Valleys of Neptune

Valleys of Neptune
Compilation album by Jimi Hendrix
Released March 5, 2010 (2010-03-05) (details)
Recorded 1967 (1967)–1970 (1970) (details), 1987
Genre Rock[1]
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 a posthumous compilation album[2] by American rock musician Jimi Hendrix. Released in the United States on March 9, 2010, the album boasts "12 previously unreleased studio recordings,"[3] including the title track, "one of the most sought after of all of Hendrix's commercially unavailable recordings."[3]

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.[4] 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.[4] The lead single released from the album was "Valleys of Neptune", on February 1, 2010, followed by "Bleeding Heart" on March 1;[5] music videos were produced for both songs.

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.

Album cover

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.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
The A.V. ClubB–[8]
Chicago Tribune[9]
Entertainment WeeklyB–[1]
Filter93/100[10]
Los Angeles Times[11]
PopMatters7/10[12]
Q[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
Spin7/10[15]

Valleys of Neptune received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, it received an average score of 68, based on 15 reviews.[16] In Rolling Stone, critic Will Hermes found the music beautiful and exciting, while writing, "Are these tracks 'finished' as Hendrix would've intended? Probably not. But as a glimpse of the guitarist extending his reach beyond the Experience trio, it's thrilling.".[14] Greg Kot, writing for the Chicago Tribune, called it "a sharp snapshot of a musical genius in the studio during a period of transition".[9] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney from the Financial Times called the album "a cut above the many posthumous cash-ins released in [Hendrix's] name."[17]

In the Los Angeles Times, Ann Powers was less enthusiastic and felt "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."[11] Q found it "lighter sonically" than Hendrix's better known work and ultimately of "limited appeal".[13]

Track listing

All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted..

No.TitleLength
1."Stone Free"  3:48
2."Valleys of Neptune"  4:05
3."Bleeding Heart" (Elmore James)6:23
4."Hear My Train A Comin'"  7:32
5."Mr. Bad Luck"  2:58
6."Sunshine of Your Love" (instrumental) (Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Pete Brown)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.TitleLength
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[4]

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Argentine Albums (CAPIF)[18] 7
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 8
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[20] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 7
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[23] 2
Croatian Foreign Albums (HDU)[24] 4
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[25] 13
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[26] 4
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] 5
French Albums (SNEP)[28] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] 34
Greek Albums (IFPI)[30] 4
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[31] 11
Irish Albums (IRMA)[32] 32
Italian Albums (FIMI)[33] 5
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[34] 92
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[35] 3
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[36] 17
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[37] 23
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[38] 5
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[39] 23
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[42] 21
US Billboard 200[43] 4
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[44] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[45] 1
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[46] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Billboard 200 124[47]

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog Ref.
Benelux March 5, 2010 Sony Music CD 886976405625 [48]
Germany [49]
United Kingdom March 8, 2010 Sony Music CD 88697640562 [50]
France March 8, 2010 Strategic Marketing CD [51]
United States March 9, 2010 Legacy Recordings CD 8869764056 [52]
Double LP album 88697640591 [53][54]
Japan March 10, 2010 Sony Music CD SICP2662 [55]

References

  • Geldeart, Gary; Rodham, Steve (2007). Jimi Hendrix: The Studio Log. Warrington, Cheshire: Jimpress. ISBN 978-0-9527686-4-7{{inconsistent citations}} 
  1. 1 2 Sinclair, Tom (March 3, 2010). "Valleys of Neptune". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  2. Faralaco, John (2010). "Appendix 5: Selected Post-1971 Compilation Albums". The Jimi Hendrix Story: New Edition, Including Updated Discography. IPS Books. pp. 125–131. ISBN 1890988391. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Valleys of Neptune (front cover sticker). Jimi Hendrix. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 McDermott, John (2009). Valleys of Neptune (booklet). Jimi Hendrix. Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. pp. 20–23.
  5. "Jimi Hendrix's rare blues cover to be released after 40 years". NME. February 18, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  6. "Rolling Stone article".
  7. Westergaard, Sean. "Review: Valleys of Neptune". AllMusic. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  8. Phipps, Keith (March 9, 2010). "Jimi Hendrix: Valleys Of Neptune". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Excerpts from Greg Kot's review of the latest Jimi Hendrix release". Chicago Tribune. March 12, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  10. Elder, Matt (March 18, 2010). "Reviews - Jimi Hendrix". Filter. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Powers, Ann (March 5, 2010). "Album review: Jimi Hendrix's 'Valleys of Neptune'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  12. Murphy, Sean (March 11, 2010). "God Is Not Dead: The Jimi Hendrix Re-Issues". PopMatters. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Q: 127. April 2010.
  14. 1 2 Hermes, Will (March 18, 2010). "Valleys of Neptune". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  15. Young, Jon (April 2010). "Historic Heavyosity". Spin: 89. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  16. "Reviews for Valleys Of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix". Metacritic. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  17. Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (March 5, 2010). "Jimi Hendrix: Valleys of Neptune". Financial Times. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  18. "Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Argentine Albums. CAPIF. On Fecha, select 01/03/2010 to see the correspondent chart. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  19. "Australiancharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  20. "Austriancharts.at – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  22. "Ultratop.be – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  23. "Jimi Hendrix – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Jimi Hendrix. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  24. "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  25. "Danishcharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  27. "Jimi Hendrix: Valleys of Neptune" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  28. "Lescharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  29. "Officialcharts.de – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  30. "Greekcharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  31. "Archívum › Kereső – előadó/cím szerint". slagerlistak.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved November 13, 2012. Type Jimi Hendrix under Előadó/cím: and press Keresés.
  32. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 10, 2010". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  33. "Italiancharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  34. "Mexicancharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  35. "Charts.org.nz – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  36. "Norwegiancharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  37. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  38. "Portuguesecharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  39. "Spanishcharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  40. "Swedishcharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  41. "Swisscharts.com – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  42. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  43. "Jimi Hendrix – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Jimi Hendrix. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  44. "Jimi Hendrix – Chart history" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Jimi Hendrix. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  45. "Jimi Hendrix – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Jimi Hendrix. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  46. "Jimi Hendrix – Chart history" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Jimi Hendrix. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  47. "Best of 2010 – Billboard Top 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  48. "Valleys of Neptune, Jimi Hendrix" (in Dutch). bol.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  49. "The Jimi Hendrix Experience/New Unreleased Studi: Jimi Hendrix" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  50. "Valleys of Neptune: Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  51. "Valleys of neptune: Jimi Hendrix" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  52. "Valleys of Neptune: Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  53. "Valleys of Neptune (2 LP Vinyl): Jimi Hendrix". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  54. "Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune USA DOUBLE LP (495895)". eil.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  55. "Valleys of Neptune(Limited, Digipack)". HMV Group. Retrieved January 30, 2010.

"World wide chart info – Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune". ultratop.be. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.