Sun Ra - Journey Stars Beyond (Saturn 72881) 1981

 























 OK folks, get out your space-party hats- Today is Sun Ra's birthday.
Mystery Mister Ra was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914.

This Saturn l.p: "Journey Stars Beyond" is (presumably-based on the catalogue number) from a July 28, 1981 concert and is also known as "Oblique Parallax"- both editions bearing the label no. SR 72881.

It comprises a few little synthesizer solos, a trombone/synthesizer duet with smatterings of percussion, a full-on Arkestra blowout, and an over-the-top Synthesizer solo which has the Arkestra asking "What WAS that??" and shouting with mock terror when Ra answers the questions with his palms, fists, and elbows: "Here it comes AGAIN!!!" You can just SEE Ra's enigmatic grin through the joyful noise.

This is the kind of Sun Ra record which reminds us of just how unique and irreplaceable Sun Ra was and is.
Our continuing consolation is the wonderful volume of recordings which he left behind.
The Saturn Records are a particularly unique and even precious treasure- with their hand-designed covers; all of them slightly or even wildly different, bearing the marks of the hands which so lovingly made them-   silkscreend stickers, magic-marker drawings and detailing, hand-cut center labels, and other wonderful "imperfections"; Beautiful.
(And, in the case of my own Saturn Records- with the signature of Le Sun Ra in colored hi-lighters on the front or back). If you're curious as to how or when I got the signatures, (it was probably autumn or winter, '88 or '89,) the details are in my previous Sun Ra post.       

 The Arkestra's current existence under the leadership of Marshall Allen serve as a reminder of his music's continued relevance and the undeniable influence Ra still has today on so many fine musicians.
I hope today will be a day of joyful remembering for all those who knew him and for those who didn't but love his music.

Now- Make a wish and BLOW!

 Sun Ra (and Arkestra) - Journey Stars Beyond (Saturn SR 72881) 1981

Side One:

Journey Stars Beyond a (12:53)

Side Two:

Journey Stars Beyond b (13:23)

Precise personel unknown.

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Sun Ra and his Arkestra-HORIZON (Saturn 121771) 1972

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - HORIZON (Saturn Records 1972)

Sometime in the mid-late 1980's I was lucky to be in attendance for a talk and performance
by Sun Ra and his Arkestra in front of a small audience.After the talk I went along to a private
party for the Arkestra, where I was fortunate to sit (literally) at the feet of the Master.
At one point during this heady day, I reached into my napsack and pulled out 3 original Saturn l.p.'s and asked him to sign them- as soon as he saw them he said "These are meant to be looked at under different colored lights" while I was in the process of gettingout a handful of different colored hi-lighters. So I said "Then please choose the right colors".
I then pulled out a postcard of Saturn (from where he had claimed to have been borne) and asked-
"Can you send me a message from space?"
He replied- "That's beautiful- No one wants messages from space anymore." And he signed the postcard.
Ungrateful wretch that I was, I was a tad disappointed that he hadn't given me something more profound - a Message, that is...



A Dream (ca. June 1, 1993)

I have been dropped off by a flying machine of unknown origin on to the top of a high-rise building. I don't remember if it was daytime or nighttime.
I am in the city of Philadelphia.
I want to see Sun Ra's house. As I remember from a documentary, his address is 5626 Morton St.
I notice suddenly that I am not alone up here-there is a woman, dressed in Black, with a black hood almost entirely covering her face. She is facing away from me, and seems to have no interest in me at all.
I ask her if she knows where Morton Street is. Though it is dark, I am shielding my eyes, trying to look out into the distance as I ask her. She either says "no" or shakes her head
to indicate "no"- I forget which.
I then ask her if she knows which way is East, not that I know in which direction Morton Street lies.
She says "no" in some fashion, and the scene
fades away to...

Upon waking, I went into the kitchen, where my father, who is visiting me, is reading
the newspaper. He looks up and says:
"Sun Ra died."
...

So- It seems I got my message from space after all.


Horizon: Sun Ra and his Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity Arkestra, forming part of the documentation of their first visit to Egypt.

Recorded at the Ballon Theatre, Cairo.

In various editions, the record has sometimes been known by the other title of "Starwatchers"














Side One:

1- Starwatchers/Theme of the Stargazers
Discipline 2
Shadow World

Side Two:

2- Third Planet
Space is the Place
Horizon
Discipline 8























Personnel

John Gilmore - tenor saxophone
Danny Davis - alto saxophone, flute
Marshall Allen - alto saxophone, flute, oboe
Kwame Hadi - trumpet, conga drums
Pat Patrick - baritone saxophone
Elo Omoe - bass clarinet
Tommy Hunter - percussion
Danny Thompson - baritone saxophone, flute
June Tyson - vocal
Larry Narthington - alto saxophone, conga drum
Lex Humphries - percussion
Clifford Jarvis - percussion
Hakim Rahim - alto saxophone, flute
Sun Ra - organ, Mini Moog, piano

Tam Fiofori - Engineer
Live album by Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Released 1972
Recorded December 17, 1971









5626 Morton St, Philadelphia-Sun's House

file repaired

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