5 ms·

It's excellent to see this on HN. Sun Ra and the Arkestra's genres transcend space and time, and their discography is massive, so it can be hard to tell people

It's excellent to see this on HN. Sun Ra and the Arkestra's genres transcend space and time, and their discography is massive, so it can be hard to tell people where to start listening, but "Jazz in Silhouette" (1959) is fine introduction to their more traditional style that won't startle you if you don't listen to much free jazz. In fact I just threw it on the ol turntable. If that tickles you, try "Space is the Place" (1973) on for something more experimental. In between, you cannot go wrong with the "Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra" albums (1965)

dmix 2y ago
I want some Sun Ra records but they are usually pretty rare and expensive last time I checked
- fortyfivan 2y ago
  Indeed they are. Anything on Saturn goes for big bucks, especially ones with handmade covers. Impulse did a solid run of re-releases in the mid 70s that are much more accessible. This is a good read on Saturn: https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/2021/07/09/beginners-guide-to-the-saturn-label/ https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/2021/07/09/beginne...
- Metalnem 2y ago
  You can find over a hundred of his records on Bandcamp: https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com.
  - dmix 2y ago
    Sweet, thank you! Much better prices than local record stores
- buildsjets 2y ago
  I mean the original pressings for sure, if you are a completionist you will go mad. He had a lot of early recordings that had no distribution and were only sold at live shows, and he was known for recording everything he ever did even if some are pretty lofi. But all the popular recordings are available as repressings, and you can find plenty affordably new online or used at discogs. I’ve never found any Sun Ra in the $2 Goodwill bins but I’ve found plenty of other great jazz records there.
fortyfivan 2y ago
Wild to think that Jazz in Silhouette was 1959, but to your point about transcending space and time... My favorites are a bit later – Lanquidity (1978) and Sleeping Beauty (1979). A good start might be the lone release on Savoy, The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra (1962) – China Gates is such a hypnotic jam.
- the_other 2y ago
  > My favorites are a bit later – Lanquidity (1978) Thanks for the recommendation. I put this on and was floored by recognising the opening bars from a sample in an old Mo' Wax record[0]. Formative sounds for me. [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJ38bzgVQY&t=88s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJ38bzgVQY&t=88s
zonotope 2y ago
Interstellar Low Ways is one of my favorite Jazz albums of all time. Scratch that. It's one of my favorite _albums_ of all time. It's another one that won't scare you away if you're not used to listening to free jazz, and it's just epic from start to finish.

dmix 2y ago

I want some Sun Ra records but they are usually pretty rare and expensive last time I checked

fortyfivan 2y ago
Indeed they are. Anything on Saturn goes for big bucks, especially ones with handmade covers. Impulse did a solid run of re-releases in the mid 70s that are much more accessible. This is a good read on Saturn: https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/2021/07/09/beginners-guide-to-the-saturn-label/ https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/2021/07/09/beginne...
Metalnem 2y ago
You can find over a hundred of his records on Bandcamp: https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com.
- dmix 2y ago
  Sweet, thank you! Much better prices than local record stores
buildsjets 2y ago
I mean the original pressings for sure, if you are a completionist you will go mad. He had a lot of early recordings that had no distribution and were only sold at live shows, and he was known for recording everything he ever did even if some are pretty lofi. But all the popular recordings are available as repressings, and you can find plenty affordably new online or used at discogs. I’ve never found any Sun Ra in the $2 Goodwill bins but I’ve found plenty of other great jazz records there.

fortyfivan 2y ago

Wild to think that Jazz in Silhouette was 1959, but to your point about transcending space and time... My favorites are a bit later – Lanquidity (1978) and Sleeping Beauty (1979). A good start might be the lone release on Savoy, The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra (1962) – China Gates is such a hypnotic jam.

the_other 2y ago
> My favorites are a bit later – Lanquidity (1978) Thanks for the recommendation. I put this on and was floored by recognising the opening bars from a sample in an old Mo' Wax record[0]. Formative sounds for me. [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJ38bzgVQY&t=88s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJ38bzgVQY&t=88s

zonotope 2y ago

Interstellar Low Ways is one of my favorite Jazz albums of all time. Scratch that. It's one of my favorite _albums_ of all time. It's another one that won't scare you away if you're not used to listening to free jazz, and it's just epic from start to finish.