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March 9 – Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings have released Jimi Hendrix’s new album Both Sides of the Sky today on CD, digital, and as a numbered 180-gram audiophile vinyl 2 LP set sourced from tape and cut from tape by Bernie Grundman. NPR Music recently declared, “No rock figure before or since could breathe fire like Hendrix does, on his beloved well-known albums and on the assortment that is Both Sides of the Sky.” For the occasion, director John Vondracek has created a music video for “Lover Man,” a single from the album.

Watch “Lover Man” video here.

This previously unissued version of “Lover Man,” which UNCUT deemed “a weaponised piece of funk, with Buddy Miles in particularly thunderous form,” was recorded at the Record Plant in New York on December 15, 1969 by Hendrix’s then recently assembled new band: Billy Cox on bass, Buddy Miles on drums and, of course, Hendrix on guitar and vocals. The session took place two weeks before the trio introduced itself to the world via four triumphant New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day concerts at the Fillmore East, which would ultimately yield the live album Band of Gypsys (1970) as well as its, critically acclaimed follow up, 2016’s Machine Gun.

Heralded by Relix as “both a historically valuable document . . . and a treat musically,” Both Sides of the Sky, the album home of “Lover Man,” is the third volume in a trilogy of albums intended to present the best and most significant unissued studio recordings remaining in Jimi Hendrix’s archive. It follows Valleys of Neptune (2010) and People, Hell and Angels (2013), which both achieved top 5 chart ranking on Billboard’s Top 100 album chart. Recorded between January 1968 and February 1970, and featuring guest appearances by Stephen Stills, Johnny Winter and Lonnie Youngblood, Both Sides of the Sky contains 10 unreleased tracks. The project was co-produced by Eddie Kramer, Jimi Hendrix’s recording engineer on all of his albums made during his life, along with Janie Hendrix and John McDermott.

In connection with the release of Both Sides of the Sky, an all-star band featuring Hendrix bassist Billy Cox (whose efforts are heard on the album) and blues legend Buddy Guy will be performing a Jimi Hendrix song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this upcoming Tuesday, March 13. The band is rounded out with Experience Hendrix Tour veteran Mato Nanji, Buddy Guy drummer Tim Austin, and the Slide Brothers.

Partnering with Experience Hendrix is world famous menswear designer John Varvatos. In connection with the album’s release, he has created a Jimi Hendrix "Both Sides of the Sky" t-shirt featuring exclusive artwork, available to purchase today at John Varvatos stores, online, and with retail partner Bloomingdales. Additionally, the 2LP vinyl version of the album will be sold in select John Varvatos locations.

The full length album "Jimi Hendrix's Bar Mitzvah" will be released next year. Hendrix, whose real name is Moishe Schwartzbaum, jammed with the Sid Luxman orchestra at the Bar Mitzvah celebration and it was caught on tape by a stunned Eddie Kramer who was handling the orchestra's sound that evening. (This last fantasy paragraph is here just to see if you've read the actual press release in its entirety).