G M T Official Forum

4 of his posthumously released albums are due to be reissued on October 19. The reissues will mark the second round of 2010 releases commemorating the 40th anniversary of the musician's death (on 18th Sept 1970).

Among the reissues will be

Hendrix: Blues - originally released in 1994 and featuring 11 performances recorded by Hendrix between 66-70 - will come with a DVD featuring a 30-minute version of "Jimi Hendrix and the Blues" from the Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series.

Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions - comprising radio and television broadcasts from 67-69 - will come with a never-before-released 30-minute documentary about the group's January 1969 appearance on Happening For Lulu, when the band performed Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love." The album will also include a previously unreleased version of "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" from Hendrix's appearance on Top Of The Pops.

The four reissues will be followed by a four-CD box set, West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology, a career-spanning set that will include previously unreleased recordings, demos, and alternative mixes. The release date for the anthology has not yet been announced.

If you hear any scratching noises in the background, its probably the scraping of the barrel! How many times will Hendrix 'exclusives' be 're-issued'? I know of 2 die-hards here, but even they must be miffed at how Experience Hendrix and the 'Hendrix Family' keep getting away with this. They just keep reissuing everything, but with slightly different packaging or an added track or two. The BBC one sounds ok because of the dvd, but this will be at least the 3rd version of it. Also, it was only about 8-9 years ago that they put out a very similar sounding box set.
I personally feel that they are just ruining the man. They keep releasing tracks that weren't meant to be released or weren't finished. A few is fine, but they keep putting out albums full of studio offcuts or rough demos. It's even worse when hey start claiming that it's a 'lost' album or a completed version of an album he was recording when he died.

Here here!

Take your point chaps, but as a serious fan with a large "unofficial" collection, it is good to get good quality versions of stuff that I only have on poorly copied cassettes.
I don't have a problem with the unfinished / not intended for release stuff, it gives a good insight into what he was about at any given time, and it is good to hear how songs/ideas develop.

I'll fetch my coat.....

Rog - I agree with what you're saying, but is the intention of the releases to give fans (of which I'm one) a further insight into the man, or exploit the Hendrix estate. I think it's a bit of a moral issue too. Take another example - Fawlty Towers...hysterical comedy, but only a few episodes made. John Cleese, hasn't, however, compiled a montage of off cuts & cock ups. Similarly, I've heard several Gillan rehearsal tapes. Don't know where they came from, and whilst they are entertaining, and quite informative in places, I'm not sure that they aren't just exploitation? Maybe I'm wrong (ref Gillan)....if I am, please put me straight

Skitteryhippen,

Quite with you ref the fact that they shouldn't be reissuing the same things yet again, but as far as the previously unreleased stuff goes, up until now, everything that they have released has been lovingly put together, and there is nothing that actually sounds as if it was not intended for release.
Jimi became very self indulgent in the studio, especially once he had his own studio, and in my opinion, the Electric Ladyland album was totally spoilt by overproduction, so to hear "unfinished" versions of these songs, ie basic backtracks with just lead vocals and solos would make me very happy.
At least they are releasing from the original tapes, not re-recording with people who Hendrix never met, a la the Mike Jeffries releases.

The gripe for me at the moment is Zappa plays Zappa.
Son of, with a collection of very accomplished musicians, some of who played on the originals, goes out and plays Dad's music. Unfortunately, without Dad's virtuosity, feel and humour. I would rather they released some Franks outtakes instead............

Oh God yeah - agree with the Zappa saga. They should not be doing that! Also, agree with your Hendrix comments. I've heard some amazing stuff, like Burning of the Midnight Lamp/Oil on a harpsichord, and Angel recorded in his flat on a portable cassette player! We just don't need more 'Pickwick Greatest Hits' if you get my drift..