BeatCaffeine’s 15 Most Essential Sun Ra Records
Sun Ra was one of the most originally unique and forward-thinking composers and bandleaders of the last century. Claiming that he came to Earth from Saturn to spread the message of peace, the experimental pianist/ keyboardist and his ever-evolving ensemble the Arkestra fused together 40s era big band swing with bebop, the blues, free improvisation, spacey electronics, call-and-response chants, and psyched-out jazz-funk grooves to create a signature sound that always seemed to push the boundaries.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama as Herman Poole Blount, the bandleader eventually changed his name (not legally) to Le Sony’r Ra, which led to being called Sun Ra (after Ra, the Egyptian God of the Sun). After moving from Alabama to Chicago, Sun Ra put together his backing group, the Arkestra, which went by various names throughout the years and included many now-considered legendary jazz artists including saxophonists John Gillmore, Pat Patrick and James Spaulding, saxophonist/reeds player Marshall Allen, trumpeter Phil Cohran, bassist Ronnie Boykins, vocalist June Tyson, and many others. Collectively through their music, cosmic-futuristic philosophies, and live theatrical performances that included space-age versions of ancient Egyptian attire, and dancers, Sun Ra and his Arkestra became Afrofuturistic pioneers.
Sun Ra and the Arkestra legacies go even beyond their own music and accomplishments, influencing generations of musicians including Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, The Heliocentric’s, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ras G, Madlib, Solange, Jaga Jazzist, Four Tet, Ezra Collective and many others.
Even after Sun Ra’s passing in 1993 at the age of 79, the Arkestra led by Marshall Allen, has continued to tour the world, sharing their futuristic sounds and universal truths from the cosmos.
BeatCaffeine celebrates one of the most uniquely original and creative musicians and ensembles this planet has ever seen. Here are some of the essential recordings worth adding to your collection. Many titles are from the independent label El Saturn Records, which was run by band manager Alton Abraham and Sun Ra. Originals tend to go for hundreds of dollars, and therefore there is absolutely no shame in going the re-issue route with these albums.
Also remember to checkout BeatCaffeine’s 30 Essential Sun Ra Songs playlist at the bottom of this post.
Above image artwork by Victoria Topping.
Sun Ra — ‘Jazz By Sun Ra Vol. 01’
(1957 / Transition)
Even though Sun Ra had been actively recording since the 40s, many consider this album his debut release. This album, which was also re-issued under the name Sun Song, includes some of Sun Ra’s earliest big band compositions with some of the early members of the Arkestra. With music that incorporates big band swing, bebop and blues influences, Jazz is one of the most accessible and straight ahead jazz recordings Sun Ra ever made.
Sun Ra — ‘The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra’
(1962 / Savoy Records)
One of Sun Ra’s earliest recordings, and his only release for the Savoy label. On this record, Sun Ra is featured solely on acoustic piano and is backed by a “smaller” seven-piece Arkestra that included legendary members John Gilmore (bass clarinet & tenor saxophone), Pat Patrick (baritone saxophone), Marshall Allen (alto Saxophone/ flute), and Ronnie Boykins (bass). Similar to Jazz by Sun Ra, this is definitely one of the group’s most accessible albums, which makes for a good introduction for those that want to “ease in.”
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra — ‘Fate In a Pleasant Mood’
(1965 / Saturn Research)
Even though this seven-track album was released in 1965, the album was recorded in 1960 near the end of the group’s time residing in Chicago before they relocated to New York. At this point, the Arkestra remained as a smaller group and featured Philip Cohran on trumpet. Favorite tracks include the opener “The Others in Their World,” the swingin’ bebop groover “Distant Stars,” and the title track “Fate In a Pleasant Mood.” The album was reissued on Impulse! Records in 1973 with new artwork.
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra — ‘Interstellar Low Ways’
(1965 / El Saturn Records)
Arguably one of the Sun Ra and the Arkestra’s greatest albums that featured a number of compositions that became classic staples for the group, including “Somewhere in Space,” “Interplanetary Music No. 1,” “Space Loneliness,” and “Rocket Number 9.” The album has some spaced-out melodies, however it definitely still grooves. An absolute must for any Sun Ra fan.
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra — ‘We Travel The Space Ways’
(1967 / El Saturn Records)
Officially released in 1967, this album represents a number of sessions that were recorded during the span of 1956 to 1961 while the group still resided in Chicago. The evolution of the band is certainly on display on this recording, with a mixture of bop-influenced grooves, spacey jazz instrumentation, and plenty signature “space chants.” Highlights include Arkestra staples “Interplanetary Music,” “Space Loneliness,” the title track “We Travel The Spaceways,” the mellow “Tapestry from an Asteroid,” and the swingin’ cooker “Velvet.”
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra — ‘Angels and Demons at Play’
(1967 / El Saturn Records)
Like many of Sun Ra and the Arkestra’s recordings during this era, this album was recorded over a wide span of years beginning all the way back to 1956, with the last session taking place in 1965. This album is less “spacey” than some of the group’s other releases, featuring a lot of big band arrangements that certainly do groove and swing. Highlights include classic renditions of “Between Two Worlds,” “A Call for All Demons,” “Demon’s Lullaby,” and the brilliant title track “Angels and Demons at Play.” The album was also eventually reissued in 1974 by Impulse! Records with new artwork (shown above).
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra — ‘The Nubians of Plutonia’
(1969 / Saturn Research)
Originally titled The Lady With The Golden Stockings when the first copies of the album were circulated in 1966, this re-titled and re-branded version of the album, which begins to highlight Sun Ra and the Arkestra’s fascination with space and Egyptian mythology was issued a number of times between 1967-69. A personal favorite, this album, is much like many of the group’s recordings during this time, compiling tracks from a number of recorded sessions in the mid-fifties during their time in Chicago. These tracks see the group’s expanded exploration with electronics, fused together with African-influenced rhythms and exotica percussion grooves. Some essential gems include “Plutonian Nights,” “The Lady with the Golden Stockings,” “Nubia,” and “Africa.” The album was released by Impulse! Records in 1974 with incredible new artwork by John Lykes.
Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra — ‘The Night of the Purple Moon’
(1970 / El Saturn Records)
This 1970 recording features Sun Ra in a more stripped down (yet complex) setting, featuring the band leader playing only on miniMoog and Rocksichord, and backed by a quartet that includes Stafford James on electric bass, Danny Davis on alto, clarinet, flute, and bongos, and John Gilmore on both tenor saxophone and drums (!!!). This recording has a very electric spaced-out vibe, featuring some incredible classic Sun Ra signature tracks including “Love in Outer Space” and “Sun-Earth Rock.” Moog fans are definitely going to want to check out this album.
Sun Ra — ‘Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Vol 1’
(1971 / Shandar)
Recorded live at Saint Paul de Vence, France in August of 1970, this record represents the first in a two volume series. The recording captures the group at it’s most cosmically-experimental heights, with the music being very free in structure. The four track session does include what might arguably be the best version of the Arkestra staple “Enlightment,” featuring vocals by the legendary June Tyson.
Sun Ra — ‘Lanquidity’
(1978 / Philly Jazz)
This 1978 album is arguably Sun Ra’s most groove oriented recording, often described as his “dance record.” The session features spacey keyboard and synth melodies, electric guitar solos, layered horns, backed by steady funky rhythms. Highlights on this recording include the jazz-funk gem “Where Pathways Meet,” the spaced-out atmospheric title track “Lanquidity,” and the head-nodding groover “That’s How I Feel.”
Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra — ‘Sleeping Beauty’
(1979 / El Saturn Records)
A great late-seventies recording featuring three longer tracks that include the laid-back opener “Springtime Again,” the space-chant funk groover “Door of the Cosmos,” and cosmic jazz gem “Sleeping Beauty.” This album continues to explore the band’s experimentation with synth lines and electronics fused together with loose, but head-nodding grooves.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra — ‘Other Side of The Sun’
(1979 / Sweet Earth Records)
Another personal favorite, this album is a bit of a throw back to the groups’ more big band bop-influenced sessions during the late 1950s. That being said, the recording is still very much forward-thinking and incorporates elements of the groups futuristic sound. The album features new renditions of classic jazz standards “Flamingo” and “The Sunny Side of the Street,” while taking a step into the future with the all-time jazz-funk classic and ultimate Sun Ra anthem “Space Is The Place.” The opener “Space Fling” is also a solid bop-influenced uptempo groover, featuring a wide variety horn solos and melodies.
Sun Ra and his Outer Space Arkestra — ‘A Fireside Chat With Lucifer’
(1983 / Saturn Research)
Like many of Sun Ra’s album at this time, the music on this mid-eighties recording jumped all over the place putting an emphasis on adventurous experimentation and spontaneity. This album featured the massive politically and socially conscious jazz-funk masterpiece “Nuclear War,” while other highlights included the atmospheric ballad “Retrospect,” the soul-jazz groover “Makeup,” and the expansive 21-minute cosmic free jazz title track “A Fireside Chat With Lucifer.”
—TWO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ESSENTIAL COMPILATIONS—
Marshall Allen Presents Sun Ra and His Arkestra — ‘In The Orbit of Ra’
(2014 / Strut)
Since 1995, after the passing of both Sun Ra (died in 1993) and saxophonist John Gilmore, alto saxophonist and reeds player Marshall Allen has led the Arkestra. He is the last remaining member from the 50s era groups that helped produced most of Sun Ra’s greatest works. On this brilliant compilation, the London-based Strut Records and Art Yard team up with Allen to compile a compilation that highlights some of Sun Ra’s most notable and signature tracks (many that are featured on the records highlighted on this BeatCaffeine list). This 2LP release came out in 2014 and commemorates what would have been Ra’s 100th birthday.
Gilles Peterson Presents Sun Ra and His Arkestra — ‘To Those Of Earth… And Other Worlds’
(2015 / Strut)
London-based DJ, record label owner (Brownswood Recordings), music producer, BBC 6Music broadcaster and Worldwide.FM founder Gilles Peterson has been a massive Sun Ra fan and record collector for many decades. On this 2LP compilation, one of the leading taste-makers selects some of his favorite tracks from over 125 recordings. This record presents arguably the best introduction to Sun Ra and his wide ranging expansive sound, while featuring some of the Arkestra’s most obscure recordings.
PLAYLIST: BeatCaffeine’s 30 Essential Sun Ra and his Arkestra Songs
