Sun Ra

Strut present the definitive collection of singles released by Sun Ra across his illustrious career, spanning 1952 to 1991. Released prolifically during the 1950s and more sporadically thereafter, primarily on the Saturn label, the 45s offer one-off meteorites from Ra’s prolific cosmic journey, tracing the development of his forward-thinking “Space-Bop” and his unique take on jazz and blues traditions. The collection is hugely varied, ranging from Ra’s spoken word recitations and his early work with Chicago vocal groups to the different phases of his Arkestra, small group and duet recordings. The singles are also unpredictable vehicles for Ra’s music, combining different tracks from different sessions and occasionally making available music which was recorded many years beforehand.

As with his LPs, most 45s were only pressed in small runs and have since become extremely rare and sought after. Only a small handful of copies of ‘Love In Outer Space’ b/w ‘Mayan Temple’ and ‘The Blue One’ b/w ‘Orbitration In Blue’ have ever been seen; some have only been discovered in physical form in recent years; some were planned and pencilled but allegedly never made it to vinyl (including ‘Saturn’ and ‘Velvet’ from the Jazz In Silhouette LP) and some appeared as limited one-off magazine singles and posthumous releases, including ‘Hell #1’ aka ‘Out There A Minute’.

The set is the most comprehensive collection of Ra’s singles to date. Sleeve note writers Francis Gooding and Paul Griffiths brilliantly illustrate the role of the single within Ra’s career and break down each release with detailed track by track notes. Working with Sun Ra LLC and Sun Ra archivist Michael D. Anderson, Strut has also assembled the best possible master sources for each track.

-Feature fully remastered tracks, rare photos, original 45 artwork, Francis Gooding’s extensive sleeve notes, an interview with Saturn Records founder Alton Abraham by John Corbett and detailed track by track and session notes by Paul Griffiths.

- first definitive collection of Sun Ra singles, including all Saturn releases, planned singles, posthumous releases and magazine giveaways.
- Remastered by Technologyworks including exclusive tape transfers from the Sun Ra archive.
- All formats include rare photos and sleeve notes by Francis Gooding. Extensive track by track notes and session details by paul Griffiths.
- official release prepared in conjunction with Sun Ra LLC.

CD 1
1. Sun Ra – I Am An Instrument
2. Sun Ra – I Am Strange
3. The Nu Sounds With Sun Ra – Chicago Usa
4. The Nu Sounds With Sun Ra – Spaceship Lullaby
5. The Cosmic Rays With Sun Ra And Arkestra – Daddy’S Gonna Tell You No Lie
6. The Nu Sounds With Sun Ra And Arkestra – A Foggy Day
7. Billie Hawkins With Sun-Ra And His Orchestra – I’M Coming Home
8. Billie Hawkins With Sun-Ra And His Orchestra – Last Call For Love
9. Sun-Ra And His Arkistra – Soft Talk
10. Sun-Ra And His Arkistra – Super Blonde
11. Le Sun-Ra And His Arkistra – Saturn
12. Le Sun-Ra And His Arkistra – Call For All Demons
13. Le Sun-Ra And His Arkistra – Demon’S Lullaby
14. Le Sun-Ra And His Arkistra – Super-Sonic Jazz
15. Le Sun-Ra & His Arkistra – Medicine For A Nightmare
16. Le Sun-Ra & His Arkistra – Urnack
17. The Qualities – It’S Christmas Time
18. The Qualities – Happy New Year To You!
19. Yochanan (The Space Age Vocalist) – M Uck M Uck (Matt Matt)
20. Yochanan (The Space Age Vocalist) – Hot Skillet Momma
21. The Cosmic Rays With Le Sun Ra And Arkestra – Bye Bye
22. The Cosmic Rays With Le Sun Ra And Arkestra – Somebody’S In Love
23. Le Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Hours After
24. Le Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Great Balls Of Fire

CD 2
1. Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – October
2. Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Adventur In Space
3. The Cosmic Rays With Sun Ra And Arkestra – Dreaming
4. The Cosmic Rays With Sun Ra And Arkestra – Daddy’S Gonna Tell You No Lie
5. Hattie Randolph With Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Round Midnight
6. Hattie Randolph With Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Back In Your Own Back Yard
7. Le Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Saturn
8. Le Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Velvet
9. Yochanan “A Space Age Vocalist” With Sun Ra And His Arkestra – The Sun One
10. Yochanan “A Space Age Vocalist” With Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Message To Earthman
11. Yochanan With Sun Ra And His Arkestra – The Sun Man Speaks
12. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Space Loneliness
13. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – State Street
14. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – The Blue Set
15. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Big City Blues
16. Sun Ra And His Arkestra Featuring Pat Patrick – A Blue One
17. Sun Ra And His Arkestra Featuring Pat Patrick – Orbitration In Blue
18. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Hell #1 (A.K.A. Out There A Minute)
19. Little Mack With Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Tell Her To Come

CD 3
1. Sun Ra And His Outer Space Arkestra – The Bridge
2. Sun Ra And His Outer Space Arkestra – Rocket # 9
3. Sun Ra And His Astro-Solar-Infinity Arkestra – Blues On Planet Mars
4. Sun Ra And His Astro-Solar-Infinity Arkestra – Saturn Moon
5. Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra – Journey To Saturn
6. Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra – Enlightenment
7. Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra – I’M Gonna Unmask The Batman
8. Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra – The Perfect Man
9. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Love In Outer Space
10. Sun Ra And His Arkestra – Mayan Temple
11. Sun Ra – Sky Blues
12. Sun Ra – Disco 2021
13. Sun Ra – Rough House Blues
14. Sun Ra – Cosmo-Extensions
15. Sun Ra And His Outer Space Arkestra – Quest
16. Sun Ra And His Outer Space Arkestra – Outer Space Plateau
17. Sun Ra Arkestra – Nuclear War
18. Sun Ra Arkestra – Sometimes I’M Happy
19. Sun Ra Arkestra – On Jupiter / Cosmo Drama (Prophetika 1)
20. Sun Ra Arkestra – Cosmo Drama (Prophetika 2)
21. Sun Ra – I Am The Instrument