Browse by Artist: SUN RA

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Disco 3000: Complete Milan Concert 1978
Label:	ART YARD (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$31.00
Catalog #:	ARTYARD 001CD

24-bit (mastered from the original tapes, with booklet notes by performer Michael Ray). 6-panel digipack. Recorded at The Teatro Cilak, 1/23/1978, Milan Italy. "In the winter of 1977-1978, philosopher, pianist and bandleader Sun Ra was in Italy. The Italian tour resulted in releases on Sun Ra's own Saturn label, all of which have long been out of print and all but impossible to find. With the re-release of Disco 3000, one of the most celebrated of these elusive Saturn gems is once more available. This release, and its companion Media Dreams, capture a side of Sun Ra's work -- small ensemble, close form, original composition, rather minimal -- that is otherwise under-represented. Depending heavily on Ra's electric and electronic keyboards (including the mysterious Crumar Mainman -- of which even the company has no record) and, more unusually, on his intelligent use of sequencers and rhythm machines, this is an important window on the evolution of Ra's musical thinking, rendered even more transparent by the economy of its means; a quartet comprising only saxophonist John Gilmore, trumpeter Michael Ray and drummer Luqman Ali."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Media Dreams
Label:	ART YARD (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$28.00
Catalog #:	ARTYARD 002CD

"This is the companion to Disco 3000, made on the same classic Italian quartet tour with John Gilmore, Michael Ray (trumpet) and the minimal but perfect Luqman Ali (drums). Ra himself plays piano and electronic keyboards, including the mysterious Crumar Mainman, which Ra describes as 'like a piano, organ, clavichord, cello, violin and brass instruments' and which also, importantly, has a facility for pre-programmed bass lines and electronic percussion, which Ra uses constantly and to great effect in this small ensemble setting and seldom, if ever, elsewhere. The best of this collection (most of CD1) is luminous: very electronic, often rhythmical and melodic, always economical and making every sound count. These tracks are like no other jazz ensemble and, although recognizable as Ra -- who else could think of, and then get away with this -- unlike any other Ra ensemble, either. Ra makes the machines do amazing, visionary things while the band exercises restraint, remaining always in focus. In between, there are piano, saxophone, trumpet and drum vignettes, fresh and perfectly judged; this real was a fine band. This places the original vinyl release (and related releases, Sound Mirror and Disco 3000) back into the context of the concerts from which they were drawn. An important addition to the Sun Ra canon, since it is a rare document of an unusual Ra project that produced three classic late '70s LPs. Beautifully packaged and well annotated."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Nuclear War
Label:	ATAVISTIC
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	ALP 222CD

"Nuclear War stands as one of the great monuments in the latter part of Sun Ra's enormous oeuvre. It's an LP that by all rights should have been one of his breakthroughs, featuring one of the tightest versions of the Philadelphia-era Arkestra in a program that includes an appealing mix of standards and Ra originals. The title track is arguably to the '80s what 'Space Is The Place' was to the '70s . Ra's anthem for the decade, a piece that perfectly reflected certain apocalyptic aspects of his philosophy and his underlying quest for a better future. Ra thought very highly of this recording. He personally approached Columbia Records, certain that it was a winner, and when they didn?t opt to issue it he reportedly became depressed and bitter. Eventually, Ra sold the music to an outfit called Y Records. Y was a very interesting British independent label whose catalogue included important post-punk LPs by the Pop Group and the Slits, some outstanding reggae and a couple of records of improvised music. In London at the beginning of the '80s, musical worlds were colliding, and people like Steve Beresford and David Toop actively crossed all kinds of genre borders, confusing rock and dub and jazz and noise. Y Records producer Dick O'Dell first put out 'Nuclear War' as a 12-inch single -- the idea of Ra on an extended play disco plate was, in its own way, sheer brilliance! -- b/w the glorious June Tyson vehicle 'Sometimes I'm Happy,' and two years later the full record was issued on Y Records in Italy. But the LP never went into full distribution and as a result the few copies that trickled into circulation became some of the rarest entries in Ra's discography."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Spaceship Lullaby
Label:	ATAVISTIC
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	ALP 243CD

"Ever-ready to delve into some serious sonic archaeology, The Unheard Music Series is proud to bring to light a compelling and particularly obscure facet of Sun Ra's Chicago activities from the mid-1950's: a collection entitled Spaceship Lullaby, featuring Ra's work with several vocal ensembles from the period. Although similar musings had heretofore been heard only on the rare 7"s compiled on The Singles (Evidence), Spaceship Lullaby presents a full CD's worth of unreleased material, including songs by Nu Sounds & The Cosmic Rays, plus a previously unknown doo-wop group known as The Lintels -- each singing popular tunes of the day. Strange, wonderful -- and even hilarious in places -- this is pop music as only Ra could envision it, featuring him on piano along with the great Robert Barry on drums; on a few select tracks, the Arkestra is even backing The Cosmic Rays. Included here for your enjoyment and edification are two songs (the glorious title track & 'Chicago U.S.A.'), which were known to exist but thought to be lost forever -- as well as 35 (!) other tracks."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Concert for the Comet Kohoutek
Label:	ESP-DISK
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	ESPDISK 3033CD

"Recorded on December 22, 1973 in New York City at the famous Town Hall, this eclectic ESPDisk-sponsored celebration of the Comet Kohoutek featured a fire eater, talking drums, and dancers in platform shoes, in addition to Sun Ra's Arkestra. After taking the stage ninety minutes late, the band expertly navigates its way through cosmic free playing, big-band romps, and didactic vocal numbers. Compared to the original pressing, this re-issue is digitally remastered by Joe Phillips and includes brief liner notes by ESP label founder Bernard Stollman."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Heliocentric Worlds Volume 3
Label:	ESP-DISK
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	ESPDISK 4002CD

Previously unreleased third volume, issued for the first time ever. Recorded in NYC 11/16/65. "Heliocentric Worlds Volume 3 is the continuation of the Heliocentric Worlds Volume 2 session, recorded the same day and with the same personnel, that has been lost for nearly 40 years. Recently, the tapes were discovered, digitally remastered, and are now available for the first time." Sun Ra (piano, tuned bongos, clavioline); Marshall Allen (alto sax, pic, flute); Pat Patrick (bar sax); Walter Miller (tpt); John Gilmore (t sax); Robert Cummings (b clrnt); Ronnie Boykins (bass); Roger Blank (perc).

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Nothing Is...
Label:	ESP-DISK
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	ESPDISK 4024CD

New "semi-restored" version on Stollman's ESP-Disk, with 20 minutes of exclusive bonus material. New liner notes, brutally naff cover graphics. "Recorded during the 1966 tour of New York State colleges by celebrated classical engineer David Jones, this version of Nothing Is... contains over 20 minutes of newly-discovered material from the same date as the original album. Live set recorded during what many consider to be Sun Ra's most interesting period."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Heliocentric Worlds Volume 1 and 2
Label:	ESP-DISK
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ESPDISK 4026CD

This CD was released in 2005 (as ESPDISK 4005), but is now reissued again, with new cover art!
New version on Bernard Stollman's ESP-Disk, combing both volumes on 1 CD (for the first time). Remastered from original tapes! "1965 was an important time in the shaping of the definitive music formula for the Sun Ra Arkestra. It was these recordings that brought Sun Ra to the forefront of the free improvisation movement as a leader and an innovator."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Heliocentric Worlds, Vol. 2
Label:	ESP/ABRAXAS (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ESPCD 1017

Second volume, recorded 11/16/65. "It is Sun Ra who is the real star of this volume. Sometimes simultaneously with piano, he also plays Clavioline, a French post-war proto synthesizer, heard on some of Sun Ra's albums between 1963 and 1968-69. His answer to the restrictions of the monophonic instrument, not allowing chords, is: play either melodic, or...as fast as possible! Besides that, Sun Ra also plays some soaring tuned bongos throughout this record, presumably with sticks... Vol. 2 has lot of interesting percussive moments, using all kinds of 'assorted' instruments, mainly attributed to Roger Blank, Pat Patrick, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen and Robert Cummings. This record shows that by the end of 1965, Sun Ra had fully absorbed the quiet chamber music-like textures into pieces which also feature spontaneous full ensemble outbursts, solo pieces and half modern European/half African all-percussive textures." -- Rembo Takken. "Original artwork. Digitally remastered from the original tapes." Limited stock of this deleted version.

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra
Label:	FIVE FOUR (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$16.00
Catalog #:	FIVEFOUR 009CD

UK CD that is the same as the Savoy label release in the US and was imported in error. Different (inferior) artwork. "A true innovator and a consummate showman, Sun Ra was the first to integrate African rhythms, electronics and the Moog synthesizer into jazz in the late fifties and early sixties when such eclecticism was unheard of. As a musical pioneer, Sun Ra has much in common with the likes of Frank Zappa, Can, John Cage and Michael Nyman and has long been classified more as psychedelic or progressive rock than mainstream jazz. Sun Ra has one of the most collectable catalogues in the history of popular music and this timeless recording The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra from 1961 is both one of the accessible and most classic."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Of Mythic Worlds
Label:	PHILLY JAZZ
Format:	LP
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	PJ 1007HLP

180g vinyl edition. Exact repro of this 1980 album, the second Sun Ra album to be released on Philly Jazz following Lanquidity. Undated live recording, not previously reissued on either LP or CD! "Sun Ra's music is equational. It is based on a system and philosophy as old as the most ancient of civilizations, and it points the way of the future as well. Music is not seen as merely entertainment. Ra has oftentimes mentioned the potentials of music to change the social order. In fact, the highlight of many of his performances is his self-conceived cosmodrama which is essentially a dramatic monologue by Sun Ra in which he outlines the paths toward omniversal perfection. The Arkestra itself becomes the musical foil for Pharonic wisdom and cosmic insight." --Spencer R. Weston

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Of Mythic Worlds
Label:	PHILLY JAZZ
Format:	LP
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	PJ 1007LP

Exact repro of this 1980 album, the second Sun Ra album to be released on Philly Jazz following Lanquidity. Undated live recording, not previously reissued on either LP or CD! "Sun Ra's music is equational. It is based on a system and philosophy as old as the most ancient of civilizations, and it points the way of the future as well. Music is not seen as merely entertainment. Ra has oftentimes mentioned the potentials of music to change the social order. In fact, the highlight of many of his performances is his self-conceived cosmodrama which is essentially a dramatic monologue by Sun Ra in which he outlines the paths toward omniversal perfection. The Arkestra itself becomes the musical foil for Pharonic wisdom and cosmic insight." --Spencer R. Weston

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Lanquidity
Label:	PHILLY JAZZ
Format:	LP
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	PJ 666LP

Tracklisting: Lanquidity, Where Pathways Meet, That's How I Feel, Twin Stars of Thence, There are other Worlds (They have not Told You of). Recorded at Blank Tapes Studio, New York, 7/17/1978. "The album was originally on the 'micro-label' Philly Jazz, owned by a Philadelphia recording engineer who knew Sun Ra from his live performances on University of Pennsylvania's WXPN. The album has become a much in demand rarity among the ranks of acid jazz DJs throughout the world."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	When Sun Comes Out
Label:	SATURN
Format:	LP
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	SATURN 2066

Tracklisting: Circe, The Nile, Brazilian Sun, We Travel the Spaceways, Calling Planet Earth, Dancing Shadows, The Rainmaker, When Sun Comes Out. First two tracks probably made during the same session at the Choreographers' Workshop, late 1962 or 1963. Remaining tracks recorded during different sessions around the same period. The master tape of side B is in stereo; all known pressings of the album are in mono, however. The master tape also includes a rejected take of an unidentified piece at the beginning. In addition, three pieces were recorded backwards (!) on the master used by Evidence.

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Strange Strings
Label:	SATURN
Format:	LP
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	SATURN 502

Tracklisting: Worlds Approaching, Strange Strings featuring vocal by Arthur Jenkins, Strange Strings featuring lightning drum. Recorded in New York, probably 1966. A very uncommon Sun Ra LP, originally issued on Thoth (a Saturn-subsidiary?) in '66 or '67. A concept album of sorts, dealing with musicians playing unfamiliar instruments ("Chinese lutes, moon-guitars, mandolin, bass, koto," according to Tam Fiofori). "It is a piece of astonishing variety...Sun Ra here succeeds in creating perhaps the most completely improvised but organic piece in the history of jazz, with no prepared rhythmic, melodic or harmonic material, performed by players on instruments foreign to them." -- John Szwed.

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow
Label:	SATURN
Format:	LP
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	SATURN 9956

Classic Chicago Saturn release, issued in 1965, recorded at the Choreographers' Workshop, all but the last two tracks in the basement (where Ra liked the piano sound). Recorded in New York 1961/1962. Tracklisting: Cluster of Galaxies, Solar Drums , The Outer Heavens, Infinity of the Universe, Lights on a Satellite, Kosmos in Blue. Featuring: "Cluster of Galaxies", "Ankh", "Solar Drums", "The Outer Heavens", "Infinity of the Universe", "Lights on a Satellite", "Kosmos In Blue". With futuristic space interludes that are mindblowing... "This music, performed by a jazz band in the early 1960's, predates Syd Barrett, and occurred long before Tangerine Dream's Electronic Meditations. But you will swear you are listening to a lost Kraut/psych classic inspired by both of these. 'Solar Drums' is everyone in the band grabbing a percussion instrument except for the man behind the recording desk, who plunges everyone into a swirl of echo until they tip and tremble off each other luminescently, plinking brightly in the dark...one of the most amazing documents of Sun Ra's foresight. In these two recordings he anticipated - created? - psychedelic music." -- Happy Dog Potatohead.

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	The Solar Myth Approach Vol. 1
Label:	SUNSPOTS (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	SPOT 509CD

"'A wild and passionate interstellar mix of free jazz, solo synthesizer and hard rocking cosmic philosophy'. Apparently recorded in NYC between 1970-1971, this material 'would prove to be one of the cornerstones of the entire Sun Ra /Arkestra career' with Kwame Hadi, Akh Tal Ebah, Ali Hassan, Charles Stephens, Marshall Allen, Danny Davis, John Gilmore, Danny Ray Thompson, Pat Patrick, James Jacson, Ronnie Boykins, Clifford Jarvis, Lex Humphries, Nimrod Hunt, June Tyson and Art Jenkins. This album encapsulates the creative mood and the impassioned message that was going down as the '60s violently burned themselves out . In the cold dawn of the early '70s Sun Ra and his Solar-Myth Arkestra sent out their musical ray of hope to all who chose to hear it, and over 20 years later its effect remains both blinding and illuminating'. (Edwin Pouncey)"

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	The Solar Myth Approach Vol. 2
Label:	SUNSPOTS (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	SPOT 520CD

"Part 2 of one of the most important recordings of Sun Ra's long career. This album, recorded at the Sun Studios in NYC in 1970-1971 for the BYG/Actuel label, communicates Ra's own unique and cosmic mix of futuristic free jazz and intergalactic creative messages. Featuring Kwame Hadi, Akh Tal Ebah, Ali Hassan, Charles Stevens, Marshall Allen, Danny Davis, John Gilmore, Danny Thompson, Pat Patrick, James Jacson, Ronnie Boykins, Clifford Jarvis, Lex Humphries, Nimrod Hunt, June Tyson and Art Jenkins."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	It's After The End Of The World
Label:	UNIVERSE (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	UV 070CD

"Recorded live at the Donaueschingen Music Festival on Oct. 17, 1970 and at the Berlin Jazz Festival on Nov. 7, 1970, at a time when Sun Ra's Arkestra (featuring Alan Silva, Leroy Taylor, Lex Humphries, etc.) was one of the most innovative things happening the already innovative avant-garde jazz scene. Lounge soundscapes from outer space -- in Ra's music we find elements of jazz, blues, tribal music, the occult, etc., etc., -- creative genius beyond measure who guarantees a mind-altering aural experience every time."

Artist:	SUN RA
Title:	Live In Paris at The Gibus
Label:	UNIVERSE (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	UV 079CD

"Recorded live in Paris in 1973, Sun Ra and his Arkestra create a magical atmosphere that is difficultly reproduced in-studio. Improvisation is, in fact, the primary impetus behind the band, therefore making a live setting an essential element. As usual, Sun Ra never forgets the roots of jazz music and among his original pieces, we find Jelly Roll Morton's classic 'King Porter Stomp'. Another important testimony to one of the greatest innovators in jazz."

Previous Page Index of Artists Next Page