SALINA, KS (KCTV) -
A Salina company is leading the resurgence of vinyl records. The quality of their work is considered so good, Jimi Hendrix's family has asked them to produce his newest record.
It is just the second album his family has released in 15 years.
Chad Kassem is no stranger to Hendrix's music.
His company, Quality Record Pressings, has already reissued two sets of vinyl records for a new album being released in honor of the famed guitarist.
Hendrix's family recently went through his old recordings and found a few takes that have never before been released.
The new album of 12 previously unreleased studio performances is scheduled for release Tuesday as a CD and double vinyl album, called People, Hell and Angels. The occasion is what would have been Hendrix's 70th birthday. Hendrix died of an overdose in 1970 at age 27.
The new album encompasses "a variety of unique sounds and styles incorporating many of the elements - horns, keyboards, percussion and second guitar - Jimi wanted to incorporate within his new music," according to a statement on JimiHendrix.com.
The new album also provides a window into Hendrix's growth as a songwriter, musician and producer, the website stated.
"When I dropped the needle, that was when the light came on and it was like, 'Whoa this is serious. This is big,'" Kassem said.
Big it is, with an order for 30,000 vinyl pressings, which is a huge amount by today's standards.
"It is hard to feel like it is work when you're reissuing your favorite artist," Kassem said.
One of the perks of Kassem's job is that he is responsible for quality control.
His company will listen to the album more than 600 times before it is released. But that is not stopping Kassem from adding the new classic to his collection.
"People, Hell and Angels ... Right now, that is my favorite," he said.
Quality Record Pressings is a division of Acoustic Sounds, a Salina-based audio equipment and vinyl album pressing and distribution company.
Copyright 2013 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
