Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on January 8, 2026
Third Man Records Announces Vault Pkg. #67 – Jimi Hendrix “Valley of Jams 1969-1970”
Third Man Records, in partnership with Experience Hendrix and in connection with Legacy Recordings (a division of Sony Music Entertainment), is honored to announce Jimi Hendrix‘s Valley of Jams 1969-1970 as the 67th entry in Third Man Records’ long-running archival audio series, The Vault. A landmark anthology of previously released improvisational recordings, Valley of Jams 1969-1970 will collect three LPs – expertly pressed on vibrant 180-gram colored vinyl at Third Man Record Pressing in Detroit, MI – along with an additional standard vinyl 7”, patch and bumper sticker, all exquisitely packaged in a captivating tri-fold jacket, cleverly utilizing multiple rapid shot photos of Hendrix to simulate movement via still imagery. Subscriptions to order Vault #67: Jimi Hendrix – Valley of Jams 1969-1970 are available now through January 31 at midnight (CT), exclusively at thirdmanrecords.com/vault.
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Appearing like a flash, Jimi Hendrix burst onto the international music scene of the mid-1960’s like nothing ever seen before or since. Born in Seattle in 1942, early life experiences in the United States Army and as a backing musician for the likes of the Isley Brothers and Little Richard on the Chitlin’ Circuit laid the groundwork for what was to come.
With the release of the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s first single in December 1966, a never-ceasing whirlwind would envelop Jimi and his music until his untimely death in September 1970. What’s still fascinating, more than five decades on, is how prolific a creator he managed to be through his just-less-than four years in the spotlight.
Of particular interest is Jimi Hendrix’s use of the studio, improvisational creations, and jamming as a foundational aspect to his creative process. Valley of Jams 1969-1970 focuses in on the transitional period where the Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding line-up of the Experience begins to give way, with Redding’s exit making way for Billy Cox to take over on bass, and Mitchell’s eventual departure leading to Buddy Miles picking up behind the drums. The sessions highlighted here truly capture Hendrix’s inspirational form of extemporaneous artistic expression.
Listen no further than the kickoff track, “Slow Version,” for an absolutely riveting, groove-driven explosion of raw rock and roll. Similarly, “Trash Man” delights in fanciful, vocal-like lead playing, as great a testament as any for why Hendrix continues to be cited as not only the greatest guitar player of his time…but the greatest guitar player of all time.
The medley of “Cherokee Mist/Astro Man” is a scintillating pairing of skilled leads and guitar-pedal affected rhythm that interestingly features a pre-punk Tom Erdelyi on engineer duty, just a couple of years before he’d jump behind the drums and take the name Tommy with his chosen brothers in the Ramones.
The recordings on Valley of Jams 1969-1970 span multiple sessions in New York and London. The documented progression, via Jimi’s interplay with musicians as they seemingly come and go, only serves to cement not only how prodigious the output was, but how impressive the work continues to be. Of most excitement is the 28-minute tour-de-force exploration of “Keep On Groovin’,” which deftly combines jazz, flamenco, blues, rock, soul, and other styles yet to be defined.
Valley of Jams 1969-1970 was precisely mixed by the legendary Eddie Kramer, Jimi’s engineer of choice, who spent as much time as anyone with Jimi in the studio during these jam excursions.
ABOUT EXPERIENCE HENDRIX, L.L.C.:
Owned and operated by members of the Hendrix family, Experience Hendrix is the official family company charged with managing the name, likeness, image and 100% of the music of Jimi Hendrix’s legacy. Formed in 1995 by James ‘Al’ Hendrix, Jimi’s father, Experience Hendrix and its affiliates oversee the daily operations of the Hendrix legacy on a worldwide basis.
VAULT #67:
JIMI HENDRIX
VALLEY OF JAMS 1969-1970
3 x LP / 1 x 7-inch single
Tracklist:
LP 1:
Slow Version (4:56)
Jam 292 (5:22)
Trash Man (7:23)
Izabella (4:23)
Record Plant 2X (11:03)
Villanova Junction Blues (4:56)
LP 2:
Ezy Ryder/MLK (19:59)
Room Full Of Mirrors (5:53)
Jungle (9:05)
Strato Strut (4:40)
Slow Time Blues (3:49)
LP 3:
Burning Desire (9:48)
Cherokee Mist/Astro Man (4:53)
Stepping Stone/Villanova Junction Blues (6:38)
Keep On Groovin’ (28:05)
7-inch:
Midnight Lightning (3:07)
Beginnings – Take 5 (5:26)
