Bleeding Heart

Album: Valleys of Neptune (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a cover of a tune originally recorded by American Blues guitarist Elmore James, who was known as "The King of the Slide Guitar." The song was released posthumously as a single two years after his death in 1963.
  • This angry Blues number was recorded by Hendrix at New York's Record Plant, on April 24, 1969. It was one of the guitar hero's first sessions with bassist Billy Cox, an old army buddy he'd recruited into his new ensemble. The track also features Rocky Isaac on drums, Chris Grimes on tambourine and Al Marks on maracas.
  • The song is included on Hendrix's 2010 posthumous album, Valleys of Neptune. Long-time Hendrix studio engineer and friend Eddie Kramer commented to Toronto's The Globe and Mail March 5, 2010: "It's certainly a nice little jaunt for Jimi. Any time he felt he could take off in wild direction, within reason, he would do it – not so much to prove a point, but to stretch the boundaries."
  • A music video was filmed by Julien Temple to accompany the song's single release. Temple's résumé includes work with talents such as The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Kinks, Neil Young, Tom Petty and Janet Jackson, as well as such feature films as The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle, The Rolling Stones Live at The Max and The Filth & The Fury.
  • Hendrix did a different recording of the song a month later with Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. Before they began, Jimi instructed the pair that he wanted to establish a totally different beat than the standard arrangement. That version can be heard on Hendrix's posthumous album, People, Hell & Angels.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Crystal Waters

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.