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.

===========================================================



===========================================================

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

=============================================================
=============================================================