"Rainbow Bridge", subtitled Original Motion Picture Sound Track, is a posthumous album by Jimi Hendrix released in October 1971 through Reprise Records. Produced by Mitch Mitchell, Eddie Kramer, and John Jansen, with Hendrix receiving a production credit, the album is primarily composed of previously unreleased studio material intended for a potential fourth studio album.
Although labeled as a soundtrack, it is generally viewed as a compilation. The tracks do feature in the Rainbow Bridge film, but the album excludes music from Hendrix's Maui performance, which is part of the movie. Notable tracks include "Dolly Dagger," "Earth Blues," "Room Full of Mirrors," "Hear My Train A Comin'," and "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)," which were potential inclusions for Hendrix's fourth album. Most of the album features Hendrix backed by Billy Cox on bass and Mitchell on drums.
Upon release, Rainbow Bridge received positive reviews and was commercially successful, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard 200. The only single from the album, "Dolly Dagger," reached number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Hendrix's last charting single. Critics praised the quality of the songwriting and Hendrix's guitar work, and the album is often regarded as one of the best posthumous releases. It was reissued by Experience Hendrix in 2014 on vinyl and CD, marking its first official appearance on CD, and the material has appeared on other releases like First Rays of the New Rising Sun and South Saturn Delta.
Despite its title, Rainbow Bridge is not a soundtrack to the film but a compilation of one live song and various studio recordings from 1968 to 1970. "Look Over Yonder" began as "Mr. Bad Luck" during Hendrix's time with Jimmy James and the Blue Flames in 1966, while the version on the album was recorded in 1968. "Room Full of Mirrors" was performed live by the Experience, and "Hear My Train A Comin'" was recorded live after several studio attempts were passed over.
The album features a mix of largely completed studio recordings and live performances. "Dolly Dagger," "Pali Gap," and "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)" were recorded with Mitchell and Cox in 1970. Released in the US in October 1971 and in the UK the following month, it reached number 15 and 16 in the respective album charts. "Dolly Dagger," with "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the B-side, was released as a single and peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100. The original album was reissued in 2014 in both CD and LP formats.
