First Rays of the New Rising Sun

Rating

Album: First Rays of the New Rising Sun
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Freedom	More Info...	0:03
2)	Izabella	More Info...	0:03
3)	Night Bird Flying	More Info...	0:04
4)	Angel	More Info...	0:04
5)	Room Full of Mirrors	More Info...	0:03
6)	Dolly Dagger	More Info...	0:04
7)	Ezy Ryder	More Info...	0:04
8)	Drifting	More Info...	0:03
9)	Beginnings	More Info...	0:04
10)	Stepping Stone	More Info...	0:04
11)	My Friend	More Info...	0:04
12)	Straight Ahead	More Info...	0:04
13)	Hey Baby	More Info...	0:06
14)	Earth Blues	More Info...	0:04
15)	Astro Man	More Info...	0:03
16)	In from the Storm	More Info...	0:03
17)	Belly Button Window	More Info...	0:03

Album: First Rays of the New Rising Sun
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Freedom	More Info...	0:03
2)	Izabella	More Info...	0:03
3)	Night Bird Flying	More Info...	0:04
4)	Angel	More Info...	0:04
5)	Room Full of Mirrors	More Info...	0:03
6)	Dolly Dagger	More Info...	0:04
7)	Ezy Ryder	More Info...	0:04
8)	Drifting	More Info...	0:03
9)	Beginnings	More Info...	0:04
10)	Stepping Stone	More Info...	0:04
11)	My Friend	More Info...	0:04
12)	Straight Ahead	More Info...	0:04
13)	Hey Baby	More Info...	0:06
14)	Earth Blues	More Info...	0:04
15)	Astro Man	More Info...	0:03
16)	In from the Storm	More Info...	0:03
17)	Belly Button Window	More Info...	0:03

Performer Notes

Personnel: Jimi Hendrix (vocals, guitar, piano); Ken Pine (12-string guitar); Paul Caruso (harmonica); Stephen Stills (piano); Buzzy Linhart (vibraphone); Billy Cox (bass); Buddy Miles (drums, background vocals); Jimmy Mayes, Mitch Mitchell (drums); Billy Armstrong, Juma Sultan (percussion); Arthur Allen, Albert Allen, Billy Cox, The Ronettes, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood (background vocals).
Producers: Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, John Jansen, Mitch Mitchell.
Engineers: Eddie Kramer, Bob Hughes, Bob Cotto.
Recorded between March 1968 and August 1970. Includes liner notes by John McDermott.
Personnel: Jimi Hendrix (vocals, guitar, piano, background vocals); Paul Caruso (harmonica); Stephen Stills (piano); Buzzy Linhart (vibraphone); James Mayes, Mitch Mitchell (drums); Juma Sultan, Billy Armstrong (percussion); Emmeretta Marks, Albert "Ghetto Fingers" Allen, Chris Wood , Steve Winwood, The Ronettes, Billy Cox, Buddy Miles (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Eddie Kramer; Jimi Hendrix; John Jansen; Mitch Mitchell.
Audio Remasterers: Eddie Kramer; George Marino.
Liner Note Author: John McDermott .
Recording information: Electric Lady Studios (03/13/1968-08/24/1970); Record Plant (03/13/1968-08/24/1970); Sound Center (03/13/1968-08/24/1970).
Photographers: Eddie Kramer; Baron Wolman; Ted Kessell; Mike McGettigan; Chuck Boyd; Elliott Landy; Michael Jang; Jim Cummins; Walter Looss; Linda McCartney.
After years of legal wrangling, FIRST RAYS is the initial album released under the direct supervision of the Hendrix family. These remastered classics, previously found on the posthumous albums THE CRY OF LOVE, WAR HEROES and RAINBOW BRIDGE, were originally slated to be part of a double-album sequel to ELECTRIC LADYLAND, a concept that died with Hendrix in 1970.
The compilation of these songs allows us to see the many sides of this innovative artist. Alongside runaway flights of fancy ("Stepping Stone") and overcharged rock/funk explosions ("Room Full Of Mirrors") are beautiful ballads ("Angel") and rollicking numbers that point to a Bob Dylan influence ("My Friend"). Famous friends dot the sonic landscape (Steve Winwood and Chris Wood on "Ezy Rider" and The Ronettes on "Earth Blues"), but Hendrix remains the center of a musical universe whose light was snuffed out far too soon.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (8/7/97, p.62) - "...a cohesive cosmic missive....illuminates what would have been a transitional phase for Hendrix. Along with the requisite burning-flesh instrumental workouts, it also presents Hendrix in his lyrical, ruminative mode..."

Down Beat (8/97, p.61) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Hendrix's postumously released music sees the light of day for the first time in the form he originally envisioned..."

Mojo (Publisher) (3/01/04, p.53) - Included in Mojo's The 67 Lost Albums You Must Own! - "Plenty of the original fire is here and some supremely funky-ass rock, presaging War, etc."