*** SUN RA Corner***

[kh1958]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

My Brother the Wind, Vol. II

Jazz in Silhouette

The Futuristic Sounds of (Savoy)

Monorails and Satellites

Fate in a Pleasant Mood/When Sun Comes Out

Spaceship Lullaby (The Vocal Groups)

Outer Space Unemployment Agency (Live 1973)

Sun Song

Sound of Joy

"Strange Strings" is on my want list.

A few to add:

Lanquidity

Nothing Is

Mayan Temples

Strange Celestial Road

Standards

[Chalupa]

Magic City, Atlantis, and Lanquidity.

[Teasing the Korean]

I'm curious if any of you are into Les Baxter's exotica records, and if you've noticed Les's influence on certain Sun Ra tracks.

[jazzbo]

I'm somewhat familiar with Les Baxter's exotica records. . .wouldn't say I think they really influenced Ra though. . . .

One thing I really like about Ra is how he really nailed the southern african horn sound on some recordings. . .long before that sound was very well known in this country.

[Teasing the Korean]

I'm somewhat familiar with Les Baxter's exotica records. . .wouldn't say I think they really influenced Ra though. . . .

At least one Sun Ra bio strongly claims otherwise. The Les Baxter track "Reverberasia" (from Skins), for example, sounds uncannily like a Sun Ra track.

And various passages in Sun Ra records sound like LB, for example the wordless vocals in "Somebody Else's World" (from My Bro the Wind vol. 2).

[jazzbo]

Okay. I remain unconvinced.

[Guy Berger]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

I'm no Sun Ra expert, but it seems to me that The Magic City and Heliocentric Worlds Vol 1 are essential documents of mid-1960s free jazz. (Heliocentric #2 is good too, but not quite as essential IMHO.)

Guy

[Teasing the Korean]

Okay. I remain unconvinced.

That's fine. You may not hear it, but his biographer(s) make this claim. I'm simply asking if anyone else has picked up on the similarities.

[Hot Ptah]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

My Brother the Wind, Vol. II

Jazz in Silhouette

The Futuristic Sounds of (Savoy)

Monorails and Satellites

Fate in a Pleasant Mood/When Sun Comes Out

Spaceship Lullaby (The Vocal Groups)

Outer Space Unemployment Agency (Live 1973)

Sun Song

Sound of Joy

"Strange Strings" is on my want list.

Supersonic Sounds (sometimes titled Supersonic Jazz)

Cosmos

Mayan Temples

St. Louis Blues (on IAI Records)

Solo Piano Vol. 1 (on IAI Records)

Unity

Nubians of Plutonia

Angels and Demons at Play

Bad and Beautiful

Astro Black

Space Is The Place

The Other Side of the Sun

Strange Celestial Road

Lanquidity

[jazzbo]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

My Brother the Wind, Vol. II

Jazz in Silhouette

The Futuristic Sounds of (Savoy)

Monorails and Satellites

Fate in a Pleasant Mood/When Sun Comes Out

Spaceship Lullaby (The Vocal Groups)

Outer Space Unemployment Agency (Live 1973)

Sun Song

Sound of Joy

"Strange Strings" is on my want list.

Supersonic Sounds (sometimes titled Supersonic Jazz)

Cosmos

Mayan Temples

St. Louis Blues (on IAI Records)

Solo Piano Vol. 1 (on IAI Records)

Unity

Nubians of Plutonia

Angels and Demons at Play

Bad and Beautiful

Astro Black

Space Is The Place

The Other Side of the Sun

Strange Celestial Road

Lanquidity

I would certainly include "We Travel the Spaceways" (coupled with Band and Beautiful on an Evidence cd), one of my very favorites.

Glad you have the Transition/Delmarks. . . those are among my very favorites.

[AndrewHill]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

My Brother the Wind, Vol. II

Jazz in Silhouette

The Futuristic Sounds of (Savoy)

Monorails and Satellites

Fate in a Pleasant Mood/When Sun Comes Out

Spaceship Lullaby (The Vocal Groups)

Outer Space Unemployment Agency (Live 1973)

Sun Song

Sound of Joy

"Strange Strings" is on my want list.

No expert either, but I second, third the Heliocentric Worlds. I also like Music from Tomorrow's World if you want to catch a gritty concert in 1960's Chicago (of course you have to get past that one woman who keeps yelling things like 'play that piano Sun Ra'). I'd also say Sunrise in Different Dimensions is another winner. And Strange Celestial Road if you like an avant garde meets disco sort of record, which is really good late 70's Ra. I don't know about you, but I don't reach for Spaceship Lullaby much. Its seems that its really a completist's disk, but interesting nonetheless. Out of the one's you have Jazz in Silhouette is a favorite along with Fate/Mood. Nice collection you have there.

Also really looking forward to getting Strange Strings too!

Edited June 18, 2007 by Holy Ghost

[gslade]

currently listening to Other Planes of There

[jostber]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

My Brother the Wind, Vol. II

Jazz in Silhouette

The Futuristic Sounds of (Savoy)

Monorails and Satellites

Fate in a Pleasant Mood/When Sun Comes Out

Spaceship Lullaby (The Vocal Groups)

Outer Space Unemployment Agency (Live 1973)

Sun Song

Sound of Joy

"Strange Strings" is on my want list.

To this list I would add these:

Sleeping Beauty (ArtYard vinyl, soon coming on CD)

On Jupiter (ArtYard vinyl, soon coming on CD)

Disco 3000 (ArtYard vinyl, soon coming on CD)

Astro Black (Impulse, not reissued yet)

Night of the Purple Moon (Saturn, coming up on Atavistic on CD soon)

My Brother the Wind, Vol.1 (Saturn, reissued on vinyl)

When Angels Speak of Love (Evidence)

Solo Piano Recital: Teatro la Fenice Venizia (Leo)

Creator of the Universe (Transparency)

Live at Montreux (Pony Canyon)

What Planet is this? (Golden Years )

Outer Spaceways Incorporated (Black Lion)

Nuits de la Fondation Maeght, vol.1 & 2 (Universe Italy)

The Other Side of the Sun (Universe Italy)

Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy/Art Forms for Dimensions of Tomorrow(Evidence)

The Magic City (Evidence)

Other Planes of There (Evidence)

The Solar Myth Approach, vol.1 & 2 (Snapper)

Edited June 19, 2007 by jostber

[Guest donald petersen]

i don't think you should force yourself to get all the "essential" sun ra-

first of all, everyone will give you different suggestions.

second of all, a lot of it might not be to your tastes.

i don't know your tastes and they might be quite broad-but i'm just saying that there are over 30 years of albums to choose from encompassing many instruments and styles of playing.

with this said-"other voices, other blues" is about my favorite sun ra album. actually the whole HORO peroid is pretty awesome and could be a definite high point in the ra discography. i think ra hit a high point there in the late 70s and it is nice to see art yard is finally going to reissue some stuff on CD rather than LP. the HORO albums are available on sketchy LP-burn CDs through some retailers (at least here in new york city on bowery).

let me also say that, IMO, a lot of the live stuff from the early 70s (late 60 even?) to the mid 70s follows an annoying pattern of short bursts and snippets of tunes, sometimes strung together, with a long solo sun ra blowout torwards the end which usually would be better if the other musicians played along but they don't, really. it can get tedious. and i am about the biggest keyboard and synth fan you'll find on this board.

[paul secor]

Here are the LPs/CDs that I have. I'd like to know if there's a general consensus among Sun Ra experts as to the really essential titles, and based on what I have, which ones I absolutely need:

My Brother the Wind, Vol. II

Jazz in Silhouette

The Futuristic Sounds of (Savoy)

Monorails and Satellites

Fate in a Pleasant Mood/When Sun Comes Out

Spaceship Lullaby (The Vocal Groups)

Outer Space Unemployment Agency (Live 1973)

Sun Song

Sound of Joy

"Strange Strings" is on my want list.

The Singles is a good one - fun to listen to also.

[Late]

The Singles is a good one - fun to listen to also.

I like it too, but I think some people might not because of the fair chunk of doo-wop that's on it. BUT, the track "I'm Gonna Unmask The Batman" saves the day for me every time.

[jazzbo]

The new cd of Night of the Purple Moon is fun. . . . Playing it was a good way to start the day.

[Alexander Hawkins]

The Singles is a good one - fun to listen to also.

I like it too, but I think some people might not because of the fair chunk of doo-wop that's on it. BUT, the track "I'm Gonna Unmask The Batman" saves the day for me every time.

love it too!

[Late]

The new cd of Night of the Purple Moon is fun. . . . Playing it was a good way to start the day.

You got an advance copy? Atavistic's site says there are still 62 days until its street date.

I have a vinyl rip, and I will say that this is one of my favorite Ra albums. How are the unissued solo tracks from 1964?

[jazzbo]

Fun, not essential.

The disc sounds fantastic though.

I preordered this about ten days ago. .. got a copy in the mail last night.

Edited June 20, 2007 by jazzbo

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

yes please do tell about the bonus tracks!!!!

[jazzbo]

They're fun, in my opinion they're not essential. Hell somewhere I've got a tape of me playing a wurly doesn't sound that different. (Not tooting my horn, just showing I don't find the bonus tracks to be that interesting, and they're short. . . the album itself and the additional track from the session smoke the solo tracks).

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

what waht waht? theres a GROUP number bonus track from the SESSION as well??!?!??!?! is it real swingin like the others? t his is gonna definetlyt be an upgrade from my lp reisssue

[Chalupa]

SUN RA DISCO 3000 COMPLETE CONCERT RELEASE, ARTYARD CD001

Now Available To Order Direct, at £14 EACH

TWO CD SET, 24BITMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAPES, WITH LINER NOTES FROM

MICHAEL RAY.

DISC ONE

1. Disco 3000

2. Sun of The Cosmos

3. Echos of The World

4. Geminiology

5. Sky Blues

6. Friendly Galaxy

Running Time 67.07

DISC TWO

1. Third Planet incl, Friendly Galaxy

2. Dance of The Cosmo Aliens

3. Spontaneous Simplicity

4. Images incl, Over The Rainbow

5. When There is no Sun

6. We Travel The Spaceways

Running Time 62.38

Recorded at The Teatro Cilak, 23/01/1978, Milan Italy.

Sun Ra { piano, organ, moog synth, rhythm machine, vocals }

John Gilmore { tenor sax, drums, vocals }

Luqman Ali { drums, vocals }

Michael Ray { trumpet, vocals }

June Tyson { vocals }

Enterplanetary Koncepts BMI

In the winter of 1977-8, philosopher, pianist and bandleader Sun Ra was to

be found in Italy. He may have made two trips there, or made one extended

stay: at this distance from these events it's difficult to be sure.

(There's usually a mystery where Sun Ra is concerned.) Sun Ra's musical

activity that winter is well attested: a CD from a piano concert in Venice

in November 1977, two double albums cut in the studio for the Horo label in

January 1978.

The Italian tour also resulted in releases on Sun Ra's own Saturn label,

Although the records have long been out of print and all but impossible to

find.With the re-release of DISCO 3000 and MEDIA DREAMS, two of these

elusive Saturn albums and arguably among the most important

documents of Sun Ra's long musical career, are now once more available.

They represent a real pinnacle of creativity, even for this prolific period

of the late 1970s, when his record output hit a peak: 1977-8 saw some twenty

Sun Ra albums, plus two video documents. DISCO 3000 and MEDIA DREAMS are

pivotal:

a unique chance to hear Sun Ra's music expounded in live performance by a

quartet, rather than his full Arkestra.

Sun Ra was joined in Italy by saxophonist John Gilmore, trumpeter Michael

Ray and drummer Luqman Ali. Sun Ra himself played piano and electronic

keyboards, including a Crumar Mainman.†

January 1978 was a fruitful month for Sun Ra. As well as days spent in the

recording studios in Rome, Ra, played several gigs in Italy before flyimg

back to the US.

The magic music from one night in the Teatro Cilak, on 23/01/1978 in Milan,

is preserved on Disco 3000.†

Chris Trent

[Chalupa]

I got a strange email offer this morning.....

ONE-OFF ART OFFER

PERFECT XMAS GIFT

SOUND INVESTMENT

HISTORIC EVENT ,US

IMPORT. EXCLUSIVE

TO ReR IN EUROPE.

SUN RA LIMITED EDITION 28 CD sets

£45 on this pre-announcement.

Plus Postage Costs

Scheduled release in 2 weeks

Please order as soon as possible, there are only 300 in total, we only have a few of them and

I’m sure they’ll vanish fast.

SUN RA

and the Omniverse Jet Set Arkestra

The Complete Detroit Jazz Centre Residency

December 26, 1980 - January 1, 1981

28 high quality CD-Rs with three-colour printing on

each disc in custom-made cases with poster-size insert with

track listings. Good quality desk recordings.

Total time: over 26 hours

Only a few extracts from these eleven concerts have ever been previously released. On the three New Year's shows there is no song overlap, and they perform at least NINETY (!) Sun Ra compositions in one night.

We managed to secure some of these, while they last and are offering

them to our mailing list before anyone else.

IT’S NOT ON THE WEBSITE - CONFIRM YOUR BOX BY REPLYING TO THIS EMAIL!

Total edition limited to 400 copies.

ReR Megacorp

79 Beulah Rd.

Thornton Heath

Surrey CR7 8JG

UK

44 (0) 208 771 1063

www.rermegacorp.com