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Old 03-17-2011, 10:53 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth
1958 (released 1966)



Tracks

1. Reflections In Blue
2. Two Tones
3. Viktor
4. Saturn
5. Planet Earth
6. Eve
7. Overtones of China
8. Onward
9. Somewhere in Space
10. Interplanetary Music
11. Interstellar Low Ways
12. Space Loneliness
13. Space Aura
14. Rocket Number Nine

Ok, so I made the assumption that Sun Song was somewhat self censored. After reading that this album was the original intended recording sessions, I realize there was no other possibility. You know what? It shows big time with this album. THIS is a Ra album. A beautiful work of art from beginning to end. No complaints about it's traditional start(or middle for original release) as it's still very characteristically tight. Sun Ra by far is one of the most melodic Jazz musicians I've ever heard(he studied, and was influenced by classical masters extremely heavily, maybe it's the Chopin. Whatever it is, it allows him to shine to true expression in mellow pieces). Not only that but that Sun Ra eccentricity really shows on some tracks. Viktor is a brilliant abstraction of Jazz that I would never in a million years expect from somebody like Thelonious Monk, or Miles Davis. 150% Ra as it's almost all low horns, and timpani.

The musicianship is brilliant, and the eclecticism is there. Some of these are even rerecordings of the albums before I've been having problems with, but even then, they're top notch far surpassing the ones before. His band is perfectly in synchronization, and all the individualistic compositional traits are there. This one is a classic, and a true avant-jazz masterpiece. Not to the pure heights of Ra, but pretty ****ing close, if you ask me.

9.5/10

Highlights:

Viktor, Rocket Number Nine, Reflections in Blue, Interstellar Low-ways(Probably the best song on this album). With that said, a solid album from beginning to end:



(not completely the same, but still good)



I'm going to scrape the semen off my pants now...
Ok, I just found out that what I have for this one is a double album of Visits Planet Earth, and Interstellar Low Ways(Anything from Onward on is technically Interstellar Low Ways). So, that's actually reviewed, already.

9.5/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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Old 03-17-2011, 11:06 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Great thread man, I only have about four albums of his, so this will assist me greatly in my excursions beyond what I already own.
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Old 03-19-2011, 12:04 AM   #23 (permalink)
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Fate in a Pleasant Mood
1960 released in 1965(Sun Ra obviously had some difficulties getting his stuff released)



Tracks

1. The Others In Their World
2. Space Mates
3. Lights of Satellite
4. Distant Stars
5. Fate, In a Pleasant Mood
6. Ankhtation

Not a bad album by any stretch, not a great album. A fairly mid-level Sun Ra album. It's worlds more relaxed than the ones before. Not quite as technically virtuoso as a few already presented, but very melodic. Traditional Jazz, vaguely experimental. If you're in the mood for it.

7/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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Old 03-20-2011, 12:53 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Holiday For Soul Dance
1960 released in 1970



Tracks

1. But Not For Me
2. Day By Day
3. Holiday For Strings
4. Dorothy's Dance
5. Early Autumn
6. I Loves You, Porgy
7. Body and Soul
8. Keep Your Sunny Side Up

Another album entirely of staples. Then again, much better than Sun Sound. It's well performed, well recorded, and well done. Not a bad album, not particularly Ra, especially since it's all covers. I really really liked the humorously slow rendition Holiday for Strings. Apart from that, good jazz, nothing remarkable.

7.5/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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Old 03-22-2011, 03:25 PM   #25 (permalink)
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Angels and Demons at Play
1960 released in 1965



Tracks

1. Tiny Pyramids
2. Between Two Worlds
3. Music From the World of Tomorrow
4. Angels And Demons At Play
5. Umack
6. Medicine for a Nightmare
7. Call For All Demons
8. Demon's Lullaby

A complete classic. The only way to phrase this album is a complete classic. this really sort of showcases Sun Ra going from his earliest Jazz phases deeper into the art of avant. From the best of my knowledge, all original material. Medicine for a nightmare the only one already covered, but again, a great collection. Honestly, this is top shelf Ra here, and i think is a worthwhile listen for anybody willing to get in.

9/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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Old 03-24-2011, 01:43 PM   #26 (permalink)
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Interplanetary Music
1960 released in 1967



Tracks

1. Interplanetary Music
2. Eve
3. We Travel the Space Ways
4. Tapestry From An Asteroid
5. Space Lonliness
6. New Horizons
7. Velvet

Absolutely wonderful album from the very start. Albeit, a lot of material I noticed was the same as Interstellar Spaceways(as reviewed, another fantastic work). Not a single bad song on here. Worlds of experimentation, and really defined Ra traits. I would say this is another amazing work, and another potential recommended entry point.

9.5/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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Old 03-25-2011, 10:00 PM   #27 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Skaligojurah View Post
Angels and Demons at Play
1960 released in 1965



Tracks

1. Tiny Pyramids
2. Between Two Worlds
3. Music From the World of Tomorrow
4. Angels And Demons At Play
5. Umack
6. Medicine for a Nightmare
7. Call For All Demons
8. Demon's Lullaby

A complete classic. The only way to phrase this album is a complete classic. this really sort of showcases Sun Ra going from his earliest Jazz phases deeper into the art of avant. From the best of my knowledge, all original material. Medicine for a nightmare the only one already covered, but again, a great collection. Honestly, this is top shelf Ra here, and i think is a worthwhile listen for anybody willing to get in.

9/10
I like this, great review thread!
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Old 03-26-2011, 08:59 AM   #28 (permalink)
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The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra
1961



Tracks

1. Bassism
2. Of Sounds And Something Else
3. What's that?
4. Where is Tomorrow?
5. Beginning
6. China Gates
7. New Day
8. Tapestry From An Asteroid
9. Jet Flight
10. Looking Outward
11. Space Jazz Reverie

Very very good Ra album. Just a little bit of everything. A lot more traditional Jazz than the average fair but a good bit of uniqueness to boot. China Gates was a high point for me as it integrates, as you guessed, some elements of Oreintal-like melody even if shaped into a very Jazz form. A lot of good laid back music here.

8/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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Old 03-26-2011, 09:05 AM   #29 (permalink)
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We Travel the Space Ways
I think of this as when Sun Ra really defined his scene.
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Old 03-29-2011, 09:46 PM   #30 (permalink)
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Bad and Beautiful
1961 released 1972



Tracks

1. Bad and Beautiful
2. Ankh
3. Just In Time
4. Search Light Blues
5. Exotic Two
6. On The Blue Side
7. And This is My Beloved

Amazing album. The opening track even if not originally a Ra song is one of the most powerful Jazz pieces I've heard in a long time(I guess which is why it was decided on). The rest of it is just plain wonderful. Not much in the way of avant or weird Jazz. In fact, this album is jazz through, and through. Regardless, the sheer quality of performance, production, and writing make up for it.

8.5/10
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Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected.
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