Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Maui

Above, the front of the set's package front (top) and the booklet. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A package arrived at my post office box today. It was the Blu-ray/CD set, Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Maui. 

Back in the summer of 1970, a movie was in "production" in Maui, Hawaii that was called Rainbow Bridge. It was a hippie counter-culture flick "directed" by Chuck Wein. It was a mess production-wise. No script. No pre-production. It was basically a mess captured on film.

Hendrix had been working on a new studio in New York, Electric Lady Studios, at the time, but work on it stopped and started, depending upon there was any money to work on it to completion. Much of Hendrix's concert fees that year went to the building of the studio. Manager Michael Jeffrey saw the Maui flick as a means to bring in some cash to complete the studio. Hendrix really didn't want to have any part of the movie, but was eventually talked into it.

Admittedly, when Rainbow Bridge first came out in theaters, I was, admittedly, entertained by it even though it was obviously flawed. I have a copy of the movie on VHS. One shot in the movie I got a kick out of seeing (nearly 40 years later) was of La Cienega Blvd. in West Los Angeles with the White Front department store very prominent.

Above, the set has interesting packaging for the booklet, 2 CDs and Blu-ray. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Blu-ray in this set contains a documentary, Music, Money, Madness...Jimi Hendrix in Maui on how Rainbow Bridge came about and how Hendrix and sidemen Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Billy Cox (bass) participated. Since Billy Cox is the sole remaining member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience still with us, he adds his own memories to the documentary.

The Blu-ray also has the two shows the Jimi Hendrix Experience put on at the Haleakala Crater on Maui on July 30, 1970. These shows also comprise the two CDs of the set.

The concerts were flawed as the wind was blowing towards the band causing sound issues. For the footage used in Rainbow Bridge, Mitch Mitchell dubbed new drumming sound while watching footage through a movie editor's moviola screen.

Also included in the set is a 31-page booklet.

The set is an interesting piece of music history and Hendrix fans will enjoy it. 

Jimi Hendrix - "Valleys of Neptune"

Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune

Jimi Hendrix has been dead for nearly forty years (the 40th anniversary will be this coming September 18), but more previously-unreleased recordings are being released by the family company, Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.

This album, Valleys of Neptune, consists of twelve studio recordings from 1969, described as "the most tumultuous year of his celebrated life and career." This collection includes the final studio recordings of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums). Those were recorded in the post-Electric Ladyland period.

Tension within the group was beginning to form with Redding dissatisfied with the direction and methods Hendrix was employing. Redding left the band that year.

I have to acknowedge that better versions of some of the songs have already been released. But it is interesting to hear these alternate takes or versions of songs that were probably rejected by the perfectionistic Hendrix.

Three songs came from the JHE sessions at Olympic Studios: "Lover Man," "Sunshine of Your Love," and "Crying Blue Rain" on February 16, 1969.

Other JHE recordings include songs from April 7, 1969 of "Hear My Train A Comin'," "Lullaby For The Summer," and a remake of "Stone Free" (featuring Redding's replacement bassist, Billy Cox).

Other songs include "Bleeding Heart," "Valleys of Neptune," "Mr. Bad Luck," "Ships Passing Through The Night," "Fire" and "Red House." A more energetic version of "Mr. Bad Luck" was released on the Rainbow Bridge soundtrack album in 1971 and recently on South Saturn Delta as "Look Over Yonder."

It is an interesting collection of studio recordings from the 1969 period. For Hendrix enthusiasts, this is a must-have.

Note: The photograph of Jimi Hendrix on the album's cover was taken by Linda McCartney.

Hendrix Drummer Mitch Mitchell Dies

Mitch Mitchell, the drummer of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead in his Portland, Oregon hotel room FoxNews.com is reporting:

PORTLAND, Ore. — Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960s and the group's last surviving member, was found dead in his hotel room early Wednesday. He was 61.

Mitchell was a powerful force on the Hendrix band's 1967 debut album "Are You Experienced?" as well as the trio's albums "Electric Ladyland" and "Axis: Bold As Love." He had an explosive drumming style that can be heard in hard-charging songs such as "Fire" and "Manic Depression."

The Englishman had been drumming for the Experience Hendrix Tour, which performed Friday in Portland. It was the last stop on the West Coast part of the tour.

Hendrix died in 1970. Bass player Noel Redding died in 2003.

An employee at Portland's Benson Hotel called police after discovering Mitchell's body.

Erin Patrick, a deputy medical examiner, said Mitchell apparently died of natural causes. An autopsy was planned.

"He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend," said Janie Hendrix, chief executive of the Experience Hendrix Tour and Jimi Hendrix' stepsister. "His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated."

Bob Merlis, a spokesman for the tour, said Mitchell had stayed in Portland for a four-day vacation and planned to leave Wednesday.

"It was a devastating surprise," Merlis said. "Nobody drummed like he did."

He said he saw Mitchell perform two weeks ago in Los Angeles, and the drummer appeared to be healthy and upbeat.

Merlis said the tour was designed to bring together veteran musicians who had known Hendrix — like Mitchell — and younger artists, such as Grammy-nominated winner Jonny Lang, who have been influenced by him.

The article is in error on one fact, bassist Billy Cox replaced Noel Redding in 1969 in the Experience, so that makes him the sole surviving Experience member. Buddy Miles, who drummed in Hendrix's Band of Gypsies, passed away last year in Texas. Mitchell was the last surviving original member of the Experience.

Above, Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell of
 the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the height of their popularity.

Mitchell was one hell of a drummer and he will be missed.

UPDATE (11/15/08): The Press Association reports that Mitchell died of natural causes in his sleep.