War Heroes

For the comic book, see War Heroes (comics).

War Heroes is a compilation album^[1] by American guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Released in the UK in October 1972, and in December 1972 in the US, it was the third album of mostly unreleased studio recordings to be issued after Hendrix's death. The album was engineered, mixed and compiled by Eddie Kramer and John Jansen, although biographer and later Hendrix producer John McDermott also identifies Hendrix as a producer.^[2]

War Heroes
Compilation album by Jimi Hendrix
Released	October 1972 (1972-10)
Recorded	April 1967 – July 1970
Genre	Rock
Length	35:20
Label	Polydor (UK) Reprise (US) Barclay (France)
Producer	Eddie Kramer John Jansen
Jimi Hendrix US chronology
Hendrix in the West (1972) War Heroes (1972) Soundtrack Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix (1973)
Jimi Hendrix UK chronology
More Experience (1972) War Heroes (1972) Soundtrack Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix (1973)

War Heroes contains three songs that Hendrix proposed for his fourth studio album: "Stepping Stone", "Izabella", and "Beginnings" (listed as "Beginning"). These and songs from the two 1971 albums, The Cry of Love and Rainbow Bridge, were included on First Rays of the New Rising Sun (1997). War Heroes reached number 23 in the UK Albums Chart, number 48 on the US Billboard 200,^[3] and number 51 in Canada.^[4]

Reception

Robert Christgau felt that the material was "toward the bottom of the barrel", with tracks like "Peter Gunn" and "3 Little Bears," sounding like "filler", though on the whole "still strong stuff", particularly "the "Highway Chile" riff and the sheer speed of "Steppin' Stone"". He rated the album a B in his scoring system.^[5]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted.^[7]

Side one

No.	Title	Recording date	Length
1.	"Bleeding Heart"	March 24, 1970	3:15
2.	"Highway Chile"	April 3, 1967	3:30
3.	"Tax Free" (Carlsen Hansen (Bo Hansson), Janne Carlsson)	May 1, 1968	4:58
4.	"Peter Gunn" (Henry Mancini)	May 14, 1970	2:18
5.	"Stepping Stone"	November 14, 1969	4:07

Side two

No.	Title	Recording date	Length
1.	"Midnight"	April 3, 1969	5:32
2.	"3 Little Bears"	May 2, 1968	4:09
3.	"Beginning" (Mitch Mitchell[8])	June 16 and/or July 1, 1970	4:13
4.	"Izabella"	August 28 and 29, 1969	2:55

Note: Later releases

• "Bleeding Heart", "Tax Free", and "Midnight" on South Saturn Delta (1997)
• "Highway Chile" on Are You Experienced (CD reissues)
• "Peter Gunn" on West Coast Seattle Boy (2010)
• "Stepping Stone", "Beginning", and "Izabella" on First Rays of the New Rising Sun (1997)
• "3 Little Bears" on Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Personnel

• Jimi Hendrix – guitars, vocals
• Mitch Mitchell – drums
• Billy Cox – bass guitar on "Bleeding Heart", "Peter Gunn Catastrophe", "Stepping Stone", "Beginning", and "Izabella"
• Noel Redding – bass guitar on "Highway Chile", "Tax Free", "Midnight", and "3 Little Bears"

Recording details

• "Bleeding Heart" recorded at Record Plant in New York City, on March 24, 1970
• "Highway Chile" recorded at Olympic Studios in London, on April 3, 1967
• "Tax Free" recorded at Record Plant, on May 1, 1968
• "Peter Gunn Catastrophe" recorded at Record Plant, on May 14, 1970
• "Stepping Stone" recorded at Record Plant, on November 14, 1969 and on June 26, 1970 (overdubs)
• "Midnight" recorded at Olmstead Studios, on April 3, 1969
• "3 Little Bears" recorded at Record Plant, on May 2, 1968
• "Beginning" recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, on June 16 and/or July 1, 1970
• "Izabella" recorded at The Hit Factory in New York City, on August 28 and 29, 1969