Nearly 40 years after they were recorded in various studio sessions, a collection of tunes by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix finally saw the light of day on March 9, when it was officially released for the American market by Legacy Recordings.

Hendrix fans will certainly cheer the fact that the 11th posthumous album, Valleys of Neptune, containing 12 tunes that have never been released to the public, is finally hitting the shelves.

It is almost redundant today to talk more about Hendrix’s reputation. There is probably nothing that has not been said or written about this guitar legend. Numerous music publications have named him one of the best guitarists in rock and his inimitable guitar playing skills have inspired thousands of professional musicians to start a band.

Hendrix used his formidable skills to tear down any boundaries in music, particularly between blues and rock and roll and jazz. The selection of songs he performed onstage indicated this. He frequently gave his incendiary take on obscure tracks from blues legends such as Howling Wolf, B.B. King and folk legend Bob Dylan.

Long before another native of Seattle, Kurt Cobain of the grunge band Nirvana, abused his guitar by playing it at maximum treble volume and destroying it in the show’s finale, Hendrix made himself a one-man guitar symphony, toying with pedals and effects, giving it a voice before setting it on fire.

His blues and heavy psychedelic signature blues sound has continued to be recycled even by young hipster-oriented musicians such as Jack White of the White Stripes, Jeff Buckley or Brit pop sensation the Arctic Monkeys.

And just like Cobain, Buckley and other tragic figures in rock, Hendrix died young from erratic behavior related to drugs and booze.

During his lifetime Hendrix only released three proper full-length albums with his band the Jimi Hendrix Experience. They included Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold as Love both in 1967 and Electric Ladyland in 1968.

But throughout this period Hendrix toured and relentlessly recorded, and the fruit of this labor became a boon for his recording company. Throughout the better part of this century Sony Music has reissued these materials for both old and new Hendrix fans.

Countless live recordings — probably culled from any venue Hendrix ever performed in during his brief career— as well as posthumous studio recordings of dubious quality have been released for the market.

Valleys of Neptune is the latest product of these efforts to cash in on Hendrix’s legacy.
The new album contains a number of new songs recorded and mixed between 1969 and 1987, when bass and drum layers were finally laid onto the original materials recorded by Hendrix.

Is this new recording any different? And what’s so special about Valleys of Neptunes? A lot, say local Hendrix enthusiasts.

“He’s one of rock’s revolutionary figures,” says Antruefunk, nom de guerre of Anto Arief from the Jakarta-based soul band 70’s Orgasm Club.

Anto and his band may not play Hendrix tunes in their live shows but the Seattle native is his all-time guitar hero.

“Everyone who listens to Hendrix tunes always find new things. There are just too many mysteries in his works. That’s why I always have Hendrix on my iPod’s playlist from time to time.”

But the latest posthumous release from his guitar hero is unlikely to please him as Anto only listens to Hendrix’s three original albums.

“It is difficult for me to enjoy Hendrix’s posthumous work. I only listen to his three original albums because they’re more like a complete story,” he said.

Another fan who is smitten by Hendrix is David Tarigan, formerly of indie label Aksara Records.

“Yes, we all think that revolution in modern rock music was started by the Beatles. But in terms of musical instruments, Hendrix was the embodiment of the revolution. He successfully made guitar his arsenal. And guitar has the biggest role in rock music in general,” said David.

Hendrix’s latest posthumous release is something that he had also anticipated

“By releasing posthumous albums, we can see that his works still have a special place in people’s life. He had an ability to put extra effort into both recording his songs and performing. Because of this quality every new releases from him has been met with anticipation,” he says.

“As far as I know, Hendrix spent a tremendous time in the studio. I believe he recorded tons of unreleased tracks. Maybe there are more posthumous albums to come after this,” said David.

The irony of it is that the record company’s effort to churn out Hendrix’s work unwittingly echoes what he once said, “It is funny how most people love the dead, once you’re dead you are made for life.”

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