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Xanthous 
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: May 16 2009 Location: Dayton, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 207 |
 Topic: Sun Ra RecommendationsPosted: November 06 2009 at 17:51 |
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About a month ago I picked up Sun Ra's Atlantis album and am thoroughly impressed but I'm not sure where to go next. He has a very expansive selection but I have no idea which ones are gems and which ones are rubbish. What albums are his essential recordings? is the question I must ask.
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Equality 7-2521
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Philly Status: Offline Points: 15784 |
Posted: November 06 2009 at 18:59 |
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Really you want to look mainly at his New York period which dates between 1961-1968. I think his best compositions appear in this frame. It's by far his most experimental period and gives you the fullest realization of his ideas. In this frame you have him requiring all band members to double on percussion, tape-loop use, and many Sun Ra staples being used to the fullest.
My favorite works from him: Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra vol. 1&2 The Magic City Fate in a Pleasant Mood I should say Fate in a Pleasant Mood is more melodic and less of a "free" feel than the other albums from the period, so it may be a good starting place.
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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A Person
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 10 2008 Location: __ Status: Offline Points: 65760 |
Posted: November 06 2009 at 19:08 |
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I've been wanting to get into Sun Ra as well, I've only heard one song but I was very impressed.
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Apsalar
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 06 2006 Location: gansu Status: Offline Points: 2888 |
Posted: November 07 2009 at 04:34 |
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These are all very good recommendations.
You will find this is because Fate in a Pleasant Mood was originally recorded in 1960. When matching up recording dates up with release dates there are often discrepancies, which in turn make his discography a little tricky, especially if you only enjoy certain periods of this output. Angels and Demons at Play was partly recorded in the same session and is another great example of his shorter, but tight works. Also of this ilk is Jazz in Silhouette, tho' with a heavy big band influence, I find this album finds a great balance between up beat Band band, and freer enough in sections to retain my interest. For his more avant-garde releases the already mentioned Heliocentric World volumes (I prefer the 1st over the 2nd) and The magic City, alongside these I'd also throw in Strange Strings (possibly his most difficult work), Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy & Other Planets of There. Towards the later end of the 1970's his work takes on a far more funky vibe at times almost fusion-ish, which was hinted at briefly on Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy. From this period, which I'm not overly versed with, I like Lanquidity (a highly enjoyable listen) and Strange Celestial Road. |
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Equality 7-2521
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Philly Status: Offline Points: 15784 |
Posted: November 07 2009 at 13:22 |
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I've always wondered about that discrepancy. Never realized it was recorded earlier, probably because I don't have a physical copy of that release. Thanks for the info.
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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LiquidEternity
Prog Reviewer 
Joined: December 07 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 900 |
Posted: November 07 2009 at 13:34 |
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I had Heliocentric, Atlantis, and something else. It never quite stuck, to be honest. I really enjoyed a few minutes of his stuff, but any longer than that and I would get a bit bored or something. Hard to say.
Atlantis was my favorite of the ones I had, though. |
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earlyprog
Special Collaborator 
Neo / PSIKE / Heavy Teams Joined: March 05 2006 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 2157 |
Posted: November 07 2009 at 13:42 |
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My knowledge of Sun Ra is very limited. But to my knowledge he has released quite a few albums. My interest for proto-prog led me to concluding that at least two of his compositions "We travel the spaceways" and "Thither and Yon" assisted in paving the way for proto-prog. They're from '62 and '63, respectively. I'm not sure which albums they're from, but defininitely noy "Heliocentric Worlds" which I also know (by accident) and find can recommend.
He is sort of jazz that directs to Soft Machine, Gong and Zappa, to mention a few.
He is definitely one that I need to explore in more detail when I get the chance/time/...
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Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group
Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Status: Offline Points: 37232 |
Posted: November 07 2009 at 14:16 |
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From the 60's I like Magic City a lot.
From the early 70's, I really like The Solar Myth-Approach Volumes 1 and 2 and Nuits de la Fondation Maeght Volumes 1 and 2. From the late 70's, I like Languidity considerably. Very good Fusion album. I really need to explore much more of his work. |
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Rocktopus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2006 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 4202 |
Posted: November 09 2009 at 15:08 |
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I agree with everything, except that I haven't got Fate in a Pleasant Mood. My personal third favorite is Secrets of the Sun Recorded in '62, released in '65. More melodic and not as out there as Heliocentric or Magic City but its mystical, exotic with haunted house organ, flute, strutting horns and heavy percussion. (The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra, Angels and Demons at Play and Jazz in Silhouette are almost as great, among his early, not yet avantgarde stuff). Never got into Atlantis. |
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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
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The Lackey
Forum Newbie 
Joined: February 24 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 19 |
Posted: November 16 2009 at 17:08 |
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His highest achievement was the song Nuclear War.
Originally Ra was so sure the funky dance track was a hit, he immediately took it to Columbia Records, where they immediately rejected it. Why he thought a song with the repeating chant "Nuclear War, they're talking about Nuclear War/It's a motherf***er, don't you know/if they push that button, your ass gotta go/and whatcha gonna do without your ass" would be a hit is another puzzle in the Sun Ra myth. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hxfqxqr0ldae |
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Rocktopus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2006 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 4202 |
Posted: November 16 2009 at 17:16 |
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No way! Not if you're actually interested in him as an artist. |
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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
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A B Negative
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2006 Location: Methil Republic Status: Offline Points: 1594 |
Posted: November 18 2009 at 09:59 |
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I recommend The Solar-Myth Approach and Space Is the Place. I like Heliocentric Worlds but they have a different feel to the late 60s / early 70s Ra.
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"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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A B Negative
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2006 Location: Methil Republic Status: Offline Points: 1594 |
Posted: November 18 2009 at 10:04 |
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This might be helpful (or a case of information overload)
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"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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holy ghost
Forum Groupie 
Joined: November 24 2009 Location: Hogtown Status: Offline Points: 50 |
Posted: November 24 2009 at 10:36 |
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I will say that for anyone, even a casual fan of Sun Ra his biography Space Is The Place is a wonderful read! So funny and sheds a lot of light on that strange man.
As for his records, I would say that of the 25 or so albums I have, these are my favorites:
Strange Strings: So weird, so out there and just a wonderfully controlled mess. My favorite.
Lanquidity: Space acid jazz, this is my favorite of his later works.
Secrets Of The Sun: His best effort of his NYC period, very accessible yet out there space jazz, this might be a great starting point
Night Of The Purple Moon: lounge-y spazz jazz, kind of reminds me of Lurch from the Addams Family playing his harpsichord.....
There are so many others that I am on the lookout for, particularly the CD of his unreleased albums Cybals and Crystal Spears which I hear is great.
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SaltyJon
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 08 2008 Location: Location Status: Offline Points: 28772 |
Posted: November 30 2009 at 00:56 |
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I need to check him out as well, my original plan was to start out with Strange Strings but I think I'll grab one of the less difficult works first.
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Rocktopus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2006 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 4202 |
Posted: December 01 2009 at 04:10 |
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I found it a couple of days ago (you should really check out Secrets of the Sun, if you haven't got it already) . Great fun! I'm currently looking for Strange Things, which seems to be the only 60's album I'm missing, considered essential |
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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
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Sun Ra Recommendations
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Equality 7-2521 wrote: