The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra
Encyclopedia
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra
and his Arkestra, recorded October 10, 1961 for the Savoy label
. The first record to be recorded by a pared-down Arkestra after leaving Chicago
, the album is often considered one of the most accessible records in Ra's vast catalogue;
The record was reissued in 1984 as We Are In The Future, but regained its original name when it was issued on Compact Disc
in 1993.
;
The album was produced by Tom Wilson, who would later become famous for producing albums by the Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa
and Bob Dylan
. The sleeve was designed by 'Harvey', a secretive graphic designer who made over 190 album covers for Savoy and its subsidiaries throughout the 1960s;
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra was the fourth album to be released by Sun Ra, after Jazz by Sun Ra
(also produced by Tom Wilson) and Super-Sonic Jazz
, both released in 1957, and Jazz in Silhouette
from 1959. The next album to see the light of day would be When Sun Comes Out
, released on Ra's own label, Saturn Records, in 1963.
Side A:
Side B:
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
and his Arkestra, recorded October 10, 1961 for the Savoy label
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
. The first record to be recorded by a pared-down Arkestra after leaving Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, the album is often considered one of the most accessible records in Ra's vast catalogue;
'Sun Ra's only release for the Savoy label is a gem... Ra sticks to acoustic piano for the entire session, but various percussion instruments are dispersed throughout the band, giving a slightly exotic flavor to some of the tunes... With the exception of "The Beginning," all the tunes are very accessible. This is one to play for the mistaken folks who think the Arkestra did nothing but make noise. Excellent.' Sean Westergaard, Allmusic []
The record was reissued in 1984 as We Are In The Future, but regained its original name when it was issued on Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in 1993.
From Chicago to New York
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra was the first album to be recorded by the Arkestra after relocating to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
;
'The idea was just to play a few gigs, maybe some studio work, and then go back to Chicago and work at the Pershing [club] again. But as soon as they crossed the George Washington BridgeGeorge Washington BridgeThe George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee, Bergen County, New Jersey. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1/9 cross the river via the bridge. U.S...
they collided with a taxi and bent one of the wheels of Ronnie Boykins's father's car. With no money to have it fixed they were stranded again. [Sun Ra] went to a phone booth and called Ed Bland and Tom Wilson to tell them they were in town, and the band moved into a couple of hotel rooms over the Peppermint Lounge on 45th Street. But after a few days of waiting, Strickland and Mitchell got anxiuos, called home for money, and left. The five who remained then moved to a room on 81st Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive, and after a few days found a cheaper place farther downtown in the seventies.
'Though the band had no luck finding places to play, Tom Wilson came up with a recording session for them with Savoy Records. On October 10 they crossed the river to the Medallion Studio in Newark with a few musicians they added for the date... and they produced a record which could have easily represented their repertoire during an evening at a club there..... Despite a heavy title and a cover painting of a conga drum swirling like a tornado through a valley of piano keys against an orange sky, the record was plagued from the start. Tom Wilson's liner notes were filled with inaccuracies: Distribution was almost as poor as it was with the Saturn records, and there was no reviews for twenty-three years, when it was reissued in 1984 as We Are In The Future.' John F Szwed
The album was produced by Tom Wilson, who would later become famous for producing albums by the Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa
Freak Out!
Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
and Bob Dylan
Like a Rolling Stone
"Like a Rolling Stone" is a 1965 song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Its confrontational lyrics originate in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhausted from a grueling tour of England...
. The sleeve was designed by 'Harvey', a secretive graphic designer who made over 190 album covers for Savoy and its subsidiaries throughout the 1960s;
"Rev. Lawrence Roberts, long-time producer for Savoy Records... said that they never knew the identity of Harvey. Harvey lived in New York, and was very secretive. They would send him a title or concept and he would produce the painting. The paintings were not expensive, and they paid him in cash."
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra was the fourth album to be released by Sun Ra, after Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz By Sun Ra is the debut album to be released by Sun Ra. The record label for the first pressing says "07-12-56", presumably when it was recorded. The LP originally appeared on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition Records...
(also produced by Tom Wilson) and Super-Sonic Jazz
Super-Sonic Jazz
Super-Sonic Jazz is an album by Sun Ra, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn records, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s...
, both released in 1957, and Jazz in Silhouette
Jazz in Silhouette
Jazz in Silhouette is a jazz album by Sun Ra and His Arkestra. Recorded on March 6, 1959 and released May of the same year. The album was recorded in Chicago during a session that also included the whole of Sound Sun Pleasure!! and Interstellar Low Ways from the album of the same name...
from 1959. The next album to see the light of day would be When Sun Comes Out
When Sun Comes Out
For the song by Harold Arden and Ted Koehler, see When the Sun Comes OutWhen Sun Comes Out is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra...
, released on Ra's own label, Saturn Records, in 1963.
12" Vinyl
All songs were written by Sun Ra except 'China Gate'.Side A:
- Bassism - (4.07)
- Of Sounds and Something Else - (2.54)
- What's That? - (2.15)
- Where is Tomorrow? - (2.50)
- The Beginning - (6.29)
- China Gate (Victor YoungVictor YoungVictor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
) - (3.25)
Side B:
- New Day - (5.51)
- Tapestry From An Asteroid - (3.02)
- Jet Flight - (3.15)
- Looking Outward - (2.49)
- Space Jazz Reverie - (4.54)
Personnel
- Sun RaSun RaSun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
- Piano - Bernard McKinney - Trombone, Euphonium
- Marshall AllenMarshall AllenMarshall Belford Allen is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EVI ....
- Alto Sax, Flute, 'Morrow' (a Japanese ShakuhachiShakuhachiThe is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
with a Bb clarinet mouthpiece ) - John GilmoreJohn Gilmore (musician)John Gilmore was an American jazz tenor saxophone player best-known for his long tenure as a member of Sun Ra's Arkestra...
- Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet - Pat Patrick - Bass Saxophone
- Ronnie BoykinsRonnie BoykinsRonnie Boykins was a jazz bassist and is best known for his work with pianist/bandleader Sun Ra, although he had played with such disparate musicians as Muddy Waters, Johnny Griffin, and Jimmy Witherspoon prior to joining Sun Ra's Arkestra.-Biography:He joined the Arkestra during the Chicago...
- Bass - Willie Jones - Drums
- Leah Ananda - Conga
- Ricky Murray - Vocals on 'China Gate'
See also
- Sun Ra DiscographySun Ra discographyThe Sun Ra discography is one of the largest in music history. The American jazz keyboardist, bandleader and composer recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1000 songs, and making him one of the most prolific recording artists of the 20th...
- A collection of Savoy sleeves, including a number of designs by Harvey