Sun Ra - Spaceship Lullaby (1954-60)

Artist:

Ra, Sun

UPC:

735286224320

See Also:

Armstrong, Louis Various Artists - Wavelength Infinity: Tribute To Sun Ra Walt Dickerson/Sun Ra - Visions

Description:

Personnel: Sun Ra (piano, Wurlitzer piano); Roland Williams, John Kalil, Calvin Barron, Matt Swift, Lonnie Tolbert (vocals); Marshall Allen (alto saxophone, flute); James Spaulding (alto saxophone); John Gilmore (tenor saxophone); E.J. Turner (trumpet); Bebop Sam Thomas (guitar); Ronnie Boykin (bass); Robert Barry (drums); Jim Herndon (tympani). Recorded between 1954 & 1960. Includes liner notes by John Corbett. This is part of Atavistic Records "Unheard Music" series. Personnel: Sun Ra (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Lonnie Tolbert, Calvin Barron, Roland Williams, Matt Swift (vocals); Sam Thomas (guitar); Marshall Allen (flute, alto saxophone); James Spaulding (alto saxophone); John Gilmore (tenor saxophone); Pat Patrick (baritone saxophone); Robert Barry (drums); Jim Herndon (timpani). Liner Note Author: John Corbett . Editor: John McCortney. Evidence Records` Singles collection was the first inkling for many that Sun Ra had rehearsed and led vocal groups during his Chicago phase. Now Atavistic is shedding considerably more light on the subject with the release of Spaceship Lullaby, a collection of rehearsals Ra held with the Nu-Sounds, the Lintels, and the Cosmic Rays. The first batch of tunes are the Nu-Sounds with Ra on piano and Robert Barry on drums. Barry demonstrates once again what a masterful drummer he is, and listeners are treated to three previously unheard Sun Ra compositions: "Spaceship Lullaby," "Black Sky & Blue Moon," and "Chicago USA." "Spaceship Lullaby" contains lyric fragments that would later be incorporated into both "Rocket No. 9" and "Interplanetary Music," and "Chicago USA" was written as an entry in a contest to come up with a new official song for the city (it should have won). The Lintels sound like a considerably less professional group, and it is unknown whether Ra worked with them beyond this session. There`s another set with the Nu-Sounds and just Ra on piano, but the best is probably saved for last with the Cosmic Rays rehearsing with the full Arkestra. There`s a bit more distortion on these tracks (the rest sound remarkably good for home rehearsals), but it`s worth hearing if only for the vocal version of "Africa," which appeared on Nubians of Plutonia. There are some flaws in the tapes, but given the rarity of this material, that`s a minor quibble. Sun Ra fans will be thrilled that this material exists at all to be heard, and the chance to hear Sun Ra giving directions is like a peek behind the curtain. Excellent. ~ Sean Westergaard

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Spaceship Lullaby
2. Stranger in Paradise
3. Just One of Those Things
4. Honky Tonk
5. Haunted Heart
6. Evelyn
7. Honeysuckle Rose
8. Honey
9. Black Sky & Blue Moon
10. Ra Coaching Roland Williams
11. Holiday for Strings
12. Holiday for Strings
13. I Fall Asleep Counting My Blessings
14. Nice Work if You Can Get It
15. Somebody Loves Me
16. Chicago USA
17. Chicago USA
18. C`est Si Bon
19. Blue Moon
20. Baby Please Be Mine
21. Blue Skies
22. My Only Love
23. Foggy Day, A
24. Perfume Counter, A
25. Love Is...
26. Wordless Piece
27. I Was Wrong
28. Louise
29. St. Louis Blues
30. Wooden Soldier & the China Doll, The
31. Africa
32. Somebody`s in Love
33. Bye Bye
34. Black Sky & Blue Moon
35. Honey
36. Honey
37. Come Rain or Come Shine - (featuring Pat Patrick)

Album Information

Release Date:

11/04/2003

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Oldies

Subgenre:

Doowop

Label:

Atavistic Records

Producer:

John Corbett

Catalog Number:

243

Original Release Year:

2003

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Guest Artist:

Pat Patrick

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