Thursday, June 11, 2020
Sun Ra - Singles, The Definitive 45's Collection 1952-1991 [2016] (3 x CD's)
SUN RA
Sun Ra - Singles, The Definitive 45's Collection 1952-1991 [2016] (3 x CD's)
In addition to hundreds of studio albums, live recordings, and compilations, the Sun Ra discography also contains dozens of singles, many of them dating from the early days of the artist's career, before he really took off for the outer cosmos. His singles have been collected before, particularly on the 1996 double CD The Singles, issued by Evidence Records. Strut's 2016 collection contains three discs' worth of material, but it isn't just a reissue of the previous set with a bonus disc tacked on. This one includes recordings that were unearthed since the '90s, including plenty of spoken word pieces. (Norton Records has released several LPs and singles of Ra's "Space Poetry" since the 2000s.) Not everything from the previous set is included -- the older one had a few more alternate versions as well as songs recorded with singer Juanita Rogers and bluesman Lacy Gibson (Ra's brother-in-law) that are missing here. Everything that is included, however, is completely essential.
Beginning with some of Ra's early spoken pieces, the set moves into several doo wop and rhythm & blues singles he recorded with vocal combos such as the Nu Sounds and the Cosmic Rays. The songs already touch on outer space themes, even if the music itself is often relatively straightforward. Ra did work with plenty of more bugged-out vocalists, however, including swing singer Billie Hawkins and the incomparable Yochanan ("The Space Age Vocalist"). There's also the weirdo Yuletide classic "It's Christmas Time" by the Qualities. On the more straightforward side, there are two lovely renditions of Thelonious Monk tunes sung by Hattie Randolph, including a perfect "'Round Midnight." By the time the set reaches the mid-'60s, Ra and his Arkestra were recording skronky avant-garde pieces. Obviously, the single format doesn't have room for the lengthy freakouts of the Arkestra's concerts, but there are a few tastes of that madness here. There are also some of Ra's more well-known tracks, including the single version of his signature tune, "Rocket #9," which is much slower and bumpier than the fast version on the Space Is the Place album. During the '70s, Ra explored the possibilities of electronic keyboards, resulting in bugged-out electro-funk like the nearly Raymond Scott-sounding "The Perfect Man." While most of the tracks on this collection originate from 45s, thankfully the infamous "Nuclear War," released as a 12" single by post-punk label Y Records in 1982, is also included. The set ends with more spoken intergalactic wisdom and space poetry, including "I Am the Instrument," recorded at home near the end of Ra's life and posthumously released as a CD single packaged with a VHS tape.
The set contains much of Ra's more accessible work, making it an excellent (and very generous) introduction for newcomers, but there's also plenty of material that might've escaped notice from longtime fans. (AllMusic Review by Paul Simpson)
If I could only pick one Sun Ra album to bring on the spaceship, it would be this one. This is one of the most comprehensive showcasing of Sun Ra's many unique, but familiar styling. The Sun Ra swing is a beautiful thing, and "SunRa Singles" is loaded with it! This is a fantastic collection of Sun Ra singles which shows the sheer diversity of this jazz great.
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Track lists
CD1
01 Sun Ra I Am an Instrument 1:37
02 Sun Ra I Am Strange 3:12
03 The Nu Sounds With Sun Ra Chicago Usa 2:56
04 The Nu Sounds With Sun Ra Spaceship Lullaby 2:18
05 The Cosmic Rays With the Sun Ra Arkestra Daddy’s Gonna Tell You No Lie 3:07
06 The Nu Sounds With the Sun Ra Arkestra A Foggy Day 1:04
07 Billie Hawkins With the Sun Ra Arkestra I’m Coming Home 2:03
08 Billie Hawkins With the Sun Ra Arkestra Last Call for Love 2:27
09 The Sun Ra Arkestra Soft Talk 2:43
10 The Sun Ra Arkestra Super Blonde 2:36
11 The Sun Ra Arkestra Saturn 3:01
12 The Sun Ra Arkestra Call for All Demons 4:21
13 The Sun Ra Arkestra Demon’s Lullaby 2:40
14 The Sun Ra Arkestra Supersonic-Jazz 2:35
15 The Sun Ra Arkestra Medicine for a Nightmare 2:37
16 The Sun Ra Arkestra Urnack 3:49
17 The Qualities It’s Christmas Time 2:45
18 The Qualities Happy New Year to You! 1:48
19 Yochanan M Uck M Uck (Matt Matt) 2:48
20 Yochanan Hot Skillet Momma 3:13
21 Sun Ra and the Cosmic Rays Bye Bye 2:50
22 Sun Ra and the Cosmic Rays Somebody’s in Love 1:48
23 The Sun Ra Arkestra Hours After 2:48
24 The Sun Ra Arkestra Great Balls of Fire 5:29
CD2
01 Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity October 4:41
02 Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Adventure in Space 2:35
03 The Cosmic Rays With Sun Ra and Arkestra Dreaming 2:44
04 Sun Ra & the Cosmic Rays Daddy’s Gonna Tell You No Lie 3:05
05 Hattye Randolph With Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra Round Midnight (Take 3) 3:51
06 Hattye Randolph With Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra Back in Your Own Back Yard (Take 1) 2:03
07 Le Sun Ra & His Arkestra Saturn 3:41
08 Le Sun Ra & His Arkestra Velvet 3:24
09 Yochanan With Sun Ra & His Arkestra The Sun One 2:32
10 Yochanan With Sun Ra & His Arkestra Message to Earthman (Alternate Take) 2:25
11 Yochanan With Sun Ra & His Arkestra The Sun Man Speaks 4:36
12 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Space Loneliness 4:34
13 Sun Ra & His Arkestra State Street 3:32
14 Sun Ra & His Arkestra The Blue Set 4:42
15 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Big City Blues 3:15
16 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Feat. Pat Patrick A Blue One 3:51
17 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Feat. Pat Patrick Orbitration in Blue 4:46
18 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Out There a Minute 3:26
19 Little Mack With Sun Ra & His Arkestra Tell Her to Come Home 2:07
20 Little Mack With Sun Ra & His Arkestra I'm Making Believe 3:13
CD3
01 Sun Ra & His Outer Space Arkestra The Bridge 1:58
02 Sun Ra & His Outer Space Arkestra Rocket #9 2:25
03 Sun Ra & His Astro-Solar-Infinity Arkestra Blues on Planet Mars 3:26
04 Sun Ra & His Astro-Solar-Infinity Arkestra Saturn Moon 2:15
05 Sun Ra & His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra Journey to Saturn 3:45
06 Sun Ra Enlightenment 3:28
07 Sun Ra & His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra I'm Gonna Unmask the Batman 2:18
08 Sun Ra & His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra The Perfect Man 5:00
09 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Love in Outer Space 3:51
10 Sun Ra & His Arkestra Mayan Temple 3:39
11 Sun Ra Quartet Sky Blues 2:43
12 Sun Ra Quartet Disco 2021 2:35
13 Sun Ra Rough House Blues 3:36
14 Sun Ra Cosmo-Extensions 4:24
15 Sun Ra & His Outer Space Arkestra Quest 2:35
16 Sun Ra & His Outer Space Arkestra Outer Space Plateau 2:23
17 Sun Ra Arkestra Nuclear War 7:45
18 Sun Ra Arkestra Sometimes I'm Happy 4:30
19 Sun Ra Arkestra On Jupiter / Cosmo Drama (Prophetika 1) 3:12
20 Sun Ra Arkestra Cosmo Drama (Prophetika 2) 3:17
21 Sun Ra I Am the Instrument 6:58
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Great artist, thank you Butterboy
ReplyDeleteHi Little Bill.
ReplyDeleteSun Ra has a huge catalog of music.
This is a great summary. Enjoy.
Cheers.
WHOA! Just read Sun Ra's Wiki page. Anybody who has actually been to the planet Saturn has got my attention. Will definitely dim the lights sit back and take an audio trip with Sun Ra...off we go.
ReplyDeleteHi D,
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Trip... Let us know when your back.
Cheers (or is that Bon Voyage).
Definitely an acquired taste. Sun Ra's oeuvre is a bit esoteric
ReplyDeleteHi Deadmandeadman.
DeleteI believe Sun Ra's work can be alienating for some.
That is attractive to me.
It took some time for me to get into Sun Ra but when i did it strangely made sense.
Cheers.
I used to see Sun Ra at a club in New York that usually featured Dixieland music. They set up on a converted old firetruck and played with well rehearsed abandon. There are videos, and the Astral Infinity Space Arkestra is definitely worth seeing. Tired of the Moon, try Venus.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story Eric. Always good to hear.
DeleteCheers.
many thanks Butterboy. You certainly cater for all tastes !
ReplyDeleteHi Jack,
DeleteYou are welcome.
I think music is by anyone for anyone. It surprises me how many DL's some of the posts get.
I only put them up because I like them and think others may enjoy them too.
Cheers.
Thanks for this collection. It's not my usual taste but in these difficult times, it's worth spreading the horizons. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks Claygator.
DeleteHope you enjoy the sounds of this set.
Cheers.
File not found on this one, either. Thanks again and again, BB.
ReplyDeleteHi ronzoni,
DeleteNew links established, tested and working.
Cheers.