RAINBOW BRIDGE

This album is not really the soundtrack of the rubbish called ''Rainbow Bridge'' (the movie). This one has to be considered as the second posthumous studio recording from the master.

A few titles were almost finished before Jimi's death: ''Dolly Dagger'', ''Room Full Of Mirrors'' (with Jimi on bass as well). These are amongst the strongest of this recording (but it holds so many) . One much less known track from Hendrix that I like quite a bunch is the instrumental ''Pali Gap'': Jimi's sensibility can fully be appreciated. It is a sweet and subtle slow rock with an incredible melody. The track will be released on later compilations (''Voodoo Soup'' & ''South Saturn Delta''). This is another excellent track.

At this time in history ('71) there were still very good unreleased music available (which won't be the case later on) and this album is certainly one of his best (posthumous or not) studio work.

To tell you that I'm charmed with this studio version of ''Star Spangled Banner'' is not the truth. Jimi's guitar is not enough on the forefront. There are too many and useless arrangements and the track sounds too artificial. I can only recommend to huge Woodstock version to all the fans.

There are also some early material from ''The Experience'' like ''Look Over Yonder''. A solid and wild track which could have been released earlier on since there are trace of this song as early as in 1968. Another good piece of music.

The long version of ''Hear My Train?'' is the one of the legendary concerts at Berkeley (May 30,1970). It was recorded during the first concert and will also be featured in the later ''Jimi: Blues''). Is it necessary to tell you that this moment is perfect, magical?

Actually, there are not a single weak moment in here. When I listen to ''Hey Babe'' there is a flavour or cues from his great Woodstock appearance during ''Villanova Junction'' which indicates that this title was already in gestation for a while. I like it very much. Vocals are poignant (maybe one of his best vocal part ever), the groove is so moving and the overall feel is just GREAT.

I believe that this album is key in Hendrix studio discography. It is assumed that the enxt studio album from the man would be a double one and would include most of the material available on ''The Cry Of Love'' and ''Rainbow Bridge''. For marketing (money) reasons, Jeffery was asked to release two single albums instead. This will peak quite high in the charts (15 in the US).

I will rate it therefore with four stars.

This album is made of real Hendrix material, but was terribly released as the OST of that Hippy-drippy nonsense movie Rainbow Bridges where Jimi is seen interviewed for something like 5 minutes, while the rest is more or less garbage or mumbo jumbo. While the pictures on the gatefold are rather charming (the movie was shot in Hawaii) and it's busy making a link with Hendrix, the music on it is brilliant and IMHO better than on Cry Of Love and more professional than on War Heroes, the other legit posthumous music releases. However; Hendrix was in Hawaii touring for the Cry Of Love tour.

Again with Jimi and drummer Mitchell, the bass is most likely played by Jimi, but attributed to either Redding or Cox. The first side is of normal typical Hendrix-penned tracks like Roomful Of Mirrors or the good Dolly Dagger, but also the killer Earth Blues and New Rising Sun, and on the average I find these quite superior to Cry Of Love, that is too predictable. The flipside is made of two longer tracks, the slow and wild Hear My Train Coming, another killer blues that has only Voodoo Chile to look up to, the other being Look Over Yonder and its funky guitar heroics.

This great vinyl-only is not to be confused with another album, the semi-legit "Full Rainbow Bridges Concert" CD-only issue. This is the only Hendrix album (posthumous or not) not to have seen a legit CD reissue along with the rare Nine To The Universe, the latter being understandable due to the sound quality. But Rainbow Bridges, despite its misleading title is an excellent album, much worthy of Ladyland and better than either WH or CoL.