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.
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 is 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
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.