Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra - We Travel the Spaceways (1956-61?)

Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra - We travel the Spaceways
Editions:
Saturn HK 5445 (mid 60's)
Saturn ESR 5445
Saturn LP 409
Evidence 22038 (CD, 1992)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
Interplanetary Music (Ra) (2:40)
Ra-cosmic tone org; Phil Cohran-zither (violin/uke); John Gilmore-cosmic bells; Ronnie Boykins-b; prob. Marshall Allen-perc. Ensemble voc. The drummer could be William Cochran. Recorded in clubs, Chicago, 1960.

Eve (Ra) (3:08)
Ra-p; Walter Strickland-tp; Nate Pryor-tb; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Ronnie Boykins-b; Robert Barry-d. "El Saturn Studio" (some club or rehearsal, indeed), Chicago, around 1959.

We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (3:21)
Ra-p; George Hudson-tp, perc; Marshall Allen-as, bells, flying saucer; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d; members of the band-perc. Chicago, late 1960 or early 1961.

Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra) (2:06)
Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronald Wilson-bs; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. Chicago, 1960.

Side B:
Space Loneliness (Ra) (4:48)
Ra-p; George Hudson-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. Chicago, late 1960 or early 1961.

New Horizons (Ra) (3:00)
Ra-p; Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; James Scales-as; John Gilmore-bells; Pat Patrick-bs; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d. RCA Studio, Chicago, 1956.

Velvet (Ra) (4:36)
Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Nate Pryor-tb; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. Hall Recording Company, Chicago,late 1960.

Line-up & Recording Date:
See each track.

http://rapidshare.de/files/21687465/1960s_-_Sun_Ra_and_his_Myth_Science_Arkestra_-_We_Travel_The_Spaceways.rar

Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra - Rocket Number Nine (1958-60; CD)

This CD, released in 1992 by Evidence, contains 2 Ra vinyls. The information for the vinyls have been posted. Notes of repost: 2 tracks of Sound of Joy.

Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra
Visits Planet Earth

Editions:
Saturn LP 9956-11-A/B (1966)
Saturn LP 207
Evidence 22039 (CD, 1992)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
Planet Earth (Ra) (4:52)
Ra-p, solar (electric) p, egyptian solar bells; Lucious Randolph-tp; Nate Pryor-tb; James Spaulding-as solo; Marshall Allen-fl solo; John Gilmore-ts, solar bells, tambourine; Ronald Boykins-b; Jim Herndon- tympani; Pat Patrick-bs, Rhodesian bells, solar drum; Robert Barry-d.

Eve (Ra) (5:33)
Ra-p; Lucious Randolph-tp; Nate Pryor-tb; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts, bells; Pat Patrick-as solo; Charles Davis-bs; Ronnie Boykins-b; Robert Barry-d; Jim Herndon- tympani, boom bam.

Overtones of China (Ra) (4:17)
Ra-ep, p, spiral percussion gong, Chinese solar gong; Lucious Randolph-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl solo; James Spaulding-as; John Gilmore-ts, solar drum; Charles Davis-bs; Pat Patrick-space lute; Ronnie Boykins-b; Robert Barry-d; Jim Herndon-tympani.
Recorded at different clubs, Chicago, early 1958.

Side B:
Viktor (Ra)
Saturn (Ra)

Line-up & Recording Date:
See each track
Notes:
Side B was taken from Sound of Joy, not released until then. On Evidence's CD, sides were changed.

Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra
Rocket Number Nine
(retitled Interstellar Low Ways)

Editions:
Saturn SR 9956-2-M/N (mid 60s)
Saturn LP 203
Evidence 22039 (CD, 1992)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
Onward (Ra) (3:30)
Ra-p; George Hudson-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d.

Somewhere in Space (Ra) (2:58)
Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy, d.

Interplanetary Music (Ra) (2:22)
Ra-p; Ronnie Boykins-b, space gong; Jon Hardy-d; Marshall Allen-perc; John Gilmore-perc. They all sing.

Interstellar Low Ways (Ra) (8:20)
Ra-p, chimes, gong; Marshall Allen-fl (solo); John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-fl, bells, claves; Ronnie Boykins-b; William Cochran-d.

Side B:
Space Loneliness (Ra) (4:28)
Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d.

Space Aura (Ra) (3:07)
Ra-p; George Hudson-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d.

Rocket Number Nine Take off for the Planet Venus (Ra) (6:11)
Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. Ensemble voc

Line-up & Recording Date:
See each track individually. Recorded in Chicago, late 1960.
Notes:
First published as Rocket Number Nine, the cover and title were changed on 1969 Saturn catalogue.

http://rapidshare.de/files/26801486/1958-60_-_Sun_Ra_and_his_Myth_Science_Arkestra_-_Rocket_Number_Nine__rel.1965_.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.de/files/26775997/1958-60_-_Sun_Ra_and_his_Myth_Science_Arkestra_-_Rocket_Number_Nine__rel.1965_.part1.rar

Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra - Sound Sun Pleasure!! (1958/48?)

Wait, you may say. I thought you were posting chronologically...so what gives with posting material from 1956?
Well, originally, on the Saturn release, this was simply material from a '58 recording. But with the '92 Evidence release, they decided to couple this with side A of the 'Deep Purple' Saturn LP in '73.
'Deep Purple' includes studio and home recordings from the early 50s--and claims can be made dating the material as far back as 1948. This early Sun Ra is rather historic, and should not be missed. Part of side A will come back when posting one of the two versions of 'The Invisible Shield.'

This CD is extremely important in seeing the beginning of Sun Ra's style. You get glimpses of it in some of the earliest pieces...

I included info for 'Deep Purple' as well.

Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra
Sound Sun Pleasure!!

Saturn SR 512 (1970)
Evidence 22014 (CD, 1992)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
'Round Midnight (Hanighen-Monk-Williams)
You Never Told Me That You Care (Hobart Dotson)
Hour of Parting (Schiffer-Spoliansky)

Side B:
Back In Your Own Backyard (Jolson-Rose-Dreyer)
Enlightenment (taken from Jazz in Silhouette) (Ra)
I Could Have Danced All Night (Lerner-Loewe)

Line-up & Recording Date:
Ra-p, celeste; Hobart Dotson-tp; James Spaulding-as; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs, as, fl; Charles Davis-bs; Ronnie Boykins-b; William Cochran (or Robert Barry)-d; Hattie Randolph-voc (on 'Round Midnight and Back in Your Own Backyard).
Recorded by Alton Abraham, Chicago, 1958.
---------------
Sun Ra and his Arkestra featuring Stuff Smith on violin
Deep Purple
(Dreams Come True)

Editions:
Saturn LP 485 (1973)
Side A has been reissued on Evidence 22014 (CD, 1992)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
Deep Purple (DeRose-Parish)
Sun Ra-p, Solovox; Stuff Smith-vln. Sun Ra's home, Chicago, 1953? Robert Campbell says 1948-49.

Piano Interlude(Ra)
Sun Ra-p. Chicago, 1955?

Can this be Love? (Smith-James)
Sun Ra-p, Wilbur Ware-b. Chicago, 1955?

Dreams Come True(Ra-Mayo)
Sun Ra-Wurlitzer ep; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts; Art Hoyle-tp; Vic Sproles-b; Robert Barry-d; Clyde Williams-voc. Chicago, 1956.

Don't Blame Me (McHugh-Fields)
'SWonderful (Gershwin)
Lover Come Back to Me (Romberg-Hammerstein)
Ra-p; Victor Sproles-b; Robert Barry-d; Tito-cga; Hattie Randolph-voc. Budland, Chicago, 1956 or 1957.

Notes:
Piano Interlude and Can This Be Love? were included in a tape that later would become side B of The Invisible Shield.

http://rapidshare.de/files/21518714/1958_-_Sun_Ra_and_his_Astro_Infinity_Arkestra_-_Sound_Sun_Pleasure__rel.1970_.rar

Thoughts so far...

Hello,

First, I'd like to thank the person who left the first comment. It felt very good to read it...There are certainly gaps in my Sun Ra discography, and if any loyal listeners out there want to fill the gaps, please by all means leave a comment under the most recent post or email me at mason.akhnaten@gmail.com. Feel free to post bootlegs as well, as I will be doing this too.

My second comment was one based on confusion due to a posted album cover....
Sun Ra's releases are scattered...The discography is highly confusing...It makes it even worse when CD releases couple two albums, like 'The Nubians of Plutonia' with 'Angels and Demons at Play.'

My goal of this blog is an attempt at chronologically presenting Sun Ra's recordings. I base this on recording date, not on release date. This further complicates things as many albums may showcase a decade of recording...

Should I continue to post potentially misleading album covers? If I do post them, should I explain that there is no way of me verifying exactly which release it came from (Saturn/Impulse/etc). All the artwork I have posted so far may or may not reflect the release being posted.
With no way to verify exactly what album release my MP3s come from, should I continue posting images that reflect only the album and not necessarily the particular release?

Please comment, as I want to avoid confusion. If you do comment, please explain the best way for me to avoid confusion (ie, placing more info under individual posts, writing info in the sidebar, etc.).

Help me with my intergalactic research. Help me share Sun Ra.

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Jazz in Silhoutte (1958)

Listen to this one before you die...

Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Jazz in Silhouette

Saturn LP 5786 (1958 o 1959) (matrix number K70P3590/ K70P3591)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (5:02)
Saturn (Ra) (3:37)
Velvet (Ra) (3:18)
Ancient Aeithopia (Ra) (9:04)

Side B:
Hours After (E.J. Turner) (3:41)
Horoscope (Ra) (3:43)
Images (Ra) (3:48)
Blues at Midnight (Ra) (11:56)

Line-up & Recording Date:
Le Sun Ra-p, celeste; Hobart Dotson-tp; Bo Bailey-tb; James Spaulding-as, fl; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Charles Davis-bs; Ronnie Boykins-b; William Cochran-d.
Studio recording, Chicago, late 1958.

Notes:
Enlightenment is the same version appearing on "Sound Sun Pleasure!!"

http://rapidshare.de/files/21336457/1958_-_Sun_Ra_and_his_Arkestra_-_Jazz_in_Silhouette__rel.1958-59_.rar

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Sound of Joy (1956/1968)

Well, maybe the confusion has already started with the Ra chronology...but it becomes more complicated with this 1968 release. The information I've found says this was recorded in '56, then it was released c.1968. However, by 1968, a number of these recordings had been released on "Visits Planet Earth"...Now the Visits Planet Earth release has different lengths for the tracks on the discography sites, begging the question--are they the same versions? My own troubles are further complicated as I only have a partial CD of "Visits Planet Earth"...(or so the discographies lead me to believe).
This is the CD version, as the extra tracks mentioned in the notes are included.

And here's the music:

Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Sound of Joy

Editions:
Delmark DS-414 (1968)
Delmark DD-414 (CD, 1994)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
El Is a Sound of Joy (Ra) (3:50)
Overtones of China (Ra) (3:22)
Two Tones (Patrick-Davis) (3:34)
Paradise (Ra) (4:26)
Planet Earth (Ra) (4:30)

Side B:
Ankh (Ra) (6:30)
Saturn (Ra) (3:52)
Reflections in Blue (Ra) (5:53)
El Viktor (Ra) (2:26)

Only in the cd version:
As you once were (?) (4:16)
Dreams come true (?) (3:49)
Line-up & Recording Date:
Ra-p, Wurlitzer electric piano; Art Hoyle-tp; Dave Young-tp; Julian Priester?-tb; (on El Is a Sound of Joy y Overtones of China); Pat Patrick-as, bs; John Gilmore-ts; Charles Davis-bs; Victor Sproles-b; William Cochran-d; Jim Herndon-tympani.
Studio recording, late 1956.
Notes:
Clyde Williams sings on the two "bonus tracks" of the cd.
Not released until 1968, and several tracks had appeared already on "Visits Planet Earth"

http://rapidshare.de/files/21154177/1956-57_-_Sun_Ra_and_the_Arkestra_-_Sound_of_Joy__rel.1968__-CD_version.rar

Le Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Super Sonic Jazz (1956)

Some more very early Sun Ra, with a smattering of tracks recorded throughout 1956. Like "Tiny Pyramids," the opening track on this album is unmistakable...A beautiful Eastern sound....Advice to Medics has a beat that will be more fully explored in later albums, under different names ('Watusi')...not to be missed...

Le Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Super Sonic Jazz
(retitled Super Sonic Sounds)


Included Tracks:
Side A:
India (Ra) (4:49)
Ra-Wurlitzer ep, space gong; Art Hoyle-tp; William Cochran?-d; Jim Herndon-tympani; perc; John Gilmore-bells; other members of the band, perc. Late 1956.

Sunology (Ra) (5:40)
Ra-p, ep, space gong; Art Hoyle-tp, perc; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts; Charles Davis-bs; Victor Sproles-b; William Cochran-d; poss. Jim Herndon-perc. Late 1956.

Advice to Medics (Ra) (2:02)
Ra-ep. 1956.

Super Blonde (retitled or misspelled Super Bronze on Impulse) (Ra) (2:35)
Ra-p; Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; James Scales-as; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick -bs; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d. Early 1956.

Soft Talk (Priester) (2:41)
Ra-p; Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; James Scales-as; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d. Early 1956.

Sunology, part II (Ra) (7:05)
Ra-p, ep; Art Hoyle-tp, perc; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts; Charles Davis-bs; Victor Sproles-b; William Cochran-d; Jim Herndon?-perc. Early 1956.

Side B:
Kingdom of Not (Ra) (5:32)
Ra-p; Art Hoyle-tp; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts; Charles Davis-bs; Victor Sproles- b; William Cochran-d; Jim Herndon-tympani, perc. Late 1956.

Portrait of the Living Sky (Ra) (1:48)
Ra-p; Victor Sproles-b; William Cochran-d; Jim Herndon-tympani, perc. Late 1956.

Blues at Midnight (Ra) (6:30)
Ra-p; Victor Sproles-b; prob. William Cochran-d. Late 1956.

El is a Sound of Joy (Ra) (3:56)
Ra-p; Pat Patrick-ss; John Gilmore-ts; Charles Davis-bs; Victor Sproles-b; William Cochran-d; Jim Herndon-perc. Late 1956.

Springtime in Chicago (Ra) (3:51)
Ra-p, ep; James Scales-as; Wilburn Green-eb; John Gilmore-space bells, perc. Early 1956.

Medicine for a Nightmare (Ra) (2:25)
Ra-p, ep; Julian Priester-tb; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d; Jim Herndon-tympani. Early 1956.

MP3s @ 320kbps:
http://rapidshare.de/files/21160653/1956_-_Le_Sun_Ra_and_his_Arkestra_-_Super_Sonic_Jazz__rel.1957_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.de/files/21162134/1956_-_Le_Sun_Ra_and_his_Arkestra_-_Super_Sonic_Jazz__rel.1957_.part2.rar

Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra - Angels and Demons at Play (1956-60)

And here is where my love of Sun Ra begins....
From the first track "Tiny Pyramids" to the "Demon's Lullaby", this album is a space odyssey and nothing less. The sound of Tiny Pyramids is unforgettable. When I think of Sun Ra, there are probably three songs I really think of, "Tiny Pyramids" being one of them. Don't miss out on this early Sun Ra...


Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra
Angels and Demons at Play

Editions:
Saturn SR 9956-2-0/P (between 1963 and 1967)
Saturn LP 407
Impulse AS 9245 (1974)
Evidence (CD, 1993)

Included Tracks:
Side A:
Tiny Pyramids (Ronald Boykins)
Phil Cohran- muted tp; Nate Pryor- muted tb; Marshall Allen-fl; John Gilmore-cl; Ra-p; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy- stick d; other Arkestrans, perc. Hall Recording Co., Chicago, end of 1960.

Between Two Worlds (Ra)
Bo Bailey-tb; John Gilmore-ts; Marshall Allen-as; Ra-p; Boykins-b (bowed); Robert Barry or John Hardy- stick d; unidentified-perc. Chicago, probably 1960.

Music from the World Tomorrow (Ra)
Ra-org; Ronnie Boykins-b (bowed); Phil Cohran-zither; Jon Hardy- d. Rehearsal, Chicago, 1960.

Angels and Demons at Play (Ronald Boykins)
Marshall Allen-fl; Phil Cohran-zither; Ronnie Boykins-b; unidentified-perc; John Gilmore- solar bells. Hall Recording Co. end of 1960.

Side B:
Urnack (Julian Priester)
Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Charles Davis-bs (solo); Ra-p; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d.

Medicine for a Nightmare(Ra)
Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs (solo); Charles Davis-bs; Ra-p, Wurlitzer ep; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d; Jim Herndon-tympani.

A Call for All Demons (Ra)
Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Ra-p, Wurlitzer ep; Wilburn Green-eb; Robert Barry-d; Jim Herndon-tympani.

Demon's Lullaby (Ra)
Art Hoyle-tp; Julian Priester-tb; Pat Patrick-as, bs; John Gilmore-ts; Ra-p; Wilburn Green-eb, Barry, d.
All the B side recorded at RCA Studios, Chicago, beginning of 1956.

MP3s @ 224kbps:
http://rapidshare.de/files/21169709/1956-60_-_Sun_Ra_and_his_Myth_Science_Arkestra_-_Angels_and_Demons_at_Play.rar

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Jazz by Sun Ra (1956)

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Jazz by Sun Ra
Retitled: Sun Song

Side A:
Brainville (Ra) (4:29)
Call for all Demons (Ra) (4:30)
Transition (Ra) (3:40)
Possession (Revel) (5:00)
Street Named Hell (Ra) (3:55)
Side B:
Lullaby for Realville (Evans) (4:40)
Future (Ra) (3:15)
New Horizons (Ra) (3:05)
Fall off the Log (Ra) (4:00)
Sun Song (Ra) (3:40)

Line-up & Recording Date:
Ra-p, Hammond B-3 org; Art Hoyle-tp, bells, Dave Young-tp, Julian Priester-tb, chimes, James Scales-as, John Gilmore-ts, woodblocks, Pat Patrick-bs, bells, Richard Evans-b, Wilburn Green-eb, tambourine, Robert Barry-d, bells, Jim Herndon-tympani.
Universal Studios, Chicago, July 12th. 1956.

http://rapidshare.de/files/26135108/1956_-_Jazz_by_Sun_Ra__rel.1957_.rar

A Short Introduction

The purpose of this entire blog is to provide the music of the musician from outer space who graced the world with his presence--materially and musically.
When it comes to jazz after the 1940s, I listen almost only to Sun Ra. I neglect the works of Coltrane, Davis, Parker....
For me, Sun Ra did everything jazz could do. It stands true to this day.

I have just finished listening to every Sun Ra recording I had accumulated. This took a very long time, as I had been accumulating 3 a day at times! And I can wear out on sounds, admittedly. Plus, there is some material by an artist that we like much more than others--so to listen to everything in its entirety....while not a Herculean task, it did stretch my toleration for some jazz.

It will become obvious over the course of this blog what my favorite material is. For example, the address of this blog comes a band that Sun Ra performed with, "Intergalactic Research" and my favorite song I've heard them perform is "Island in the Sun"...not necessarily my favorite song, by any means, but one I've heard dozens of times. The title of this blog is only to draw attention to it, as it is the best known thing Sun Ra has done. I will be proceeding in a chronological order (of what I have)---this opens room for many mistakes, and I will give notes on controversial recording dates.

I would like to thank all the original people who helped me acquire these albums. There is of course one person who, as I said, posted 3 times a day at times. 90% of the collection came from this one individual, and I'm sure he will know who he is.

I find my reviews are generally facile, so they will be kept short. I may self-glorifyingly revel in past moments that I've listened to certain tracks, but I will reserve any criticism (some people may make allegations of Sun Ra not being "at his best", etc.--to each their own, I say).