Customer Reviews

First Rays Of The New Rising Sun

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the four 'new' Sony Legacy versions of Jimi Hendrix albums.

Content-wise, the CD is exactly the same as the previous CD issue and of course that's a good thing. Track listing, sound and design are also identical.

The booklet is exactly the same too - so what's the point of buying this package if you already have the previous issue (released in 1999, I think).

Well, there's a short DVD with interviews with Eddie Kramer about four of the tracks - and that's it. An insert with the CD suggests that you can get 'bonus content' by putting the DVD in your PC, but it just takes you to the website, which you can get for free anyway.

I would guess that the same comments will apply to Sony's other re-issues, namely the first three studio albums and Band of Gypsys.

So, if you don't have these essential albums, go for it, but don't bother if you have the old editions.

Jimi Hendrix was the most inventive, original and prolific musician/performer of his era, and carved out new territories for what could be done with an electric guitar. He composed and recorded more great material in five short years than do most musicians in a lifetime career ten times as long. He was imitated by thousands, but equalled by none.

Following Jimi's untimely death in September 1970, a great volume of his hitherto unreleased material was put out first by Track Records, and later by Polydor. The first major posthumous release was `The Cry of Love' vinyl album (CD format didn't arrive on the market until the 1980s) released by Track Records in 1971 which contained, in running order:

Side 1
1. Freedom
2. Drifting
3. Ezy Ryder
4. Night Bird Flying
5. My Friend

Side 2
6. Straight Ahead
7. Astro man
8. Angel
9. In from the Storm
10. Belly Button Window

`Cry of Love' can still be found on both the original vinyl and a later CD format, but good copies command high prices.

`First Rays of the New Rising Sun', thought to be Hendrix's own chosen title for his planned 1971 album, contains all the above tracks, some digitally re-mastered (though it's hard to tell the difference) plus several bonus tracks originally released by Polydor in the mid-1970s variously on the albums `Rainbow Bridge,' `Experience' and `War Heroes':

* Izabella
* Room Full of Mirrors
* Dolly Dagger
* Beginnings
* Stepping Stone
* Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
* Earth Blues

All these pieces with the exception of `My Friend' (a kind of late-night studio oddity from 1968 which didn't make the `Electric Ladyland' album) were composed and recorded in the spring and summer of 1970 and feature Brit-drummer Mitch Mitchell from the original `Experience' trio and Jimi's old army buddy Billy Cox on bass, who worked with Jimi in place of Noel Redding following the `Band of Gypsies' period and, it has to be said, was a more sensitive and just plain better musician than Redding. Overall it's pretty much the definitive collection of Hendrix's late-period material and a fine complement to his earlier finished products `Are You Experienced', `Axis Bold as Love' and the seminal 1968 epic `Electric Ladyland.'

This late offering from the Sony `Legacy' collection claims to be "re-mastered" yet again, but it's hard to tell the difference and there is certainly no discernible improvement on the Polydor mix. As a "bonus" you get a 17-minute DVD, mostly of Eddie Kramer talking to camera between sound bites of Jimi playing. Basically, it's a waste of time and something of a gimmick, to make the Hendrix family "re-mastered re-release" of the re-mastered re-release of the re-release seem like something new and different. Please forgive the cynicism, but the music ain't better, it's the same. The music is 5-star and always will be, but somehow you just can't give full approval to a marketing gimmick like this which asks you to pay a lot extra for a short and crummy DVD, so because of that, the rating drops a star.

However, back to focus on the actual music: if you want to know why Jimi Hendrix is so highly revered by other rock musicians, listen to this collection and you will begin to understand. It's amazing to hear how fresh these recordings are: after 40 years they might have been recorded yesterday, they sound so contemporary; whilst so much music in the intervening period - especially from the 1980s - sounds old and dated. The musicianship here is exemplary, the compositions innovative, exciting and complex, the arrangements tight and disciplined, production values on the whole very high. What wonders Jimi might have produced as a more mature musician and composer we can only speculate: he was a true musician's musician, a one-off.

BTW if you want to listen to `Cry of Love' as originally released in 1971, just mix the 10 tracks into the 1-10 order above and miss out the extra seven, crank up the volume and press `PLAY'. Isn't technology wonderful?

This album was/is promoted by the Hendrix Estate as being the `real' final Hendrix album, replacing albums like The Cry of Love, Rainbow Bridge and War Heroes.

It isn't, simply because Jimi did not have a finalised track layout for his fourth studio album. However, it does have most of the tracks which he had either finished, or was working on before his untimely death. Some tracks sound unfinished, for example, Hey Baby has Jimi asking whether the microphone is on.

First Rays is a more satisfying listen than Cry of Love or Rainbow Bridge, but for some reason it still contains the 1968 outtake `My Friend', which doesn't really belong with the soul/rock/funk sound of most of these songs.

Some of the tracks from the South Saturn Delta CD which followed this, such as `Midnight Lightning', `Power of Soul' and `Message to Love' would have fitted in well on this album, although you can always do this on your iPod.

These issues aside, this is a very good album indeed, with some of Jimi's best later material: Angel, Freedom, Room Full of Mirrors, Earth Blues, In From the Storm and Ezy Ryder are standouts and Drifting has some absolutely lovely guitar work.

He really was a genius.

Eddie Kramer's remix has dealt with some of the quirky balances and mixes of the original tapes, and the songs sound the best they ever have. The packaging is excellent and this is a must buy for any Hendrix fan.

This is the hendrix amlbum poised for release when hendrix died. roughly 80% finished, all it lacked for a release was the official approval and the final hendrix "touch".
Sadly, little of the material will be new to serious fans, as most of it has been in unauthorised compilations etc. But that can't stop you enjoying them.
The album carries a more rock-esque vibe, with less light music and a thicker tone, evident in ezy ryder (my personal favourite)and freedom.

A top quality album=, well worth the money

Jimi Hendrix was possibly the most inventive, original and prolific musician/performer of his era, and carved out new territories of possibility for the electric guitar. He composed and recorded more great material in five short years than do most musicians in a lifetime career ten times as long. He was imitated by thousands, but equalled by none.

Following Jimi's untimely death in September 1970, a great volume of his hitherto unreleased material was put out first by Track Records, and later by Polydor. The first major posthumous release was `The Cry of Love' vinyl album (CD format didn't arrive on the market until the 1980s) released by Track Records in 1971 which contained, in running order:

Side 1
1. Freedom
2. Drifting
3. Ezy Ryder
4. Night Bird Flying
5. My Friend

Side 2
6. Straight Ahead
7. Astro man
8. Angel
9. In from the Storm
10. Belly Button Window

`Cry of Love' can still be found on both the original vinyl and a later CD format, but good copies command high prices.

`First Rays of the New Rising Sun', thought to be Hendrix's own chosen title for his planned 1971 album, contains all the above tracks, some digitally re-mastered (though it's hard to tell the difference) plus several bonus tracks originally released by Polydor in the mid-1970s variously on the albums `Rainbow Bridge,' `Experience' and `War Heroes':

* Izabella
* Room Full of Mirrors
* Dolly Dagger
* Beginnings
* Stepping Stone
* Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
* Earth Blues

All these pieces with the exception of `My Friend' (a kind of late-night studio oddity from 1968 which didn't make the `Electric Ladyland' album) were composed and recorded in the spring and summer of 1970 and feature Brit-drummer Mitch Mitchell from the original `Experience' trio and Jimi's old army buddy Billy Cox on bass, who worked with Jimi in place of Noel Redding following the `Band of Gypsies' period. Overall it's pretty much the definitive collection of Hendrix's late-period material and a fine complement to his earlier finished products `Are You Experienced', `Axis Bold as Love' and the seminal 1968 epic `Electric Ladyland.'

If you want to know why Jimi Hendrix is so highly revered by other rock musicians, listen to this collection and you will begin to understand. It's amazing to hear how fresh these recordings are: after 40 years they might have been recorded yesterday, they sound so contemporary; whilst so much music in the intervening period - especially from the 1980s - sounds old and dated. The musicianship here is exemplary, the compositions innovative, exciting and complex, the production values on the whole very high. What wonders Jimi might have produced as a more mature musician and composer we can only speculate: he was a true musician's musician, a one-off.

BTW if you want to listen to `Cry of Love' as originally released in 1971, just mix the 10 tracks into the 1-10 order above and miss out the extra seven, crank up the volume and press `PLAY'. Isn't technology wonderful?

I first heard First Rays album a few years ago, and was blown away with the quality of music Jimi created during his short-lived career.

Track after track of quality music fills the air, you just want it to go on and on.

People, Hell and Angels, the latest posthumous album comes a very close second. In fact, I don't think you can have one without the other. They both compliment each other very well.

Essential Listening for any classic rock fan/Jimi fan.

Any Jimi Hendrix Fan would LOVE this masterpeice of an 'album'. Although not finished and authourised by Jimi himself, 'First Rays...' is indeed an album worth buying. Songs like 'Night Bird Flying' and 'Hey Baby' take his guitar skills to the top and have you playing you're air guitar along with him! And the best jamming session i've heard, 'Beginnings' is truly inspiring. A must buy for Jimi Hendrix fans!

This album is a sizzling testimony to the skills of Jimi Hendrix and I rate this product. It's full of soul, jazz, rock and of course the blues. Nice one Jimi! We need more music like this today.

This is the only thing that matters after the ''Band of Gypsys'' live recording of Hendrix. Put it just next to the other four originals and be happy. You will be very happy indeed. Do not try to find anything bad to say or write about this. There is absolutely no point.

I think FROTNRS Gives a a splendid sample of the direction Jimi may have been heading.....and I like it. Jimi had done all the show stopping stuff such as purple haze & vooddo child which really gained him massive attention but I always preferd Jimi jamming and doing the more bluesy & soulful numbers only because I believe that is who he really was and what he wanted to do. Well this album has all that and more. A real funky/blusey/soul/jazzy feel. The fact that Jimi had not put the finnishing touches to all the tracks gives it more of a real raw feeling. I would say that this would be one that Jimi would be proud of.