At the height of my Sun Ra scholarship, before Mr. Corbett and his team preserved the collection we are learning about as the years pass, I had a dream once. In it, John and Jacson took me to what I interpreted to be the attic of the House of Ra in Philly. Off of it, was a cramped cubby in which we sat as they showed me tape after tape. Reels were packed in film canisters stacked to the ceiling in rows, covering each wall. It was a vivid and beautiful dream, and to read about the recordings in the Creative Audio Archive fulfills part of a long-time fantasy for me.
In addition to unheard compositions, rehearsals, and early Arkestra concerts, the most desirable and mythic recordings of them all were from Sun Ra's stint as a guest teacher at UC Berkeley.
For me, the lectures were particularly fascinating because I imagined them covering topics that, in addition to his music and persona, drew me to his work in the first place; egypt, lost ancient culture, alternative history, semantics, the Bible, the occult, the esoteric, space, alternate reality, the vibrational science of music. The COSMOS.
According to Szwed's book "Space Is The Place," Sun Ra didn't allow these lectures to be recorded. With the release of Transparency's "The Creator Of The Universe (Lost Reel 1)" in 2009 (Listen here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2011/05/listen-to-sun-ras-berkeley-lecture/) I was able to hear something I never thought I would. Now, the Creative Audio Archive adds 4 new listings for lectures we never knew existed...
http://www.creativeaudioarchive.org/xml/sun-ra-el-saturn.xml
SR149 REEL 179 [sound recording]
undated 1 sound quarter-inch reel, 54 min. 3 sec. : analogue,
Origination: Sun Ra
University of California, CA
Contents:
[Ra lecturing (great sound quality)] -- ["Lots of confusion on this Planet due to God"] (6:30) -- ["You been dead 3000, may be 6000 years"] (13:20) -- ["Nature is the boss (Israel, Egypt) (book Missionary Travels-by Livingston)] (13:45) -- [From Central Africa, Sudan (southern)] (17:00) -- [Ethiopians hired "sambos"- the Maneaters] -- ["Even angels in heaven cryin about black folks"] (20:50) -- ["Diet" Deed, Dead, Die] (23:16) -- ["Act of God in a contract: earthquakes, tornado "Make Up Your Mind Who's Doing Bad Things To You, God or the Devil"] -- ["Eight, ate, occult, atheist"] -- ["No, I belong to the ninth-cult"] -- ["A particular song to move the planet"] (30:20) -- ["Love in Outer Space" piano solo] (32:30-37:00) -- [Book of the Beginnings] -- [Untilted, moog solo] (38:00-54:03)
SR245 Reh 5-2-72 / Ra-Class 5-8-72 [sound recording]
May 2, 1972 1 sound cassette, "SIDE A: 31 min. 52 sec. ; SIDE B: 33 min. 11 sec. : analogue,
Origination: Sun Ra
Contents:
SIDE A: [Untitled, drums (tape cut)] (0:04-0:13) -- [Spacious rehearsal room] (0:13-0:50) -- [Untitled] (0:52-12:31) -- [Blank to end]
SIDE B: [Untitled] (0:00-1:00) -- [Sun Ra lecturing] (1:00) -- ["The Whole Race has a history against opposing progress"] -- ["The White Race has only one chance, that's me"] -- ["Sun Ra is an ambassador from the creator"] -- [Only one voice saying " Its not too late and that's me"] -- ["Fairwell to America"] (9:45) -- ["The greatest crime in America has committed is against me"] (11:00) -- ["I'm dealing with equations not theories"] (13:00) -- ["Muslims talking about peace in NYC"] (13:30) -- ["Writing Freedom Equations on blackboard"] (14:25)-- ["Be able to do justice"] (26:00)
SR280 Sun Ra's Class May 10, 1971" [sound recording]
May 10, 1971 1 sound cassette, "SIDE A: 45 min. 31 sec. ; SIDE B: ? : analogue,
Origination: [Insert creator]
Contents:
SIDE A: ["Anything is music, feelings, even a picture from outer space, Human is an Egyption word. Man, mankind…"] (@12:06) -- ["People pass away, time passes"] (@30:00)
SIDE B: [Untitled] (0:07-?) -- ["Humanity on a treadmill"] (@ 0:30) -- [Book called "God's Children" Archibald Rutledge] (@ 21:30)-- ["White people have to restore what they've destroyed"] (@ 41:30)
huge hum (60Hz) in right channel ; delay and low level
SR281 Ra & Records ; Foundation of Numbers / Class Tape-15 May, 1972" [sound recording]
May 15, 1972 1 sound cassette, "SIDE A: 31 min. 59 sec. ; SIDE B: 31 in. 20 sec. : analogue,
Origination: Sun Ra (lecture)
Berkeley, CA?
Contents:
SIDE A: ["Symmetry is Music"] (@ 6:25) -- ["Year 2000 is destruction and doom"] (@ 25:25)
SIDE B: "Ptah is used as the basis of the Catholic Chrurch"] (6:00) -- ["Heiroglyphics are word of God, heavy phontics"] (19:50) -- ["Spelling" (in the loop)] (20:20) -- ["Golden Temple with UFO book & Jesus in Space Cape"] (27:30) -- ["I'm Not Telling You The Truth, I'm Telling You the Egyptians"] (29:20) -- ["Book- Clothes of the Sun"]
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Dining in Chicago features venues Sun Ra played in the 50s
Paul Dailing's excellent blog Dining in Chicago features 2 articles about two venues Sun Ra played in the 50s, Grand Terrace and The Sunset. Of particular interest are the contemporary photos of existing artwork that survives from the clubs. Robert L. Campbell, Christopher Trent, and Robert Pruter's excellent article From Sonny Blount to Sun Ra: The Chicago Years is also a wealth of information about that era.
Lee Santa's Fine Art Sun Ra Arkestra Photography
Lee Santa's Fine Art Photography website has 3 pages of beautiful vintage black and white photography from 1968 through 1970 featuring the Sun Ra Arkestra for sale.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Thursday, July 26, 2012
NRBQ Wild Weekend 1989 Virgin Records America, Inc. 91291-2
NRBQ
Wild Weekend
Released: September, 1989
Label: 1989 Virgin Records America, Inc. 91291-2
The Billboard 200 Chart Peak: #198
Wild Weekend (LP) Virgin 91291-1 US 1989
Wild Weekend (Cass) Virgin 91291-4 US 1989
Wild Weekend (CD) Virgin Records America, Inc. 91291-2 US 1989
Wild Weekend (LP) Virgin VL 3075 Canada 1989
http://www.allmusic.com/album/wild-weekend-mw0000202008
http://www.discogs.com/NRBQ-Wild-Weekend/release/1757293
AllMusic.com Review by Lindsay Planer: After a dozen or so years on Rounder Records, NRBQ signed on with Virgin for the Andy Paley co-produced Wild Weekend (1989). The quartet retains its eclectic range of pop and rock mayhem, adapting several well-worn concert favorites for this studio platter. Nowhere is that more evident than the opening title track, which Terry Adams, Joey Spampinato, and Al Anderson have adapted from the Rockin' Rebels instrumental that was originally called simply "Wild Weekend." (The Q's remake was also prominently featured in The Simpsons' tenth-season episode, Sunday Cruddy Sunday.) Adams gives Crescent City props to zydeco pioneer Boozoo Chavis on "Boozoo, That's Who!" (recalling the band's "Captain Lou" Albano homage), with both Boozoo (accordion) and Charles Chavis (rub board) as well as longtime friend John Sebastian (autoharp) all putting their respective two cents in. Equaling Anderson's lead guitar are his incomparable skills as a composer. The automobile anthem "Little Floater" and the brisk-tempo "Boy's Life" are two of the best entries on the album. The same can be said of Spampinato's closer, the driving rockabilly-tinged "Like a Locomotive." It incorporates and complements the bassist's timeless melodic sense with the combo's simple yet effective no-nonsense performance.
1. It's a Wild Weekend (Terry Adams / Al Anderson / Joey Spampinato / Phil Todaro) 3:30
2. Little Floater (Terry Adams) 3:07
3. Fireworks (Terry Adams) 3:36
4. Boy's Life (Al Anderson) 2:57
5. If I Don't Have You (Skeeter Davis / Joey Spampinato) 2:14
6. Boozoo, That's Who! (Boozoo Chavis) 3:23
7. Poppin' Circumstance (Terry Adams) 3:21
8. The One & Only (Terry Adams / Joey Spampinato) 3:46
9. Immortal for a While (Terry Adams) 3:01
10. Fraction of Action (Terry Adams) 3:21
11. This Love Is True (Terry Adams / Joey Spampinato) 2:48
12. Like a Locomotive (Joey Spampinato) 3:56
Credits:
Don Adams: Tambourine, Trombone
Terry Adams: Clavinet, Executive Producer, Harmonica, Keyboards, Piano, Programming, Vocals
Chris Andersen: Assistant Engineer, Engineer
Al Anderson: Guitar, Vocals
Tom Ardolino: Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Greg Calbi: Mastering
Boozoo Chavis: Accordion
Charles Chavis: Rub, Rub board
Wilson Chavis, Jr.: Accordion
Dave Cook: Assistant Engineer
Ed Fruge: Engineer
John Heiden: Design
Klem Klimek: Tenor Sax
Melanie Nissen: Art Direction
Andy Paley: Percussion, Producer
Roswell Rudd: Trombone
Bill Scheniman: Engineer, Mixing, Producer
John Sebastian: Autoharp, Guitar
Harvey Sorgen: Assistant Engineer, Percussion
Joey Spampinato: Bass, Executive Producer, Guitar, Vocals
Mark Tanzer: Assistant Engineer, Engineer
The Whole Wheat Horns: Ensemble, Horn
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
NRBQ Diggin' Uncle Q (Live) (1988) Rounder Records
NRBQ
Diggin' Uncle Q (Live) (1988)
Rounder Records
Barcode: 011661310926
LP Rounder 3109
Cass Rounder 3109
CD Rounder 3109
http://www.allmusic.com/album/diggin-uncle-q-live-mw0000202290
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1003131/a/Diggin%27+Uncle+Q.htm
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/N/NRBQ/nrbq_dig.html
http://www.discogs.com/NRBQ-Diggin-Uncle-Q/release/3029652
Diggin' Uncle Q CD music Released in 1988, this live set is a companion to the previous year's GOD BLESS US ALL. Diggin' Uncle Q music CDs Both were recorded on the same weekend and together comprise the best possible portrait of NRBQ's live show in the mid-'80s. Where GOD BLESS featured a an engaging relentlessness, this album is a bit more laid-back. There are four extremely diverse ballads: "My Hometown" was from an Andy Griffith Show episode, "You're So Beautiful" was originally by the Watts 103rd Street Band, "Scarlet Ribbons" is a beautiful rendition recorded prior to the show during soundcheck, and the fourth one features the band singing karaoke! The band also rocks ferociously, coming out at full tilt on the opening "It Comes To Me Naturally."
A live session from two different shows. The first side was recorded at Toad's Place (New Haven, CT.) and side two is from Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (Providence, R.I.). Both recordings were captured without any prior knowledge on the part of the club owners or the fans. The band just hit the stage, rolled tape and took their chances.
1. It Comes to Me Naturally (Al Anderson) 3:16
2. What a Nice Way to Go (Al Anderson) 4:13
3. That's Neat, That's Nice (Terry Adams) 3:40
4. Won't You Come over to My House? 2:58
5. Daddy Loves Mommy-O/Who Does Daddy-O Love (Bill Woods) 3:28
6. My Hometown (Clara Edwards) 1:24
7. Just the Way You (Karaoke Version) Are (Billy Joel) 3:36
8. You're So Beautiful) 4:32
9. I Got a Rocket in My Pocket (Jimmie Logsdon/Vic McAlpin) 3:42
10. Macho Maria (Al Anderson) 3:33
11. Some Kind of Blues (Terry Adams) 3:32
12. Crazy Eights (Terry Adams) 2:04
13. Trouble at the Henhouse (Joey Spampinato) 3:06
14. Scarlet Ribbons (Evelyn Danzig/Jack Segal) 2:56
From the CD booklet notes:
Side 1 Tracks 1-7 recorded at Toad's Place, New Haven CT, April 16, 1987.
Side 2 Tracks 8-14 recorded at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, April 17-18, 1987.
From the CD back cover notes:
Tracks 6 and 12 do not appear on LP or cassette configurations.
Credits:
Don Adams: Tambourine, Tabla
Terry Adams: Clarinet, Composer, Piano, Producer, Vocals
Tom Adrolino: Drums, Vocals
Al Anderson: Bass, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Tom Ardolino: Drums, Vocals
David B. Greenberger: Design
Jim Hochanadel: Harmonica, Sax (Tenor)
Bill Scheniman: Engineer, Producer
Joey Spampinato: Bass, Composer, Guitar, Producer, Vocals
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