Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 26, 2018

DEAR JERRY: So far, there have been two albums of unreleased music by Jimi Hendrix: "Valleys of Neptune" and "People, Hell and Angels." I hear a third album will be released soon. Can you tell me anything about it?
—Zach Reynolds, Tacoma, Wash.

DEAR ZACH: Thanks to Bob Merlis and the folks at Sony/Legacy, there will soon be little you won't know about the third, and final, album of newly discovered studio tracks, by Jimi Hendrix and many guest performers.

Titled "Both Sides of the Sky," this greatly anticipated package contains 13 tracks, three with alternative versions, and 10 previously unissued. All were recorded from January 1968 to February 1970. Jimi died September 18, 1970.

Besides the predictable digital formats, vinyl lovers will be pleased to know that, like the two previous issues, "Both Sides of the Sky" will be available as a two-disc, limited edition, numbered, 180-gram, audiophile LP. The size of this edition has not yet been announced, so it could be anywhere from 100 to several thousand albums made.

Here are the selections, all but four written by Jimi Hendrix: "Mannish Boy" "Lover Man"; "Hear My Train a Comin'"; "Stepping Stone"; "$20 Fine"; "Power of Soul"; "Jungle"; "Things I Used to Do"; "Georgia Blues"; "Sweet Angel"; "Woodstock"; "Send My Love to Linda"; and "Cherokee Mist."

Among the session contributors are: Stephen Stills (vocals, organ); Lonnie Youngblood (vocals, saxophone); Johnny Winter (guitar); Buddy Miles (drums); Mitch Mitchell (drums); Jimmy Mayes (drums); Billy Cox (bass); Noel Redding (bass); Hank Anderson (bass); and Duane Hitchings (piano).

On Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, "Valleys of Neptune" (2010) peaked at No. 4, and "People, Hell and Angels" (2013) reached No. 2. Not since "Crash Landing," in 1975, did Hendrix have a Top 5 album. I would expect to see "Both Sides of the Sky" do just as well as the previous two in the series.

You shouldn't have long to wait, as Sony/Legacy intends to release "Both Sides of the Sky" worldwide by the third week in March. Not knowing the number of LPs made, you might want to visit your record store sooner rather later.

DEAR JERRY: I couldn't believe your recent list of "Caroline" records, and was surprised that only 12 charted. How do "Patricia" songs compare on the charts to the Carolines?
—Patricia Murphy, Point Pleasant, N.J.

DEAR PATRICIA: Overall, there are many more "Caroline" titles than Patricias, but when it comes to charted songs, the totals are closer. There are eight Patricias, just four fewer than the 12 Carolines.

As before, following the peak position the chart sourced is indicated in parenthesis: (N) U.S. national; (R) U.S. regional; (UK) United Kingdom; and (X) U.S. Christmas chart:

No. 1 (N): "Patricia" (Perez Prado and His Orchestra) 1958
 (FYI: The highest charted "Caroline" hit was No. 3, "Sweet Caroline [Good Times Never Seemed So Good]," by Neil Diamond, in 1969)
No. 3 (R): "Patricia" (Ronnie Hawkins) 1971
No. 7 (N): "Patricia" (Perry Como) 1950
 (The above two are vocals, and both very different)
No. 8 (UK): "Patricia Never Leaves the House" (Wally Lopez & Dr. Kucho) 2001
No. 12 (R): "Patricia" (The Brass Ring) 1967
 (New version of the Perez Prado hit)
No. 14 (X): "Yes, Patricia, There Is a Santa Claus" (Jimmy Dean) 1965
No. 44 (N): "Patricia Darling" (Ray Willis) 1958
No. 65 (N): "Patricia - Twist" (Perez Prado and His Orchestra) 1962
 (A twist-inspired remake of his 1958 hit)

Though not included in the above "Patricia" results, take comfort in knowing there are at least five more singles with "Patty" in the title. Add these to the count and your total is one more than the dozen Carolines. It is reasonable to assume most Pattys were also Patricias.

No. 40 (N): "Patti Ann" (Johnny Crawford) 1962
No. 40 (R): "Fatty Patty" (The Ox Tones) 1958
 (This is not about an item on a drive-through, fast-food menu)
No. 49 (R): "Patty Ann" (Larry Tamblyn) 1960
No. 62 (N): "Patty Baby" (Freddy Cannon) 1963
No. 81 (N): "Patty Baby" (Terry Noland) 1958
 (The above two are not the same song)

IZ ZAT SO? Noteworthy in all this is that Perez Prado's "Patricia" was No. 1 on the three major Top 100 pop charts, and topped each of these ancillary Cash Box and Billboard surveys: "Top Rhythm & Blues Records"; "The Records Disk Jockeys Played Most"; "Top Selling Records at Retail Outlets"; "The Nation's Top Juke Box Tunes"; and even "Best Selling Sheet Music."

What is genuinely mindboggling is that "Patricia," a Cuban mambo instrumental, climbed to No. 18 on Billboard's Top C&W chart. It is neither country, nor western. Returning to reality, Cash Box ranked "Patricia" as the No. 3 record of 1958, and Billboard had it at No. 5.


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