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Posted by MF DU on 2008-06-21 00:54:04 +0000

Sun Ra Apreesh Post

David Sanborn introducing Ra in 1990. John Gilmore ripping it up on sax. I've been reading lately about how John Sinclair of the MC5 was a big proponent and would organize a lot of Sun Ra's shows in Detroit in the 70's. Good Stuff.

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Posted by mahatma chani on 2008-06-22 15:42:03 +0000
Man... I know it wasn't about commercialism, and they had some higher purpose... But seriously, the Arkestra couldn't have been making a whole lotta money. That must have been a motherfucker keeping that band together. Space <i>is</i> the place, indeed.

Posted by MF DU on 2008-06-22 18:10:55 +0000
I remember reading somewhere about Ra's record label Saturn - before Evidence started re-releasing stuff in the mid 90s, many of Ra's myriad recordings were made in ultra limited runs, and they were always c.o.d. type of things for record shops.

A lot of the records I think, were sold directly at shows.

I know he wasn't wealthy, but he did ok.

He also ran some kind of neighborhood / community grocery store in Philadelphia, so maybe that had something to do with it.

FWIW: There are a couple of Ra's more spacy synthesizer outings that Maddie has actually requested to hear again in the car since they were originally played in a daughter / dad car trip up to NH a couple of weeks ago.

If it ever gets to the point of Hannah Montana and other terrifying Disney teen band projects, I'm happy to throw out a few sonic obstacles, even if they are later met with disdain. At age four , though, we seem to be doing ok. Ramones and Dan Zanes are usually more the order of the day, though.

Posted by mahatma chani on 2008-06-22 23:51:30 +0000
That's fucking awesome.

Posted by TheFullCleveland on 2008-06-23 11:50:24 +0000
<a href = "http://www.elrarecords.com/band.html">Still around</a>, still touring.

Posted by MF DU on 2008-06-23 16:09:25 +0000
Last Boston appearance seems to have been 2004 @ Johnny D's. I'm sorry to have missed it.

Looks like they were just in Montreal...

Posted by dyedon8 on 2009-03-16 02:12:16 +0000
<a href ="http://blaxploitationjive.blogspot.com/2009/03/sun-ra-discography.html"> Sun Ra's discography. </a> Close to complete!

Posted by MF DU on 2009-03-17 13:25:30 +0000
Awesome link, thanks dyedon.

The below LP I bought @ Mystery Train 2 weeks ago when you were around is awesome. Circa 1979, lots of John Gilmore and Marshall Allen, some electronic stuff, but more rooted in a mellower exotica than some of the other Ra freakout stuff. The Mystery train guy's reccomendation was spot on.

A toss up to begin my next show with this, as it has an A side 1 track 1'beginning of spring' type track (the title escapes me at the moment), or just outright copy you and go with Husker DÜ's 'New Day Rising'.

Regardless, it will be a good show, and I am looking forward to it. Immensely.

<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zgCSvlXM4rg/RmR5D0iir9I/AAAAAAAAAos/MZ8hRedX2bI/s320/ra_sun~~~~~_sleepingb_101b.jpg">

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