Discography Items # 51-75
Item # Title Alternate Title(s)
51. Nidhamu
52. Universe in Blue
52A. Soundtrack to the Film Space Is the Place
53. Astro Black
54. Crystal Spears
55. Cymbals
56. Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival 1972
57. Space Is the Place
58. Discipline 27-II
59. Live at the Gibus
60. Pathways to Unknown Worlds
61. Concert for Comet Kohoutek
62. Celebrations for Dial Tunes
63. Out Beyond the Kingdomn Of Discipline 99
64. The Antique Blacks Interplanetary Concepts;
There Is a Change in the Air
65. Sub Undergraound Temple U;
Cosmo-Earth Fantasy
66. Live at Montreaux
67. Cosmos
67A. A Quite Place in the Universe
68. Solo Piano, v.1
69. St. Louis Blues Solo Piano, v.2
70. Somewhere Over the Rainbow We Live to Be
71. Some Blues but Not the Kind that's Blue Nature Boy;
My Favorite Things
72. The Soul Vibrations of Man
73. Taking a Chance on Chances
74. Unity
75. New Steps
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51. Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra
Nidhamu
Saturn 7771
Saturn 77771
Thoth Intergalactic 7771
Side A:
Space Loneliness No. 2 (Ra)
Discipline No. 11 (Ra)
Discipline No. 15 (Ra)
Side B:
Nidhamu (Ra)
Ra-Tiger org, Mini-Moog syn, Rocksichord; Kwame Hadi-tp, cga; Marshall Allen-as, fl, picc, ob, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as, cga; John Gilmore-ts, perc, d; Pat Patrick-eb; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Hakim Rahim-as, fl; Clifford Jarvis-d; Tommy Hunter-d; Lex Humphries-d.
Side A: Ballon Theater, Cairo, 12/17/1971;
Side B: House of Hartmut Geerken, Heliopolis, Cairo, 12/12/1971.
Mislabeled on some Saturn jackets as live in Holland, 1971! [Info from Geerken and Stahl; thanks to John Szwed for the tape]
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52. Sun Ra and his Blue Universe Arkestra
Universe in Blue
Saturn ESR 5000 IGB, LP 200 (1972)
Side A:
Universe in Blue Part I (Ra) (4:30)
(pause to turn over the tape)
Universe in Blue Part II (Ra) (10:00)
Side B:
Blackman (Ra)
In a Blue Mood (Ra)
Another Shade of Blue (Ra)
Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp; Marshall Allen-as, ob, picc, fl; Danny Davis-as, acl; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, picc; Ra-intergalactic space org; Alzo Wright-clo; Lex Humphries-d; June Tyson-voc on Blackman. Recorded on the road somewhere, 1971/1972.
[Personnel from jacket, date from Buzelin]
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52a. Sun Ra and the Intergalactic Myth-Science Solar Arkestra
Soundtrack to the Film Space Is the Place
Evidence ECD 22070-2 (CD, 1993)
It's after the End of the World (Ra) (3:24)
Under Different Stars (Ra) (Ra-org; Hadi and Harris-tp) (3: 55)
Discipline 33 (Ra) (3:27)
Watusa (Ra) (7:10)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (3:04)
I Am the Alter-Destiny (piece of longer rap with dialogue) (Ra) (1:08)
Satellites are Spinning take 1 (Ra) (2:32)
Cosmic Forces (synthesizer solo) (Ra) (3:08)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated take 3 (Ra) (2:59)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (2:27)
The Overseer (another sea of sounds; opens with bsn solo) (Ra) (3:04)
Blackman / Love in Outer Space (Ra) (16:52)
Mysterious Crystal (strange strings and vibes) (Ra) (5:53)
I Am the Brother of the Wind (Ra) (5:53)
We'll Wait for You (Ra) (4:11)
Space Is the Place (Ra) (4:23)
Kwame Hadi-tp, cga, vib; Wayne Harris-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, bsn, kora, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl, acl, perc; Larry Northington-as, cga; John Gilmore-ts, d, perc, voc; Eloe Omoe (Leroy Taylor)-bcl, bgo, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, perc; Sun Ra-p, Mini-Moog syn, Farfisa org, Hohner Clavinet, Rocksichord; Lex Humphries-d; Ken Moshesh-cga; June Tyson-voc, bells. Studio recording, Oakland, California. Early 1972.
[Personnel from film credits, amplified by Jim Newman. Date from Tommy Hunter, who says the band moved to California for 3 months after the Egyptian tour. Uncredited Arkestra dancers appear when the spaceship lands and in the Outer Space Employment Agency scene. "Judy" Holton, credited with makeup, may be one. Samuel Bankhead's name also appears in the credits -- is he in the doowop group that performs in the youth center scene?]
According to Gilmore, Wayne Harris was still with the Arkestra at this time. (Where was Ebah?) He remembers Harris getting into a fight with two policemen in San Francisco. Harris joined before the band left New York; Kwame Hadi did not start until after they moved to Philadelphia. Gilmore thinks Ebah arrived even later than Hadi, but this contradicts several Saturn personnel lists (to be continued...). Harris came from Birmingham and returned home not long after these sessions. "He was a little bit out in the headquarters," Gilmore says. James Jacson confirms that Marshall Allen was the bassoonist on this date. [rlc]
Material from these sessions not used on the Evidence CD:
Along Came Ra (instrumental) (Ra)
Discipline 11 (incomplete; rejected) (Ra)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated take 1 (Ra)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated take 2 (rejected) (Ra)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated take 4 (Ra)
Satellites are Spinning take 2 /rejected/ (Ra)
If This Is Life (Ra)
We're Living in the Space Age (Ra)
The Unknown Factor (Ra)
Black Myth/Strange Worlds (Ra)
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53. Sun Ra
Astro Black
Impulse AS-9255 (1973)
Side A:
Astro Black (Ra) (10:59)
Discipline "99" (Ra) (4:47)
Hidden Spheres (Ra) (7:04)
Side B:
The Cosmo-Fire, Part I (Ra) (total 18:22)
The Cosmo-Fire, Part II (Ra)
The Cosmo-Fire, Part III (Ra)
Collective personnel: Ra-keyb, Mini-Moog syn, e-vib; Akh Tal Ebah-tp; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)-tp; Charles Stephens-tb; Marshall Allen-as; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Pat Patrick-mistro-cl; Alzo Wright-vln, vla; Ronnie Boykins-b; Tommy Hunter-d; Atakatune (Stanley Morgan)-cga; Odun-cga; Chiea-cga; Ruth Wright-voc; June Tyson-voc. Recorded El Saturn Studios, Chicago, 5/7/1972. [Info from jacket]
Belongs to MCA now. Dave Grusin, where are you? The Cosmo-Fire, Part II also appeared on an Impulse sampler LP, ASD-9267, titled No Energy Crisis. Astro Black also appeared on an Impulse sampler called Impulsively!, Impulse 1973 or AS-9266. The mistro-clarinet was presumably an alto model. [rlc, Trent]
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54. Sun Ra
Crystal Spears
Impulse AS-9297 (unreleased)
unknown titles
personnel unknown; newly recorded for Impulse in 1972 or 1973, possibly in Chicago. Could consist of additional material from the session of 10/19/72. [Letter to Down Beat from Hinds, 1984; according to Szwed, the master tapes are still extant]
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55. Sun Ra Cymbals
Impulse AS-9296 (unreleased)
unknown titles
personnel unknown; newly recorded for Impulse in 1972 or 1973, possibly in Chicago. Could be from the sessions of 10/19/72. [Letter to Down Beat from Hinds, 1984; Szwed says the master tapes are still extant]
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56. Various Artists
Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival 1972
Atlantic SD2-502 (1973)
ATL 60048
(one track by Sun Ra and his Solar-Myth Arkestra)
Life is Splendid (from the Space is the Place Suite) (Ra)
Ra-org; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)- tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Larry Northington-as; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-bcl; Lex Humphries-d; Alzo Wright-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga, perc; Russell Branch-cga, perc; Robert Underwood-perc; Harry Richards-perc; June Tyson-voc, dance; Judith Holton-voc, dance; Cheryl Banks-voc, dance; Ruth Wright-voc, dance. Live at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 9/10/1972. [Info from album jacket via Stahl]
The rest of this set was recorded but not issued -- see Sun Ra tapeography, T72.9.10.
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57. Sun Ra
Space is the Place
Blue Thumb BTS 41 (1973)
Vogue 10.021 (France)
Impulse! IMPD-249 (1997) [–Moudry]
Side A:
Space is the Place (Ra) [21:14]
Side B:
Images (Ra) [6:15]
Discipline 33 (Ra) [4:50]
Sea of Sounds (Ra) [7:42]
Rocket Number Nine (Ra) [2:50]
Ra-p, space org, Mini-Moog syn; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg, reed tp, voc; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)-tp, perc; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl, acl; Larry Northington-as; John Gilmore-ts, d, voc; Pat Patrick-ts, eb; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Lex Humphries-d, perc; Robert Underwood-d; Harry Richards-perc; Alzo Wright-perc; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-perc, cga; June Tyson, Ruth Wright, Cheryl Banks, Judith Holton-Space Ethnic Voices. Streeterville Studios, Chicago, 10/19/1972. [Information from jacket.]
Though only one is credited, there are two low clarinets on Discipline 33. One is clearly Omoe-bcl. The other is presumably Danny Davis-acl, though Pat Patrick could have brought along his "mistro-clarinet".
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58. Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra
Discipline 27-II
Saturn 538 (1973)
Side A:
Pan Afro (Ra) (8:02)
Discipline 8 (Ra) (7:56)
Neptune (Ra) (5:47)
Side B:
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (24:29)
Sun Ra-electronic keyb space instruments, space org, Mini-Moog, vocal dramatizing; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg, space ethnic voice; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)-tp, perc; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc, space ethnic voice; Pat Patrick-bs, eb; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; Alzo Wright-d; Harry Richards-d; Robert Underwood-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-perc, cga; Russell Branch-perc, cga; June Tyson, Ruth Wright, Judith Holton, Cheryl Banks-Space Ethnic Voices. treeterville Studio, Chicago, 10/19/72.
Part of a 1.5 day session under the supervision of Ed Michel that produced enough material for four albums. [Personnel from album jacket; location and date from Chase]
The album (unusually for a Saturn) was reviewed in Down Beat, 41 (1), 1/17/74, by Ray Townley, who called it a "lackluster session" and said "the worst feature... is the random slicing of the long title cut" into several bands, apparently in an effort to get airplay.
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59. Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Research Arkestra
Live at the Gibus
Atlantic 40540 (France only)
Side A:
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Ombre Monde #2 (Shadow World) (Ra)
Side B:
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
Salutation from the Universe (Ra)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra)
Ra-p, org, e-vib, space instruments, Mini-Moog syn, voc; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg; Kwame Hadi-tp, flg; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, picc; Danny Davis-as, fl, acl; John Gilmore-ts, d; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, perc; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; Ronnie Boykins-b; Alzo Wright-clo, vla, perc; Thomas Hunter-d; Odun-perc, cga; Aralamon Hazoume-perc, balafon, dance; Shahib-perc, cga; Math Samba-perc, dance; June Tyson-voc, dance; Judith Holton-voc, dance; Cheryl Banks-voc, dance; Ruth Wright-voc, dance. Live at the Gibus, Paris, 10/1973.
[Info from Buzelin; thanks to Webber for a tape]
Although this is the first issued recording of the Arkestra playing a score associated with Fletcher Henderson, Sun Ra began arranging Henderson pieces in 1966-1967, after seeing the 4-album Columbia set, A Study in Frustration, on display in New York. [Szwed] The emphasis on "stomps" became much more pronounced around this time, however. Ra and Ronnie Boykins had a falling out after this concert; thereafter, Boykins' appearances with the band were rare. [Hunter]
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60. Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra
Pathways to Unknown Worlds
Saturn LP 564
Impulse ASD-9298 (1975)
Side A:
Pathways to Unknown Worlds (Ra)
Side B:
Extension Out (Ra)
Cosmo-Media (Ra)
Ra-keyb; Akh Tal Ebah-tp; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Danny Thompson-bs; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-bcl; Ronnie Boykins-b; Bill Davis-b; Clifford Jarvis-d; Russell Branch-perc; Eugene Brennan-cga; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-perc, cga. El Saturn Studio (wherever that was), Chicago, 1973.
[Info from Impulse jacket] Has anyone actually seen the Saturn issue?
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61. Sun Ra
Concert for the Comet Kohoutek
ESP 3033 (German CD, 1993)
Kohoutek Intro (Ra) (1:10)
Astro Black (Ra) (1:50)
Variations of Kohoutek Themes (Discipline 27) (Ra) (5:12)
Journey through the Outer Darkness (Ra) (9:25)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (2:02)
Unknown Kohoutek (Love in Outer Space) (Ra) (7:16)
Discipline (15) (Ra) (12:39)
Outer Space E. M. (Emergency) (Life Is Splendid/Outer Space Employment Agency) (Ra) (7:40)
Space Is the Place (Ra) (7:56)
Kwame Hadi-tp (solo on Discipline 27); Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg, mellophone, voc; Dick Griffin or Charles Stephens-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl, perc; John Gilmore-ts, perc, voc; Eloe Omoe-bcl, perc; Danny Thompson-bs, fl, perc; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Alzo Wright-vln, clo, d; Ronnie Boykins-b; Sun Ra-Mini-Moog syn, org, declamation; Tommy "Bugs" Hunter-d; June Tyson-voc, dance; Space Ethnic Voices: prob. Judith Holton-dance, voc; prob. Cheryl Banks-dance, voc; Ruth Wright-voc, dance. Live at Town Hall, New York City, Saturday 12/22/73.
[Location and titles from CD leaflet; several of the titles are incomplete or incorrect. Enlightenment incorrectly attributed to Ra only. Discipline 27 is the pre-mitotic version. Personnel rlc, with help from Hunter, who confirms his presence and says that cellist Alzo Wright "didn't have the bass concept". Hunter thinks Lex Humphries may also have been present on drums, but a second set of cymbals is not audible. Danny Thompson says that Alzo Wright also played drums. Thompson thinks the bassist was not Bill Davis; he says that correct execution of the 5/4 against 4/4 in Space Is the Place means it was a regular. He suggests Pat Patrick, but it's clearly a string bass. Boykins wasn't playing regularly with the band any more, and the bass is not well recorded, but he is the first choice. This would be his last recording with the Arkestra. Thompson suggests Griffin as well as Stephens on trombone. He also points out Ebah's singing on Space Is the Place]
From a rather poorly attended concert put on by ESP to feature Sun Ra and other artists associated with the label: Randy Burns, Amanda, Buddy Hughes, Miamis, Donald Raphael Garrett, and Paul Thornton (of Godz fame). Tapes were lost for many years, according to Tom Klatt. Hunter recalls that the band started playing late and had to stop after an hour. Bernard Stollman also says that the Arkestra went on last. "I knew if I put Sunny on first, he'd play for 3 or 4 hours." Hunter suspects that the tape was speeded up, judging from the effect on his cymbal sound.
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62. Sun Ra
Celebrations for Dial Tunes
Saturn (unknown number)
unknown titles
Ra-ep, voc, poems; Tani Tabbal-d; other personnel unknown. Recorded 1973 or 1974.
Supposedly released out of Philadelphia, not Chicago. A second version supposedly has Ra on synthesizer and not electric piano. [mentioned to Stahl by Tani Tabbal; confirmation from John Szwed]
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63. Sun Ra and his Outer Space Arkestra
Out Beyond the Kingdom Of
(Discipline 99)
Saturn 61674
(Issues from 1974 or later, with dates for serial numbers, are from the Philadelphia Saturn label, run out of the house on Morton Street, not Alton Abraham's Chicago operation -- rlc)
Side A:
Discipline 99 (Ra)
How Am I To Know? (King-Parker-Robbins)
Sunnyside Up (DeSylva-Brown)
Solar Ship (Ra)
Side B:
Out Beyond the Kingdom of (Ra)
Cosmos Synthesis (Ra)
Outer Space Employment Agency (Ra)
Journey to Saturn (Ra)
Ra-p, org, recitation; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, voc; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)-tp; Marshall Allen-ss, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as, fl, acl; John Gilmore-ts; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Clifford Jarvis-d; June Tyson-voc, recitation. Live at Hunter College, New York. 6/16/74.
[Personnel from Geerken; location from Glenn Jones; there are photos, and a concert tape may still survive of additional material, including a "ferocious" alto solo by Marshall Allen]
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64. Sun Ra
The Antique Blacks
(Interplanetary Concepts)
(There Is Change in the Air)
Saturn 81774
Side A:
Song No. 1 (Ra)
There Is Change in the Air (Ra)
The Antique Blacks (Ra)
Side B:
This Song Is Dedicated to Nature's God (Ra)
The Ridiculous "I" and the Cosmos Me (Ra)
Would I For All That Were (Ra)
Space Is the Place (Ra)
Ra-Rocksichord, mini-Moog, voc, declamation; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, voc; Marshall Allen-as; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, voc, perc; prob. James Jacson-bsn, perc; Sly-eg; Clifford Jarvis-d; poss. Atakatune-cga. Live recording, 8/17/74, Philadelphia.
[Track listing from Webber, personnel from Geerken, corrected by rlc; commenting on the T74.12.11 concert, Curtis Fukuda says the guitarist was "a medium height Afro-American of lean build", putting the quietus on intriguing rumors about Ted Nugent, who told Melody Maker that he once made a session with The Ra. John Gilmore says that Dale Williams used his wa-wa pedal a lot but thinks 1974 is too early for him; he recalls a guitarist named Sly around this time. Thanks to Mark Webber for a tape]
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65. Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Sub Underground
(Temple U)
(Cosmo-Earth Fantasy)
Saturn 92074
Side A:
Cosmo-Earth Fantasy (Ra)
Side B:
Love is for Always (Ra)
The Song of Drums (Ra)
The World of Africa (Ra)
Ra-p, Mini-Moog, keyb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Eloe Omoe-bcl; unknown-b; poss. Tommy Hunter-d; prob. Atakatune-cga; prob. Odun-cga; poss. Eddie Thomas and another unidentified male vocalist on The Song of Drums; June Tyson and Cheryl Banks-voc on The World of Africa. Live at Temple University, Philadelphia, 9/20/74.
[Personnel from Geerken, with additions by rlc; location based on alternate title; note that Tommy Hunter was with Ra from '73 to '78]
My guess is that Side B is live at Temple (recorded on a stage with the drums way over here and Sun Ra way over there) whereas Side A was done in a different acoustic, maybe even in a New York studio. [rlc; thanks to John Szwed for the tape]
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66. Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Live at Montreux
Saturn MS 87976 (1976)
Inner City IC1039 (1978)
Side A:
For the Sunrise (Ra) (2:00)
Of the Other Tomorrow (Ra) (7:43)
From Out Where Others Dwell/On Sound Infinity Spheres (Ra) (13:25)
Side B:
House of Eternal Being (Ra) (9:36)
Gods of the Thunder Realm (Ra) (7:28)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra) (4:38)
Side C:
Piano Intro (Ra) (3:50)
Take the A Train (Strayhorn) (7:50)
Side D:
Prelude (Saturn calls this Cascade) (Ra) (3:12)
El is a Sound of Joy (Ra) (8:56)
Encore 1 (Ra) (1:44)
Encore 2 (Ra) (2:28) (Saturn calls the encores The People Are)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (4:11).
Ra-p, solar org, Moog syn; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Chris Capers-tp; Al Evans-flg; Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Reggie Hudgins-ss; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Tony Bunn-eb; Hayes Burnett-b; Clifford Jarvis-d; Larry Bright-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; June Tyson-voc; Judith Holton-dance; Cheryl Banks-dance. Live at Montreux Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, 7/9/76.
[Personnel from Inner City jacket, date from Buzelin.]
According to Chris Trent, the album encompasses about 80% of the Montreux concert (see tapeography, T76.7.9). Note that the Saturn has no titles for Sides A and B at all, according to Stahl.
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67. Sun Ra
Cosmos
Cobra COB 37001
Inner City IC 1020
Musicdistribution 60005
Buda 82479-2 (CD, 1991)
Side A:
The Mystery of Two (Ra)
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra)
Neo Project No. 2 (Ra)
Cosmos (Ra)
Side B:
Moonship Journey (Ra)
Journey among the Stars (Ra)
Jazz from an Unknown Planet (Ra)
Ra-Rocksichord; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-fl, bsn; R. Anthony Bunn-eb; Larry Bright-d (same tour as Live at Montreux and Chateauvallon concerts T76.8.24 and T76.8.25; studio was too small to fit the entire band, acc. to Chancey). Studio Hautefeuille, Paris, 8/76. [Personnel and date from album jacket]
According to Buzelin and Hardy, they recorded an album's worth of Duke Ellington tunes the same day. Abdullah says this is incorrect, however. Made while the band was living in Paris for 2 months [rlc]
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67A. Sun Ra & His Arkestra
A Quiet Place in the Universe
Leo CD LR 198 (1994)
A Quiet Place in the Universe [Sun Ra] (6:40)
I Pharaoh [Sun Ra] (18:52)
Images [Sun Ra] (6:12)
Love in Outer Space [Sun Ra] (11:46)
I'll Never Be the Same [Malneck, Signorelli, Kahn] (3:46)
pace Is the Place [Sun Ra] (3:15)
NB: Tracks 3-6 previously issued an incarnation of Leo 149 (LP & CD), Live in East Berlin. For a thorough examination of the discographical snarls involved with these items, please see Chris Trent's explication.
"Suggested personnel (almost certainly incomplete)": Ahmed Abdullah-tp; prob. Akh Tal Ebah-tp, voc; Vincent Chancey-frn; probably Craig Harris-tb; Marshall Allen-as, pic; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, fl; Sun Ra-org, syn, voc; unknown-b; probably Luqman Ali-d; Atakatune-cga; probably Eddie Thomas-perc; June Tyson-voc.
"The tape from which this CD derives is one of those which were occasionally sold or distributed by Sun Ra outside the Arkestra.... The master copy has merely a handwritten label identifying several track titles.... To deal with the date ... it seems highly likely to me that this concert is from 1976-7, made during Vincent Chancey's first stay with the Arkestra, and near the start of one of Pat Patrick's absences."
Titles, dates, and above quotation from the CD's booklet by Chris Trent. [Added to the discography by Moudry, 010731.]
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68. Sun Ra
Solo Piano Volume 1
Improvising Artists Inc. 37.38.50
Improvising Artists 123850 (CD, 1992)
Side A:
Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child (trad.) (7:32)
Cosmo Rhythmatic (Ra) (7:14)
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach) (4:11)
Side B:
Romance of Two Planets (Ra) (5:18)
Irregular Galaxy (Ra) (5:13)
To a Friend (Ra) (7:40)
Ra-p. Generation Sound Studio, New York 5/20/1977. [Album jacket]
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69. Sun Ra
St. Louis Blues (Solo Piano)
Improvising Artists Inc. 37.38.58
Improvising Artists Inc. 123858 (CD, 1993)
Side A:
Ohosnisixaeht (Ra)
St. Louis Blues (Handy)
Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby)
Honeysuckle Rose (Waller-Razaf)
Side B:
Sky and Sun (Ra)
I am We are I (Ra)
Thoughts on Thoth (Ra)
Sun Ra-p. Live at the Axis-in-SoHo, New York, 7/3/77. [Album jacket]
Ra appeared on a bill with Paul Bley; the concert was part of the Newport in New York Festival. [Chase]
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70. Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Somewhere over the Rainbow
(We Live to Be)
Saturn 7877
Side A:
We Live to Be (Ra)
Gone with the Wind (Magidson-Wrubel)
Make another Mistake (Ra)
[Take the] "A" Train (Strayhorn)
Side B:
Amen Amen (Amen, Meni, Many Amens) (Ra)
Over the Rainbow (Harburg-Arlen)
I'll Wait for You (Ra)
Ra-p, org, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-p, flg; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, perc; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Shoobeedoo-b; Tommy Hunter-d; Luqman Ali (Edward Skinner)-d; Atakatune (Stanley Morgan)-perc; June Tyson-voc; Judith Holton-dance; Cheryl Banks-dance. Recorded live at the Bluebird, Bloomington, Indiana, around 7/18/1977.
[Location and date from Ahmed Abdullah; personnel from Geerken with corrections by Abdullah. Bass player identified by Abdullah. Does anyone know ShoobeedooUs real name? Abdullah says Michael Ray and Emmett McDonald were not present. The loud oom-pah on A Train, previously mistaken for McDonald's bass horn, turns out to be a heavily amplified Jacson!]
Two newspaper accounts (both from 7/22/77) say there were 18 people in the band, and imply the presence of Pat Patrick (as, bs) and Vincent Chancey (Frh), plus a possible third drummer. It's not clear whether they were there the night(s) of the recording. Dancers identified from the newspaper accounts. [rlc
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71. Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Some Blues but not the Kind That's Blue
(Nature Boy)
(My Favorite Things)
Saturn 101477, 1014077, LP 747
Side A:
Some Blues but not the Kind That's Blue (Ra)
I'll Get By (Turk-Ahlert)
My Favorite Things (Rodgers-Hammerstein)
Side B:
Nature Boy (Ahbez)
Tenderly (Morrison-Lawrence-Gross)
Black Magic (Mercer-Arlen)
Ra-p; Akh Tal Ebah-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; prob. James Jacson-fl, bsn; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; Richard Williams-b; Luqman Ali (Edward Skinner)-d; Atakatune-cga. Live, possibly Philadelphia, 10/14/1977.
[Personnel from Geerken, with corrections from Ahmed Abdullah (Geerken has Ray on trumpet instead of Ebah). Location from Danny Ray Thompson, but it isn't a studio recording as he claimed. There may be a second trumpet player. Abdullah was not at this session and doesn't think either Michael Ray or Kwame Hadi was there, but is sure of Ebah's presence. He thinks the date is roughly correct.
Michael Ray's first performance with Sun Ra was an outdoor concert in a park in Germantown, Philadelphia, early in the fall of 1977. His first recordings with the Arkestra were made at Storyville, New York, during the last week of October 1977. Abdullah was in Europe with Sam Rivers' Big Band in October and returned to the Arkestra just in time for the Storyville gig. [Abdullah]
This is a Chicago Saturn release with the characteristic El Saturn label (black on orange in this case). [Trent]
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72. Sun Ra
The Soul Vibrations of Man
Saturn LP 771 (1977)
Side A:
The Soul Vibrations of Man Part I Volume VII (3 tracks):
Sometimes the Universe Speaks (Ra) (flute duet and vocal)
Pleiades (Ra) {flute duet)
Third Heaven/When There Is No Sun (Ra) (declamation and vocal)
Side B:
The Soul Vibrations of Man Part II Volume VII (2 tracks):
Halloween in Harlem (Ra)
untitled improvisation/The Shadow World (Ra)
Ra-org, declamation; Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc, voc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-fl, bsn, perc; Richard Williams-b; Thomas Hunter-d; Luqman Ali (Edward Skinner-d; Atakatune-perc; Eddie Thomas-perc, voc; June Tyson or other female Space Ethnic Voice. Jazz Showcase, Chicago, November 1977.
[tracks identified by rlc; Ra's titles for Side A are unknown, except Pleiades and When There Is No Sun; thanks to Chris Trent for identifying Pleiades]
[Location and date courtesy Ahmed Abdullah. Storyville in NYC is a possibility but the recording quality doesn't bear this out. Personnel assumed to be as on Unity but neither trombonist can be heard and neither can Ebah. No bass horn either.]
On the untitled improvisation the trumpet soloist is Michael Ray; on Halloween in Harlem it's Ahmed Abdullah. [Abdullah]
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73. Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Taking a Chance on Chances
Saturn LP 772 (1977)
Side A:
Taking a Chance on Chances (should be Chancey) (Ra)
Lady Bird (Dameron)
Over the Rainbow (Harburg-Arlen)
Side B:
St. Louis Blues (Handy)
What's New? (Burke-Haggart)
Take the "A" Train (Strayhorn)
Ra-p, org; Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp; Vincent Chancey-frh; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-fl, bsn, perc; Richard Williams-b; Thomas Hunter-d; Luqman Ali (Edward Skinner)-d; Atakatune-perc; Eddie Thomas-perc. Jazz Showcase, Chicago, November 1977.
[Location and date courtesy Ahmed Abdullah. I've taken the personnel from Unity but deleted Ebah on trumpet, the two trombonists, and Emmett McDonald on bass horn because none of them are audible -- rlc]
Trumpet solo on What's New? is by Michael Ray. Solo on A Train is by Ahmed Abdullah. [Abdullah]
If this material is from the Jazz Showcase gig in Chicago (mid to late November 1977), that might explain why Alton Abraham released it instead of the folks in Philadelphia. This is the last Chicago Saturn release. [rlc]
All known copies of this LP have a defective pressing on Side A. According to Glenn Jones, Rounder records (then distributing Saturn) received only 100-150 of their order of 200 from Danny Thompson, along with apologies for the defect. Another run to correct the defect was promised but no more copies were ever delivered.
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74. Sun Ra Arkestra
Unity
Horo HDP 19-20 (1978)
RCA RVI 9003/9004 (Japan, 1979)
Side A:
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach)
Lightnin' (Ellington)
How Am I to Know? (King-Parker-Robbins)
Lights [on a Satellite] (Ra)
Side B:
Yeah Man (Sissle-Henderson)
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
Images (Ra)
Penthouse Serenade (Jason-Burton)
Side C:
Lady Bird (Dameron)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
Halloween [in Harlem] (Ra)
My Favorite Things (Rodgers-Hammerstein)
Side D:
The Satellites [are Spinning] (Ra) *
Rose Room (Hickman-Williams) *
Enlight[en]ment (Dotson-Ra)
Ra-org, Rocksichord; Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, voc; Craig Harris-tb; Charles Stephens-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Emmett McDonald-bass horn; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-fl, bsn, perc; Richard Williams-b; Thomas Hunter-d; Luqman Ali (Edward Skinner)-d; Atakatune-perc; Eddie Thomas-perc, voc; June Tyson-voc. Storyville, New York, 10/24 and 29/1977. Recorded by Thomas Hunter.
[Information from album jacket; Richard Evans told Chase that he did not work with Ra in the late 70s; he is sometimes confused with Richard Williams, so I'll go with Williams]
* Chris Trent points out that The Satellites and Rose Room were recorded at the Chateauvallon Festival, Chateauvallon, France, 8/25/76. See listing for T76.8.25; personnel same as Live at Montreux, except that Ra plays rocksichord on these two tracks. The audience cassette tape, when lined up with the LP for these two tracks, acts like another stereo channel -- the performances, asides, applause are indistinguishable.
This was Akh Tal Ebah's last recording with the Arkestra. On Thanksgiving Day, 1977, while the Arkestra was playing the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, he attempted suicide. Ebah died in 1979 or 1980. [Ahmed Abdullah]
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75. Sun Ra Quartet
New Steps
Horo HDP 25-26
Side A:
My Favorite Things (Rodgers-Hammerstein)
Moon People (Ra)
Side B:
Sun Steps (Ra)
Exactly Like You (McHugh-Fields)
Side C:
Friend and Friendship (Ra)
Rome at Twilight (Ra)
When There is No Sun (Ra)
Side D:
The Horo (Ra)
Ra-p; Crumar Mainman-keyb, voc; Michael Ray-tp, voc; John Gilmore-ts, voc, perc; Luqman Ali-d. Horo Voice Studio, Rome, 1/2 and 1/7/78. [Album jacket]
Does anyone know where to find Aldo Sinesio, former proprietor of Horo? Reissues are overdue! [rlc]
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