The 2014 Sun Ra Centennial Classics Series Remasters with Bonus Tracks, Extended Versions, and Stereo Mixes Available at iTunes!

The 2014 Sun Ra Centennial Classics Series Remastered and compiled by Michael D. Anderson for Sun Ra Music Archive

Thanks to Paul Griffiths [http://outerspaceways.info/forum/saturn/43599], we have just learned that 21 Sun Ra Arkestra albums have been remastered and released via iTunes with no announcement or fanfare. Many details are as yet unknown, but many of the releases (not all) contain bonus tracks, extended versions, and stereo versions for some songs previously only available as mono mixes.

Here's what we know as of now, thanks to Paul. The Nubians of Plutonia contains versions of Ankhanaton and Spontaneous Simplicity from acetates discovered by Robert L. Campbell on an acetate. Invisible Shield includes a 10 minute version of Island In the Sun. Monorails and Satellites Vol. 1 contains 6 unreleased solo piano pieces. Fate in a Pleasant Mood features a reverb drenched "single version" of Lights on a Satellite.

For the Sun Ra Arkestra's dedicated fans this is major news and the stuff dreams are made of. Stayed tuned for more details, and please share your feedback as you listen to these new releases!

The albums included in The 2014 Sun Ra Centennial Classics Series are:

• Angels and Demons at Play
• Astro Black
• Atlantis
• Bad and Beautiful
• Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy
• Fate In a Pleasant Mood
• Holiday For Soul Dance
• Interstellar Low Ways
• The Invisible Shield
• Jazz In Silhouette
• The Magic City
• Monorails and Satellites Vol. 1
• Nubians of Plutonia
• Other Planes of There
• Sound Sun Pleasure
• Strange Strings
• Supersonic Jazz
• Universe In Blue
• Visits Planet Earth
• We Travel the Spaceways
• When Sun Comes Out

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/499195939919397980/

Burgin Mathews discovers "RARE PHOTO OF SONNY BLOUNT AND THE RIPPLE RHYTHM FOUR, BIRMINGHAM WORLD, OCTOBER 25, 1940."

Burgin Mathews is doing an incredible job for Weld for Birmingham's 4 part Sun Ra series [http://weldbham.com/blog/category/art-culture/sun-ra-series/]. 

As you might have noticed, when Part 2 was first posted he made tantalizing reference to an image that didn't actually appear with the article:

"Among early press appearances, one recently unearthed item is of particular interest: a photo of Sonny Blount that appeared in the Birmingham World in October of 1940. Republished here for the first time, it seems, in some 70 years, it’s a tantalizing photo for Sun Ra fans, offering a tiny window into the musician’s roots. The Ripple Rhythm Four, the caption reads, were “making a name for themselves in the radio world,” broadcasting Monday through Friday at 12:30 on station WSGN; immediately recognizable, the youthful Sonny Blount stands with the three other singers, two of them holding guitars, each dressed in matching white jackets and black pants."

Happily, I went back to check today, and the photo has magically appeared! Thank you very much for your work Burgin!

http://weldbham.com/blog/2014/05/06/the-magic-citizen-sonny-rising/ripple-rhythm/

"RARE PHOTO OF SONNY BLOUNT AND THE RIPPLE RHYTHM FOUR, BIRMINGHAM WORLD, OCTOBER 25, 1940." from Burgin Mathews's Weld for Birmingham's 4 part Sun Ra series.

Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Crystal Spears Reel to Reel 10 inch 15ips 2trk 1974 EQ copy QS encoded

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Discipline 27-II 1/2 inch 10" Reel To Reel 01

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Discipline 27-II 1/2 inch 10" Reel To Reel 02

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Space Is The Place 1/2 inch 10" Reel to Reel 01

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - 

Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Space Is The Place 1/2 inch 10" Reel to Reel 02

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Reel to Reel Tape ABC-IMPULSE Jazz In Silhouette 10inch 15ips 2trk 01

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Reel to Reel Tape ABC-IMPULSE Jazz In Silhouette 10inch 15ips 2trk 02

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Reel to Reel Tape Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow 10inch 15ips 2trk 01

Sun Ra Arkive: Sun Ra Reel To Reel Master Tapes from Ebay - Reel to Reel Tape Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow 10inch 15ips 2trk 02

"New Horizons: Early Sun Ra" Video

http://sunraarkive.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sun-Ra-Arkive/279239905434039
http://www.pinterest.com/sarkive/
http://www.the-temple.net/astroblack/sunraarkive/

New Horizons by Sun Ra from the album "Jazz by Sun Ra" (a.k.a. "Sun Song"). Recorded at Universal Recording; Chicago, July 12, 1956.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_by_Sun_Ra

Sun Ra is Turning 100. It is Time To Celebrate!

Sun Ra Solo Works is a special musical compilation featuring nearly 80 minutes of rare solo performances. The tracks have been carefully selected and mixed. Some of this music has only been heard by the ears of a few. The track listing is intentionally left off to keep the suspense of hearing this for the first time.

The sounds contained are the very best, a blend of cosmic beauty. Put yourself in the right frame of mind, sit back and enjoy.

This is my tribute to Sun Ra.


Let the celebration begin.....

New Release on roaratorio Feb 2014: Sun Ra "Other Strange Worlds"

SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INFINITY ARKESTRA

Other Strange Worlds

roar 33 LP

http://www.roaratorio.com/33.html

Within Sun Ra’s vast-as-outer-space discography, the album that orbits the furthest away from the known jazz universe is Strange Strings. Calling it a “study in ignorance,” Ra directed his Arkestra stalwarts to pick up unusual stringed instruments and homemade percussion with which they had little familiarity, and improvise without any guidelines or direction; the resulting record is one of Ra’s best. Now, Roaratorio is proud to issue a satellite around that lonely planet: Other Strange Worlds, recorded in Ra’s NYC apartment in May of 1965, dates from the same era and employs the same methodology as Strange Strings. But while the latter album featured the full Arkestra, Other Strange Worlds pares the players down to a core quintet of Ra, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Art Jenkins, and Ali Hasaan. There’s plenty of freewheeling collective improvisation in the Ra catalog, but rarely in a small-group setting such as this. Half of the pieces are texture-over-tonality string experiments, while the rest feature exotic reeds and percussion. Other Strange Worlds is a significant addition to Sun Ra’s body of work, and a brilliant example of free improv from the days before it had a name. 

Download coupon included.

“There’s always more Ra being issued than anyone can keep up with. But this one’s essential. Don’t skip it.” – Byron Coley

Al Anderson Party Favors 1989

Al Anderson
Party Favors 

Released April 14, 1989
LP - Twin/Tone Records TTR88110-2
CD - Rykodisc 10817

Produced by Al Anderson and Bill Scheniman.
Recorded by Johnathan Freed at The 19th Studio, Glastonbury, CT..
Mixed by Bill Scheniman at The Warehouse, Philadelphia, PA

Al Anderson with Tom Ardolino, Joe Greico, John Sebastian, Chuck Martin, Bill Holliman, Rudy Rubini, Bill Scheniman.

In the first three years of release the project sold: 1,552 vinyl albums, 1,032 cassettes and 1,614 CDs.

www.allmusic.com

www.discogs.com

twintone.com