Jimi Hendrix Album Debuts At #4 On Billboard Charts
Mar 18, 2010 - By Jeffrey Hyatt
Oh, happy day! Jimi Hendrix is back on the charts! Valleys of Neptune, the new album of previously unavailable Hendrix studio recordings, has debuted on the Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart at #4, while four additional Hendrix catalog titles — Are You Experienced (#44), Electric Ladyland (#60), First Rays of the New Rising Sun (#63), and Axis: Bold As Love (#67) — have returned to the Billboard 200 four decades after their original release dates.
A newly curated album of 12 fully realized studio cuts, more than a hour’s worth of previously unheard Jimi Hendrix music, Valleys of Neptune, the centerpiece of the super-sized 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project, hit #1 on Amazon in anticipation of its release. Approximately 20% of first week’s sales have been in the digital realm.
“The consumer response to Valleys of Neptune and the Jimi Hendrix catalog has been phenomenal,” said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. “It reminds us that his spirit still speaks to so many and inspires and motivates fans of all ages.”
Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s sister and the president and CEO of Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, said she wants to release new material every 12 to 18 months for the next ten years. In an interview last year with Gibson about their new Jimi Hendrix-inspired guitar, Janie noted that there is still a decade’s worth of unreleased music and video to come from the legendary guitar player.
Legacy Recordings have issued deluxe CD+DVD editions of the three studio albums released during Hendrix’s lifetime — Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland — as well as First Rays of the New Rising Sun, an acclaimed posthumous album reconstruction drawn from recordings Hendrix worked on from 1968-1970.
Each of these titles in the Jimi Hendrix catalog available now on Legacy includes a bonus DVD featuring a newly created “making of the album” documentary directed by the Grammy award-winning Bob Smeaton, featuring interviews with Experience members Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, original producer Chas Chandler and engineer Eddie Kramer.
“It’s really gratifying to know that my brother’s music is still playing as vital a role in the culture today as it did when he recorded these tracks,” said Janie Hendrix. “The acceptance of Valleys of Neptune and the classic catalog albums underscores the fact that his innovation and creative force are truly transcendent.”
Thursday, March 18, 2010 7:54PM
James Marshall Hendrix music will live forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:01PM
Thank you God! A ray of 40 year old hope among the churned out cookie cutter crap of today!
Maybe an unknown talen will listen to this, and bring us some good Rock and Roll again.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:03PM
Wow. Done with class. She(Ms. Hendrix) obivously has had some good advice in managing the catalogue. Classic never dies!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:05PM
It's insane how Jimi is still viable in music, but he will always be my biggest influence on the guitar. Jimi Hendrix, you're the best.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:06PM
So will Jimi Henrix's music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:09PM
Blows away everyone else!!! Rock On Forever
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:14PM
no one plays a strat like "Henny"
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:19PM
In reply to "Js_197" You dumb *** "James Marshall Hendrix" IS Jimmy Hendrix -_- But yes, his music WILL live forever! He is a true guitar legend!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:31PM
Jimi Hendrix brought rock music to an entirely new level. Some have referred to his initial LP, Are You Experienced, as the "big bang of rock music"–inspiring and helping to develop generations of innovative rockers. I have been listening and studying Hendrix's music for 42 years. Yes, I've actually seen the original band of Henrix, Redding, and Mitchell perform live. We had great seats, and get this…. the admission price back then was $3!!! Simply unforgetable. Fortunately, the incredible and awesome Eddie Kramer is still around, as he is probably the best person around to help ensure that the Hendrix sound lives on in the way Jimi would have wanted. Peace.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:33PM
Time to get Experienced again…JH forever!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:40PM
It's comforting to know that jimmy & stevie are jammin
Thursday, March 18, 2010 1:40PM
Jimi’s the man!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:43PM
Said it before, say it again…the 70's are slowly coming back, if not faster and faster…people know really good music and a happier time!!!!
keep it up jimmy, from the heaven's!!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:47PM
The man…
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:47PM
WAIT! Did it say a Hendrix inspired Gibson guitar???? He was always a Fender man.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:51PM
WOW! A real musician in the top ten!! There is still hope for popular music!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:06PM
LMAO I was thinking the ssame thing!!! Jimmy played Strats and as far as I know, only Strats.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:08PM
I hope somebody does this same thing for Stevie!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:10PM
Yeah, Jimi always did like Freddy Fender. But then again, who didn't !!??
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:15PM
Proving once again….you're crappy band sucks.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:25PM
EXCELLENT !
Jimi is a Strat-Man… the most soulful aXe in my mind ( and hands ) he also loved his Gibson Black Flying "V".
James Marshall Hendrix, "Jimmy James and the Blue Flame's".
Long Live The King… the king of allmighty guitarsmiths.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:28PM
Hopefuly Gibson will offer a black Flying "V" as a tribute guitar, Jimi played one often.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:31PM
He is now, and will always be the greatest. ROCK ON JIMI !!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:39PM
Hendrix played A Gibson Black Left handed Flying V,3 pick up Les Paul SG Special and even A Black Beauty Les Paul. Hell, even at Woodstock he played A few tunes with A Strat with A Tele neck! But, he was 95 % Stratocaster! Thank you Jimi and Thank you Leo Fender! Simply the Best does not do this Man justice! Iconic beyond the stratosphere Humanoid for A timely visit!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:42PM
Hendrix, Miles and Cox, the band of Gypsys – immortal! Unfortunately, most of the sound systems today doesn't do them justice.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:42PM
This is great news….Jimi was and continues to be through his music a remarkable, innovative talent that transcends time.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:44PM
I'm soo happy that twice in one month the top trending topic on Yahoo was Jimi!!! I am soo happy his new release landed in the top 5!!!!! Now let's get on with a holiday for this truly remarkable individual!!!!!!!!! Like he said – just get your mind together and come on across to him!!! He's pretty much been coming out of my speakers everyday for the last 20 years (sorry, I'm young!!).
Gibson made a limited edition, lefty Flying V, with a facsimilie of his signature on it a number of years ago. He's known for playing a Strat, but I've got many pics of him playing V's and Les Pauls.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:50PM
Eat that 50 Cent, and all you so-called "muscial" rappers!!!!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:55PM
Hendrix also played a Black Flying V
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:59PM
I hope he has a tour to support this album! Its been a while.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:13PM
Jimi is GOD
Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:19PM
And on the eighth day God created Hendrix.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:38PM
His name is James Marshal Hendrix and he is the single most important musician to every pick up the guitar that is why 40 years after his death an album of unreleased material will be on the charts. He is the reason I play guitar.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 11:16PM
His "real" name was James Marshall Hendricks, he changed the spelling later.
Friday, March 19, 2010 2:55AM
I stand corrected on jimi hendrix, he was known as James Marshall Hendrix (BRIAN) but i checked it out and he was born in seattle washington November 27th 1942.But his birthname was actually Johnny Allen Hendrix,,,how it was transformed to james marshall Hendrix , i am not sure.But one thing for sure we all loved Jimi and his unique style and his music. Hendrix is also one of the reason's i play guitar also.LONG LIVE ROCK JIMI !