDE ONE
1) Bolero* / Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) (Alternate Mix)* 8/22/70
2) Drifter’s Escape (Alternate Mix)* 8/22/70
SIDE TWO
1) Bleeding Heart (Alternate Mix)* 8/22/70
2) Drifting (Alternate Version)* 11/20/70
3) Astro Man (Alternate Version)* 8/22/70
4) Room Full Of Mirrors (Alternate Version)* 10/20/70
5) Angel (Alternate Version)* 10/19/70
*Previously unreleased
Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision 3CD tracklist:
DISC ONE
1) Ezy Ryder (Alternate Mix)* 6/18/70
2) Valleys Of Neptune (Alternate Version)* 6/15/70
3) Straight Ahead (Takes 1 & 2)* 6/17/70
4) Drifter’s Escape (Takes 1 & 2)* 6/17/70
5) Astro Man (Takes 9 & 10)* 6/24/70
6) Astro Man (Take 14)* 6/24/70
7) Drifting (Takes 1 & 2)* 6/25/70
8) Night Bird Flying (Take 25)* 6/16/70
9) Farther Up The Road* 6/24/70
10) The Long Medley (Astro Man / Beginnings / Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) / Midnight Lightning (Keep On Groovin’) / Freedom)* 6/24/70
DISC TWO
1) Earth Blues (Alternate Mix)* 6/26/70
2) Dolly Dagger (Takes 17 & 18)* 7/1/70
3) Angel (Take 7)* 7/23/70
4) Beginnings (Take 5)* 7/1/70
5) Lover Man 7/20/70
6) Tune X* / Just Came In (Take 6)* 7/22/70
7) Heaven Has No Sorry (Demo)* 6/26/70
8) Freedom (Take 4)* 6/25/70
9) Valleys Of Neptune (Demo)* 6/26/70
10) Come Down Hard On Me (Take 15)* 7/15/70
11) Dolly Dagger (Alternate Version)* 7/19/70
12) Messing Around (Take 17)* 6/16/70
13) Tune X* / Just Came In (Take 8)* 7/22/70
14) Drifting (Alternate Version)* 8/20/70
15) Freedom (Alternate Version)* 7/19/70
16) Belly Button Window (Take 1)* 7/23/70
DISC THREE
1) Dolly Dagger (Mix 2)* 8/20/70
2) Night Bird Flying (Alternate Version)* 8/20/70
3) Freedom (Alternate Version)* 8/20/70
4) Midnight Lightning* / Beginnings* 7/1/70
5) Straight Ahead (Alternate Mix)* 8/20/70
6) In From The Storm (Alternate Mix)* 8/24/70
7) Bolero* / Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) (Alternate Mix)* 8/22/70
8) Drifter’s Escape (Alternate Mix)* 8/22/70
9) Astro Man (Alternate Version)* 8/22/70
10) Bleeding Heart (Alternate Mix)* 8/22/70
11) Drifting (Alternate Version)* 11/20/70
12) Room Full Of Mirrors (Alternate Version)* 10/19/70
13) Angel (Alternate Version)* 10/19/70
*Previously unreleased
First Rays of the New Rising Sun + Bonus Tracks 5.1 Mixes (contained on Blu-ray with both vinyl and CD versions of package)
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) Astroman
16) From the Storm
17) Belly Button Window
18) Pali Gap (from Rainbow Bridge album)
19) Lover Man (from Jimi Hendrix Experience box set)
20) Valleys of Neptune (from Valleys of Neptune album)
All 20 tracks are presented in 5.1 surround sound for the first time.