Top 10 Sun Ra albums

[Felix]

I haven't seen this thread yet, so there it goes: What are your favorite Sun Ra albums, of the few hundered he made??

Mine would probably be (in no order):

-Jazz in Silhouette (1958).
-Fate in a Pleasant Mood (1960).
-Secrets of the Sun (1962).
-Heliocentric Worlds, vol. 1 (1965).
-Nothing Is (1966).
-Astro Black (1972).
-The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums (Cymbals/Crystal Spears) (1973).
-It is Forbidden (1974).
-Live at Montreux (1976).
-Mayan Temples (1990).

Well, go ahead crawjo...

[Jon Abbey]

Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy
Other Planes of There
Black Myth/Out In Space

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

More or less in current order, such as there is an order:


Other Planes Of There

Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy/ Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow

Atlantis

Mayan Temples

The Magic City

Jazz In Silhouette

Holiday For Soul Dance

Reflections In Blue

The Singles (enough great stuff amid the chaff)

Space Is The Place (Impulse)

and, although not making the cut, I have a special fondness for Supersonic Jazz, Lanquidity, the Walt Disney album (Second Star From The Right), and the Billy Bang album, Tribute to Stuff Smith, which oddly enough was my introduction to Sun Ra.

[John L]

I tend to like the Chicago-early New York stuff the best. Those bands were just SO tight. Some of my favorites:

Sound of Joy
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra
Jazz in Silhouette
Sun Song
Fate in a Pleasant Mood
Supersonic Sounds
Holiday for a Soul Dance
Nothing Is
Lanquidity
Blue Delight

[antboy]

hard to list 10,
but COSMIC TONES is up there for sure, as is HELOCENTRIC WORLDS,

and NOTHING IS has one of my favourite all time tenor solos by John Gilmore...

[crawjo]

Tough to pick and choose, my top ten would be something like:

1.) The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums: Cymbals and Crystal Spears
2.) Cosmic Tones/Art Forms
3.) Atlantis
4.) When Angels Speak of Love
5.) Black Myth/Out in Space
6.) It is Forbidden
7.) Space is the Place (Evidence)
8.) Bad & Beautiful/We Travel the Spaceways
9.) Interstellar Low Ways/Visits Planet Earth
10.) Jazz in Silhouette

Other Planes of There is also very good, though it's been a while since I listened to it.

[Frisco]

My 10 Favorites:

Angels and Demons at Play
The Nubians of Plutonia
Fate in a Pleasant Mood
The Magic City
Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy
Pictures of Infinity
Space is the Place
Black Myth/Out in Space (After the End of the World)
Astro Black
Mayan Temples

[Felix]

I find myself returning quite often to Fate in a Pleasant Mood, which seems to be highly underrated. Every time I hear it, I'm always impressed by the compositions on this one...

[crawjo]

Steve,

Have you heard the track with Stuff Smith on it from Sound Sun Pleasure?

[crawjo]

Really, a top ten seems from my biased perspective to be incredibly limiting when it comes to Ra. There are so many more albums that I have and love that didn't make my list. I have a special affection for much of early Ra, stuff like Sound Sun Pleasure, Supersonic Jazz, Sound of Joy and the Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra. I like pretty much all the Evidence reissues: my least favorite are probably My Brother the Wind Vol. II and Holiday for Soul Dance. I even like the often-maligned The Singles, which has some wonderful tracks on it amidst the dross.

If somebody some day is doing a search looking for Sun Ra recommendations, and doesn't know where to start, I just wanted to add this commentary. Of course, it's only my personal opinion, but I think Sun Ra was probably the greatest jazz musician who ever lived. His facility with swing music, his artful orchestrations, his early use of electronic keyboards and organs, his underrated skill as a pianist, his free jazz summit from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, you can look so many different places in his vast, vast catalogue of works and find something that is truly beautiful and compelling.

[Jon Abbey]

is Evidence defunct? if not, are they ever going to do any more Ra reissues? inquiring minds want to know...

[crawjo]

I ordered from them a month ago. It took forever for them to send me the cds, but they did. I don't know if they are putting out new albums. I sure hope they get around to doing more of the Saturn releases.

[John L]

Are there a lot more known Saturn releases?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Steve,

Have you heard the track with Stuff Smith on it from Sound Sun Pleasure?

No, I need to get that one! I set out to do so once I bought the wrong album (Sun Song).


But I did just get the one with Billy Bang, 'Live In East Berlin/ My Brothers The Wind & Sun #9' -- first impression: excellent!

[walto]

Of course, it's only my personal opinion, but I think Sun Ra was probably the greatest jazz musician who ever lived. His facility with swing music, his artful orchestrations, his early use of electronic keyboards and organs, his underrated skill as a pianist, his free jazz summit from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, you can look so many different places in his vast, vast catalogue of works and find something that is truly beautiful and compelling.

And, wherever he falls in the jazz pantheon, it's my belief (as I posted elsewhere last week, I think), that no one stretched out pianism (& keyboard playing generally) to the extent Sun Ra did in the 20th century. In fact, probably no one did in any century. (Amazing, e.g., how many conservatory types talk about people like H. Cowell--Clusters! Wow!--as if they were even from the same planet.)

Remind me: how much space did Ken Burns give him?

[crawjo]

[b][font=Courier New]Remind me: how much space did Ken Burns give him?

Heh. I think part of the problem is that his unusual way of presenting himself and his music causes many people to view him as a charlatan, a fringe figure in jazz history who can be safely ignored or put to the side. I think that's a big mistake, however.

[Brian Olewnick]

Glad to see Pat and Felix mention 'Astro Black' as I think it's a fine album that tends to get lost in the shuffle. I still think "Black Myth" (originally "It's After the End of the World" on BASF) is my favorite, though and it offers a pretty decent smorgasbord of what Ra was about.

Anyone who hasn't investigated the early sides where it's still a kinda loopy bop band, needs to. Things like Sun Song are wonderful.

walt, what IS your problem in quote attribution?!?! Drives me nuts!

[Jon Abbey]

Glad to see Pat and Felix mention 'Astro Black' as I think it's a fine album that tends to get lost in the shuffle.

never reissued on CD, pretty sure. speaking of which, you can add Strange Strings to my list.

[Enforcer]

My favorites have already been listed. crawjo, I agree with your assessment of Sun Ra. People let the eccentricities get in the way of their appreciation of his music. Chicago, Saturn, the Andromeda Galaxy, the West Side of Detroit, wherever he came from, don't matter to me.

[bluenoter]

Fixed.

Quote=Walto (in #15) quoting Crawjo (in #10):

Of course, it's only my personal opinion, but I think Sun Ra was probably the greatest jazz musician who ever lived. His facility with swing music, his artful orchestrations, his early use of electronic keyboards and organs, his underrated skill as a pianist, his free jazz summit from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, you can look so many different places in his vast, vast catalogue of works and find something that is truly beautiful and compelling.

walt, what IS your problem in quote attribution?!?! Drives me nuts!

[Felix]

is Evidence defunct? if not, are they ever going to do any more Ra reissues? inquiring minds want to know...

I think the reason why Evidence hasn't reissued any new Sun Ra albums in a while is because they don't have access to any more original Saturn tapes, and don't want to do vinyl transfers (but Atavistic could...??).

[john williams]

This thread has inspired me to buy some Sun Ra as he's one artist I've never gotten round to due to almost non-existent distribution in Australia. I've only ever seen locally Lanquidity and a Singles album. so I've ordered-

The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums: Cymbals and Crystal Spears
Nothing Is
Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy/ Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow

[crawjo]

Using Robert L. Campbell's excellent discography of Sun Ra recordings, here are the Saturn releases I have found that have never been reissued on cd, to my knowledge:

Deep Purple: Dates from 1955-1957. Also titled Dreams Come True. As far as I can tell, some of this record was reissued with Sound Sun Pleasure, some of it was reissued by Delmark on the Sound of Joy, but some of it has not been reissued.

Secrets of the Sun: Something from 1962.

What's New?: Also from 1962, though not released by Saturn until 1975.

The Invisible Shield: More material from late 1962. This wasn't released on vinyl until 1974.

It's Limbo Time: Okay, this isn't a Saturn release, but it's bizarre nonetheless so I thought I'd include it. Issued on vinyl by Dauntless in 1963, it features Ra and Arkestra mainstays like Gilmore, Allen, Patrick, and Boykins along with vocalist Roz Croney and some other musicians doing a bunch of songs for limbo dancing, such as "It's Limbo Time", "Limbo Like Me" and "Bossa Nova Limbo." Also included on this record was a version of "Doggie in the Window."

Primitone/Space Probe: Released under a variety of titles, this session dates from 1963.

Featuring Pharoah Sanders and Black Harold: This date, from 12/31/64, also includes Alan Silva. It was supposed to be part of the Jazz Composers Guild, but when that broke up, the music from his session was eventually released by Saturn in 1976.

Strange Strings: According to Campbell, this was released on Thoth Intergalactic in 1967, but not on Saturn.

Monorails and Satellites Vol. II: Evidence reissued only Vol. 1. Volume II came out in 1969.

Song of the Stargazers: Live music from 1967 or 1968, not released until 1979. Described by one Ra afficianado as a "mystery album."

Continuation: According to Campbell, this Saturn LP was actually reissued on CD in 1989 on the Blast First and Restless labels, under the title Out There A Minute. The performance dates from 1968.

My Brother the Wind: Vol. II has been reissued by Evidence, but not Vol. I, which was originally released by Saturn after Vol. II. Anyway, the performance dates from late 1969.

Universe in Blue: This Saturn release was recorded live in August 1971 and released in 1972.

Horizon: A Saturn release that was issued in the mid-1970s. It's a live recording from Cairo, Egypt from 12/17/1971.

Astro Black: This was not a Saturn release, but rather a briefly issued Impulse! LP that has not been reissued. It's a studio recording from 5/7/1972.

Discipline 27-II: Recorded on October 20, 1972, issued by Saturn in 1973.

Celebrations for Dial Tones: A mystery title that was supposedly released on the Saturn label, but no copies of it have been found.

Out Beyond the Kingdom Of: A 1974 Saturn release from a live concert at Hunter College in NYC.

The Antique Blacks: Another 1974 Saturn recording. This one is taken from a radio broadcast.

Sub Underground: From September 1974. Also known by the title Cosmo-Earth Fantasy.

Live at Montreaux: From 1976. Issued by Saturn as a 2-LP set.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Issued in 1977 by Saturn. Also known as We Live To Be.

Some Blues but not the Kind That's Blue: A studio recording from October, 1977, issued on the Saturn label in 1978.

The Soul Vibrations of Man/Taking a Chance on Chances: Live recording from 11/77, issued by Saturn in shortly thereafter.

Media Dream/Sound Mirror: Live recording from 1978.

Sleeping Beauty: Released by Saturn in 1979, taken from the same session that produced Strange Celestial Road, which is available on CD.

God Is More Than Love Can Ever Be: Studio recording from July, 1979, released that same year.

Omniverse: Another 1979 Saturn release.

On Jupiter: Ditto.

I, Pharoah: Ditto again.

Dance of Innocent Passion: 1981 Saturn release.

Beyond the Purple Star Zone: Ditto.

Oblique Parallax: Ditto again.

Ra to the Rescue/When Spaceships Appear: 1983 Saturn release.

Just Friends: Ditto.

Stars that Shine Darkly, Vol. I and II: Released in 1985, recorded in 1983.

Hidden Fire 1 & 2: From 1988.

That's all I could find. Keep in mind that, except where noted, these are just the Saturn releases. There are many other LPs from other small labels that have never been reissued.

[Jon Abbey]

thanks for that, crawjo.

Continuation: According to Campbell, this Saturn LP was actually reissued on CD in 1989 on the Blast First and Restless labels, under the title Out There A Minute. The performance dates from 1968.

yes, I have this.

Celebrations for Dial Tones

awesome title!

Strange Celestial Road, which is available on CD.

almost all of my favorite stuff is from the ESP records until maybe 1975, but this is my favorite of the ones after then.

That's all I could find. Keep in mind that, except where noted, these are just the Saturn releases. There are many other LPs from other small labels that have never been reissued.

yeah, the Horo ones are supposed to be very good, I've never heard those.

crawjo, have you ever considered somehow trying to help get some of these reissued? the more time that goes on, the more likely it is that some or all will be lost forever.

[Jesse]

[QUOTE]

Continuation: According to Campbell, this Saturn LP was actually reissued on CD in 1989 on the Blast First and Restless labels, under the title Out There A Minute. The performance dates from 1968.

Live at Montreaux: From 1976. Issued by Saturn as a 2-LP set.

Strange Celestial Road

I have these three on vinyl. I also have a couple of solo Ra piano lps, one is amazing, that never saw the light of day. Hand painted covers & zero information on them.

I have a Horo live date, with a great Gilmore/Tyson vocal on "Enlightment" (sic).
The guitarist on SCR landed here, living in a loft in St. Paul, at least 10 years back. Very sweet guy, I met him in a friend's record store. I gave him cassettes of Hemphill's Dogon AD & 'Coon Bidness, as they were oop at the time. He gave me a stereo amplifier he didn't use, as mine was fried.

[crawjo]

crawjo, have you ever considered somehow trying to help get some of these reissued? the more time that goes on, the more likely it is that some or all will be lost forever.

I'm not sure what I could do to help. Maybe I should start a campaign...start a website...

[John L]

Thanks for that list, Crawjo. I haven't heard the vast majority of these. That is a lot to look forward to (hopefully).

[sashabur]

Continuation: According to Campbell, this Saturn LP was actually reissued on CD in 1989 on the Blast First and Restless labels, under the title Out There A Minute. The performance dates from 1968.

That's not true - only two short tracks are on OTAM, the rest is not on CD. I can see, crawjo, where your mistake comes from - Campbell's book lists recording sessions rather than records, can be confusing sometimes.

[sashabur]

More corrections

Deep Purple: Dates from 1955-1957. Also titled Dreams Come True. As far as I can tell, some of this record was reissued with Sound Sun Pleasure, some of it was reissued by Delmark on the Sound of Joy, but some of it has not been reissued.

What's not on Sound Sun Pleasure, is on Cymbals CD.

The Invisible Shield: More material from late 1962. This wasn't released on vinyl until 1974.

It's divided between Janus and Standards CDs.

Live at Montreaux: From 1976. Issued by Saturn as a 2-LP set.

The Montreux set is indeed on CD

Hidden Fire 1 & 2: From 1988.

side A of the vol.2 is on Live in East Berlin/My Brothers Wind and Sun No.9 CD

The Soul Vibrations of Man/Taking a Chance on Chances: Live recording from 11/77, issued by Saturn in shortly thereafter.

These are separate albums, very different.

Media Dream/Sound Mirror: Live recording from 1978.

Ditto.

Ra to the Rescue/When Spaceships Appear: 1983 Saturn release.

Separate albums, which overlap for the large part.

And now a few things that are missing from the list on the first glance:
-Live in Egypt (aka Nature's God)
-Nidhamu
-Celestial Love
-Fireside Chat with Lucifer
(parts of the last two are on Nuclear War CD)

[sashabur]

crawjo, have you ever considered somehow trying to help get some of these reissued? the more time that goes on, the more likely it is that some or all will be lost forever.

I'm not sure what I could do to help. Maybe I should start a campaign...start a website...

The main problem with Sun Ra Saturn/Thoth albums, and why they don't get reissued, is in ownership of the rights - which don't belong to the Arkestra because Sun Ra left no will. A website won't help here If you look closey, no Saturn material was reissued after the Evidence series.

As far as non-Saturn stuff, there was talk about trying to reissue Horos a few years back (on Water?) but probably the former Horo owner didn't agree to license those, and he himself didn't want to start the label again. Also, there were rumors about reissuing a duo with John Cage - another omission from the list btw - this time by the owners (Meltdown) and with additional material, but no go either.

PS. For their reissues, Evidence had the deal with Sun Ra himself, now the situation is much more problematic as you can imagine