First Rays of the New Rising Sun CD/DVD

Jimi Hendrix | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony Legacy
• ASIN: B003162R7E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,550 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Deluxe digitally remastered CD/DVD edition of this classic 1997 album from the Rock guitar legend. This edition is housed in a lavish six-panel digipak with 36 page booklet including detailed session info, liner notes, photos and memorabilia. The DVDs contain an exclusive "making of" mini documentary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why "remaster" a 1997 remaster?? More gimmicks, March 31, 2010

By 

</>< (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Rays of the New Rising Sun CD/DVD (Audio CD)

*First the Album is awesome, a true 10! This review is on the cheap advertising attempt to get the general public to buy a new CD. This album first came out in 1997, it was REMASTERED using EDDIE KRAMER and working with the Original mix down tracks (one step deeper than just using the Orignal Master tracks, but going one step beyond those and getting the original mix down tracks. I don't think technology has advaced to such a degree that warrants a brand new rematering. You wont notice any difference. You will get a small mini-documentary DVD, but is it worth the price of buying this all over again? NO. If you dont own this CD, then certainly buy this edition.
THE ALBUM REVIEW............This was supposed to be the next studio album after Electric Ladyland. Jimi worked on this project for 2 years, recording, remixing, over dubbing, recording again, you name it! He at a few times wanted his next album to be a 3 album set. He died before this album was finished, infact Drummer Mitch Mitchell came back in the studio and layed down some final over-dubs for a few songs ("Angel" for one) and also co-produced the final product. Buzzy Linhart was brought in the record vibes and "Drifting" after Jimi's death. The album was originally released in Jan 1971 in a shortened 1 album set called "The Cry of Love" where it reached #7 on the Billboard top 200 album charts and "Freedom" was released as a single but failed to chart. It became out of print in 1995 when then owner of Hendrix estate (Alan Douglas) released the re-packaged CD as "Voodoo Soup" in which he HEAVILY RE-MIXED the songs (which angered many of Jimi's fans). The songs selections were different. In 1996 when Al Hendrix (Jimi's father) won a lawsuit and once again re-claimed all of his sons estate, "Voodoo Soup" was immedialty deleted from the catalog and released a later as "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" This album captures more of the true aspect of what was to be Jimi's next studio album, tho a few songs made it on this CD that wouild Not have been included (My Friend fro one) and a few songs were left off that surely would have made it (Poly Gap, Saving My Love for Linda, Valleys of Neptune). But what you have here is a amazing collection of songs that shows much deeper arrangement texture and pain stakingly percise overdubs that make up the most personal and complex album ever by Jimi Hendrix. Whats gone are the flashy show-man style songs like "Foxey Lady" but songs written on social commentary ("Straight Ahead") songs also of peace and understanding (Hey Baby, new rising sun). Had this album been released in Jimi's lifetime, it would have garnered the attention of many and would have put him in the realms of John Lennon, songs of SUBSTANCE. It is therefore sadly Jimi's least popular album because it's not a acid rock and roll album complied of songs about partying, women and having fun. Listen with your mind and see the vision Jimi was heading. I can fully understand why he took 2 years on this album and it still wasnt finished, it would had changed the entire perception of this man and headed Jimi into a completely new direction of music.

Quick Note on the REMASTERS:

Jimi has been "remastered" now so many times its a joke! The catalog first came out on CD in 1990 on reprise records and they sounded like shiet! Then they were very quickly re-mastered in 1991 using some system called "sonic solutions" not a true remaster but just a way to remove static and such. Then in 1995 when Alan Douglas moved to the MCA label, they were agian re-mastered and given new CD covers (dumb idea) they all looked liked the "Voodoo Soup" ill fated CD cover. Those were true remasters and said to use the original mater tapes. Then in 1997 Al and Janie Hendrix wins there lawsuit over Alan Douglass and all the CD's were once again remastered, just 2 stupid years later! The gimmick this time was they went back to the original mixes and remastered from those as well as brought back the original artwork. Then now they move to sony/legacy and what do they do.....??? REMASTER the songs......get real!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does Not Disappoint, April 14, 2010

By 

Robert L. Canetta "Music Lover 69" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Rays of the New Rising Sun CD/DVD (Audio CD)

I think it's important to understand that this is the closest thing to what Jimi had intended to release in 1971 as the follow-up to the seminal Electric Ladyland album of 1968...

Having said that I have to say that I think this is the most impressive material of his career. These are the tightest batch of songs he recorded in that none of them are too long and all have tremendous hooks and content. The performances here are considerably better than past recordings due in part to the fact these are musicians who have played and toured together for successive years and are litterally at the top of their game. AND IT SHOWS!!! Hendrix's vocals are more controlled and less gimicky and he displays a lot more vocal range in general than before. His guitar parts are more structured and intricate. His solos less sloppy and more developed. His overall aura more tightly defined. And let's face it. Noel Redding wasn't the most impressive bass player (he was actually a guitar player by trade) and hearing Billy Cox on bass here makes you realize that Hendrix's material is far more fluid and soulful w/ him in the mix. Also, the production quality of the overall sound is better than his previous efforts. So much of it was recorded at his newly built Electric Lady Studios the Summer of 1970 and the fact that they were able to utilize the most state-of-the-art and up to date recording equipment is obvious when you hear the results.

It may be silly to say since Jimi Hendrix has become a bigger rock star since his death, but had he lived and kicked-off the decade w/ this release he would have owned the 70's. Zeppelin? Sure they were huge then but he would have been THE rock star defining the decade, Im sure of it.

Just have a listen to "Freedom" w/ it's locked-in beat, searing, white hot guitar licks, and Jimi's soulful vocal delivery. THAT is rock n' roll. "Izabella" continues right where "Freedom" leaves off and that's a good thing because "Freedom" seems way too short. "Dolly Dagger" and "Ezy Rider" are just pure ear candy. "Stepping Stone" has some of the hottest guitar licks ever recorded. Period. Just listen to the outro solo. "My Friend" is a pleasant surprise w/ it's Dylan-esque vocals and overall vibe. "In From The Storm" slams you over the head from the first notes of the guitar riff w/ it's dramatic hard rock delivery. The CD ends w/ the mellow blues of "Belly Button Window" and it's incredibly creative and sensitive lyrics from the perspective of drummer Mitch Mitchell's then unborn child.

I realize this was originally compiled and released in CD form back in 1997, but this is is the first I'm hearing it and I have to say I'm completely blown away....

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jimi's Studio Work 1970 and Some 1969, April 29, 2010

By 

J. Nichols "Johnnyhendrix" (South Glens Falls,New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: First Rays of the New Rising Sun CD/DVD (Audio CD)

When Jimi went in to his Electric Lady Studios he produced some of his most tantalizing work. This was Jimi doing what he liked to do best. Hungry fans waited a long time until these tracks were assembled on this CD in 1997. Now the tunes are remastered with 2010 technology and sound better than ever.