First Rays of the New Rising Sun
The long-lost double album that finally revealed the full spectrum of the Electric Lady's vision.
First Rays of the New Rising Sun stands as the posthumous completion of Jimi Hendrix's most ambitious and elusive studio project: a double album intended to showcase his artistic evolution beyond the psychedelic rock of his earlier years. Originally conceived by the musician himself in late 1969, the record was meant to be a sprawling sonic tapestry that blended heavy blues riffs with experimental soundscapes, orchestral arrangements, and funk rhythms. For decades, it remained a ghost in the machine of rock history, with its tracks scattered across various singles and albums until a definitive version was finally assembled by his estate.
- Artist
- Jimi Hendrix
- Format
- Double Album / Studio Recording
- Label
- Reprise Records
- Status
- Posthumous Release
- Key Collaborator
- Guitarist/Producer Jimi Hendrix
Lore & Background
The album's creation was cut short by Hendrix's untimely death in September 1970, leaving behind a vault of unfinished master tapes that became the subject of intense speculation for nearly fifty years. While fragments appeared on singles like 'Angel' and 'Machine Gun,' the full double-album structure remained a mystery to collectors until modern archival efforts pieced together the intended tracklist. It is now celebrated not just as a collection of songs, but as a completed artistic statement that cements his legacy as a visionary producer.
In Their Own Story
The air in Electric Lady Studios hums with a frequency only he could hear, a blend of sawdust and ozone. Jimi adjusts the gain on his Stratocaster, the wood warm against his chest, eyes closed as he listens to the tape spinning. He envisions a sunrise breaking through the smog of London, a new day dawning for music itself. The room is quiet save for the rhythmic thump of drums and the shimmering feedback that hangs like mist in the air. He knows this record will be his final testament, a map to a world he hopes others will find after he is gone.
Reader's Guide
The recording sessions took place primarily at Electric Lady Studios in New York between late 1969 and early 1970, featuring a rotating lineup of musicians including Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell. Production was notoriously difficult due to Hendrix's perfectionism; he frequently re-recorded tracks or layered complex overdubs that pushed the limits of studio technology at the time. This definitive version includes previously unreleased tracks and alternate takes. Culturally, it solidified Hendrix's reputation as an avant-garde pioneer who was constantly pushing boundaries long before genres like funk-rock or progressive rock became mainstream.
Did You Know?
- The album title was chosen by Jimi to reflect his desire for a new beginning in music and society.
- It was the first double album project he ever attempted, intended to be released as two distinct sides with different sonic textures.
- Many tracks were recorded during the same sessions that produced 'All Along the Watchtower' but were left off the original albums due to space constraints.
More in Discography & Recordings
Elsewhere in the Jimi Hendrix universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record