Vinyl LP pressing. Travelogue through a cybernetical soundscape! The future rendered here by Ra seems more dystopian than utopian, and these 1975 guided improvisations are imbued with an underlying violence, alternate twists, bank turns, headchoppers, loops, rolls, sidewinders and drops. It's a dark & glorious journey. Featuring the debut of the complete version of 'Extension Out,' Pathways has been exquisitely mastered from the four-track session reel and includes an insert offering an enlightening glimpse at Ra & co.'s plans for their major label lucre.

Live at Montreux, a two-CD reissue that has one of his most accessible recordings. The 20-piece Arkestra, in addition to trumpets, trombones and saxophones, includes a bassoonist, a bass clarinetist, two drummers, two bassists and Ra on piano, solar organ and moog synthesizer. Their unique sound and wide-open approach were perfectly tailored by Sun Ra to express his innovative musical ideas.

Calling Planet Earth comes from a concert recorded at Tivoli Hall in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 5, 1971. Sun Ra and his Arkestra are captured in their prime, while exploring some of their most far out material to date. The recording is finally getting it's first ever vinyl release. This Record Store Day 2015 exclusive pressing is limited to 2,000 copies worldwide. Colored Vinyl version is no longer available 2016.

Robert Mugge filmed jazz great Sun Ra and members of his eclectic ensemble on location in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. between 1978 and 1980. The resulting 60-minute film includes multiple public and private performances, poetry readings, a band rehearsal, interviews, and extensive improvisation. Transferred to HD from the original 16mm film and lovingly restored for the best possible viewing experience.

Vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve, includes digital download. Strut presents a new definitive collection of Singles released by jazz maverick Sun Ra during his Earth years, spanning 1952 to 1991. Released prolifically during the 1950s and more sporadically thereafter, primarily on the Saturn label, the 45s offer one-off meteorites from Ra's prolific cosmic journey, tracing the development of his forward-thinking "Space-Bop" and his unique take on jazz and blues traditions which sounded unlike anything else from the period. As with his LPs, most 45s were only pressed in small runs and were sold at gigs and have since become extremely rare and sought after. Only a small handful of copies of "Love In Outer Space" b/w "Mayan Temple" and "The Blue One" b/w "Orbitration In Blue" have ever been seen; some have only been discovered in physical form in recent years; some were planned and penciled in but allegedly never made it to vinyl (including "Saturn" and "Velvet" from the Jazz In Silhouette LP) and some appeared as limited one-off magazine singles and posthumous releases, including "Hell #1" aka "Out There A Minute." The set is the most comprehensive collection of Ra's singles to date. Sleeve note writers Francis Gooding and Paul Griffiths brilliantly illustrate the role of the single within Ra's career and break down each release with detailed track by track notes. Working with Sun Ra LLC and Sun Raarchivist Michael D. Anderson, Strut has also assembled the best possible master sources for each track.

Robert Mugge filmed jazz great Sun Ra and members of his eclectic ensemble on location in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. between 1978 and 1980. The resulting 60-minute film includes multiple public and private performances, poetry readings, a band rehearsal, interviews, and extensive improvisations. Transferred to HD from the original 16mm film and lovingly restored for the best possible viewing experience.

2013 release. An expanded reissue of Sun Ra's Continuation, originally released in 1970. A special two CD reissue of the hyper-rare El Saturn Records album, recorded in 1963, early in the Arkestra's New York period, paired with a full disc of extra material. Loaded with John Gilmore, one of the greatest and rarest slabs of Sun Ra vinyl, on CD for the first time. Recorded on March 10, 1963 at the Choreographer's Workshop in New York City. Remastered from the original tapes by Michael D. Anderson; Reissue produced by John Corbett and Adam Abraham.

Celestial Love contains recordings made in September 1982 at New York's Variety Studios, which had hosted countless Sun Ra sessions since the late 1960s. This was one of the last extended sessions at Variety, and these recordings were the last studio works released on Sun Ra's own Saturn label (though the label did continue to press concert recordings, and new studio recordings did appear on other labels). Aside from their inclusion on Celestial Love, tracks from these sessions landed on the albums A Fireside Chat With Lucifer and Nuclear War. Since Nuclear War's contents overlapped with both Fireside Chat and Celestial Love, we have reconstituted the latter two as complete albums, thus covering all titles from these Variety dates. The music on Celestial Love is mostly "inside" Ra, veering towards mainstream jazz (the lengthy and adventurous "Fireside Chat," not on this album, being an exception). Ra's early hero, Duke Ellington, is represented twice with "Sophisticated Lady" and "Drop Me Off in Harlem," and two other standards ("Smile" and "Sometimes I'm Happy," both sung by June Tyson) are given snappy Ra arrangements.

Vinyl LP pressing, Recorded in '73 and rejected by tin-eared major label execs in '75, Crystal Spears (or "Crystal Clear" as it appears on the tape box) subsumes a cathartic brawl between Minimoog and Yamaha combo organ, with percussionists providing tonal textures, and plaintive oboe colliding with roaring electronic keyboards over waves of rollicking marimba, devilishly chattering below the fray. Crystal Spears is Sun Ra's once lost aural cinematheque! Includes a quad-ra-color Sun Ra poster!

Triple vinyl LP pressing in tri-gatefold cover. Considering the monumental depth of Sun Ra's recorded oeuvre, there are surprisingly few solo piano albums. Monorails and Satellites Volumes 1 and 2 were the first commercial LPs of the artist's solo keyboard excursions. Recorded in 1966 and released on his Saturn imprint in 1968, Volume 1 featured seven idiosyncratic originals and one standard ("Easy Street") delivered in Sunny's singular manner. Volume 2 was released the following year, and contains five compositions, all originals. A third volume was prepped but shelved, and this deluxe edition marks it's premiere release. As with all Cosmic Myth releases these volumes are superbly mastered with copious liners notes by renown American jazz pianist Vijay Iyer, and additional overviews by jazz historian Ben Young and producer Irwin Chusid.

Sun Ra, the extraordinary, outlandish, and sometimes controversial pianist, is often described as an "acquired taste", with a massive and diverse catalog. This release is a good place to start for uninitiated or dismissive listeners. The album showcases Ra's grounding in the jazz tradition, with unique takes on standards like "Time After Time," "Easy to Love," and "But Not for Me". Not unordinary for Sun Ra, the recording process was informal; "Can This Be Love?" was recorded in his Chicago apartment in 1955; he is accompanied only by the great Wilbur Ware on bass. The other five tracks, which feature, among others, Ra's longtime associate John Gilmore on tenor saxophone, were recorded at the Choreographer's Workshop rehearsal space in 1962 and 1963.

Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific output, and theatrical performances. For much of his career, Ra led "The Arkestra", an ensemble with an ever-changing name and flexible line-up. Two albums "Monorails and Satellites" and "Pictures of Infinity" together in this package for the price of one!

Soothing Sounds for Saturnians! Sun Ra, notorious for his aggressive keyboard attack and seemingly schizophrenic stylings, here offers a unique selection playing the celeste-like Fender Rhodes electric piano, which has a distinct sound (think Doors' "Riders on the Storm") and an interesting history. This is Ra sound at his most relaxed and contemplative state. This Sun Ra 1980 solo set at Haverford College has been kicking around the internet and in the digital libraries of Ra collectors for years, though it has not previously been properly mastered or commercially issued. Like many events in Ra's history, this gig has a story that goes beyond the music. Ra's presence onstage that night came about through an unforeseen chain of events that unfolded up until concert time. This is a very unique performance. Sun Ra is notorious for his aggressive keyboard attack and seemingly schizophrenic stylings-which can musically rocket from A to Z and back without transitional bridges. This set offers a marked contrast. Ra's instrument here is the celeste-like Fender Rhodes electric piano, which has a distinct sound (instantly recognizable in the Doors' "Riders on the Storm") and an interesting history. There are few pyrotechnics in this performance, and much restraint. Ra sounds relaxed and contemplative. It's Soothing Sounds for Saturnians. - Irwin Chusid 1. Love In Outer Space 2. Haverford Impromptu 1 3. Rhapsody In Blue 4. St. Louis Blues 5. Medley: Intro-Space Is The Place-Over The Rainbow 6. Haverford Impromptu 2 7. We Live To Be (previously unissued) 8. Take The A Train (previously unissued) 9. Haverford Encore Duet (featuring Walt Dickerson) (CD only)

CD reissue. Sun Ra (who was born Herman Blount) was undoubtedly one of the most arcane musicians of the 20th century. He was an American Jazz composer, band leader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher, but his formal education came to an abrupt end. Sun Ra soon left college because, he claimed, he had a visionary experience as a college student that had a major, long-term influence on him. In 1936 or 1937, in the midst of deep religious concentration, Sun Ra claimed that a bright light appeared around him, and, as he later said: My whole body changed into something else. I could see through myself. And I went up... I wasn't in human form... I landed on a planet that I identified as Saturn... they teleported me and I was down on stage with them. They wanted to talk with me. They had one little antenna on each ear. A little antenna over each eye. They talked to me. They told me to stop because there was going to be great trouble in schools... The world was going into complete chaos... I would speak, and the world would listen. That's what they told me. This album originally appeared in 1962 and includes some remarkable technical advances. While testing the tape recorder while the musicians were tuning up one day, the band's drummer and engineer, Tommy Hunter, realized that by manipulating the tape recorder in unconventional fashion, he could create sounds that nobody had ever heard before. Unless you have already booked your summer holiday on Saturn, I suggest that you buy this record to see what you are missing.

CD reissue. The history of music is full of extraordinary characters. Even some of the best known classical musicians had lives which, even by today's standards, were both shocking and bizarre. But when it came to the 20th Century, things really began to become peculiar. The notorious Sun Ra, who claimed to be an alien from the planet Saturn, or something like that, is responsible for some of the most challenging music that has ever been recorded. The music on this album was recorded in a marathon session of between 30-40 songs either at the RCA Studios or possibly at Hall Recording Company (both in Chicago), around 17 June 1960. Other albums to include tracks from the session include Interstellar Low Ways, Holiday for Soul Dance, Angels and Demons at Play and We Travel The Space Ways. The problem with trying to catalog the output of many artists from this period is that, back then, jazz and other popular musics were not seen as being of any lasting importance. So recording details, and lists of who played what, when and where - although things which we take for granted today - are often missing, and one has to piece together the facts from a myriad of different sources. When you add to this the fact that Sun Ra was notorious for his eccentricities (some have even described him as being barking mad), and attempting to come up with any truly cogent narrative is monumentally difficult. This music is actually from the more conventional end of Sun Ra's output and sounds like a trippier version of what Miles Davis and John Coltrane were doing at a time. Very groovy stuff.

Digitally remastered edition. One of the rarer albums in the Sun Ra canon, RTTR originally entered our orbit in 1983, mystifying listeners and confounding Ra fanatics with the minimal info on the Saturn pressing. Recorded at several locations over several years (including legendary avant-garde arts enclave, the Squat Theater in NYC), the tracks here include everything from Ra's sci-fi synthesizer insanity, Marshall Allen's skronking sax, an excellent Arkestra vocal track 'They Plan To Leave,' and so much more.

Digitally remastered edition. An F-bomb saturated hip-hop call and response club cut... from Sun Ra?! While the most renown track in this omniversal opus is the atomic expletive-filled repartee Nuclear War, there is so much more to this dark mysterious journey through the mind of Sun Ra. The sprawling, suite-like 20-minute title track sustains a lyrical edge in spite of an open framework and textures, which encourage sonorities to surface and emerge from the band as if there was no human intention behind them. In opposition to 'Nuclear War,' Ra's organ playing here was built less on bombast and sonic terror than it is on whispers, stutters, shivers, and swells. Fireside Chat offers a wide stylistic array, as was the artist's intent, reflecting his eclectic, seemingly irreconcilable approach to compositional extremes. With Sun Ra you get everything... except predictability. First ever reissue of this iconic album!

The outsized sounds emerging from the Excelsior Mill organ captured here constitute a unique chapter in the Sun Ra story, a dizzying phantasmagoria that offers a whole new view on what Ra could do. It might thrill you; it might unnerve you; it might strum your heartstrings; it might spook the living daylights out of you. Most likely you'll experience all of the above before the jolting musical jeremiad is done. The CD includes the full uncut show with music not featured on the LP version! When you're Sun Ra, you don't need synthesizers to evoke apocalyptic visions and interstellar excursions. You don't even need a band. Ra is most widely known for working with various iterations of his Arkestra, but he was no stranger to unaccompanied keyboard expeditions. His discography contains solo piano albums, solo Fender Rhodes records, and solo recordings on conventional organ, the latter going as far back as his home recordings from the 1940s. But none of those instruments ever offered Sun Ra the kind of sonic artillery that waited beneath his fingers and feet when he sat before the keyboards, pedals, and multicolored constellation of tabs controlling the Wurlitzer pipe organ. Mystic and magisterial, Ra comes off here like a cross between a demonically riffing '50s horror movie villain and a futuristic congregation leader delivering the interplanetary gospel. Brassy stabs provide the kind of punctuation that could be graphically rendered as an endless string of exclamation marks in 500-point font. String-like swoops and swirls dance across the top of the carnage, cooling the flames just enough to keep the whole thing from combusting (for a while at least) but never dousing the fiery fury that Ra draws forth from the instrument.

Enlightenment is... our tomorrow... It has no plane... of sorrow. Hereby, our invitation... We do invite you... Be of our Space World Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra 'Enlightenment' Within their 1973 European tour, Sun Ra and his Arkestra had just completed a residency at the legendary Gibus in Paris in October before travelling to Amiens for a Sunday afternoon concert. Those filing into the city's Maison de la Culture that day would have little idea of the intense, visceral experience that awaited them. "Sun Ra's use of the Arkestra as his instrument in an onslaught of sound, colour and movement stimulated and even shocked the senses and the shakras of audience participants onto a higher plane of spirit consciousness," explains the Arkestra's Knoel Scott. On Side 1, the session kicks off with the theatrical overture, 'Enlightenment' as Sun Ra and vocalist June Tyson invite the audience to "be of our space world". Ra then moves into a rare instrumental version of 'Love In Outer Space', transforming the perennial Arkestra classic into a raw, ritualistic experience: "this was a vehicle for the Arkestra's space dancers. Close your eyes and imagine them writhing across the stage in celestial homage," explains Scott. Side 2 of the album opens with the glistening 'Lights On A Satellite', a feature for the spiritual tenor sax of John Gilmore, playing in unison with trumpeter Kwame Hadi. Closing track, the epic, chaotic, anxious 'Discipline 27-II / What Planet Is This' moves from abstract, freeform keyboard work from Sun Ra to a walking groove as Sun Ra and June Tyson take a thinly veiled psychedelic swipe at life on earth: "If this is a planet of life, why do people die here? " Following 2014's landmark compilation presented by Marshall Allen, 'In the Orbit Of Ra', Strut and Art Yard join forces once more for the first release anywhere of 'Planets Of Life Or Death'. Recorded direct from the sound board and mastered from first generation reel to reel, the title is exclusively available for Record Store Day 2015. The release features rare photos from Sun Ra's 1973 European tour by photographer Jan Persson with sleeve notes by Knoel Scott.

Vinyl LP pressing. Digitally remastered. This special 60th-anniversary reissue of groundbreaking jazz artist Sun Ra's iconic 1962 album, The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra, features all analog remastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. The package includes Tom Wilson's original liner notes, plus insightful new essays by jazz historian Ben Young and the journalist, radio personality and author Irwin Chusid.

SUN RA Singles the Definitive 45's Collection 1952 - 1991 - Strut presents a new definitive collection of Singles released by jazz maverick Sun Ra during his Earth years, spanning 1952 to 1991. Released prolifically during the 1950s and more sporadically thereafter, primarily on the Saturn label, the 45s offer one-off meteorites from Ra's prolific cosmic journey, tracing the development of his forward-thinking "Space-Bop" and his unique take on jazz and blues traditions which sounded unlike anything else from the period. As with his LPs, most 45s were only pressed in small runs and were sold at gigs and have since become extremely rare and sought after. Only a small handful of copies of "Love In Outer Space" b/w "Mayan Temple" and "The Blue One" b/w "Orbitration In Blue" have ever been seen; some have only been discovered in physical form in recent years; some were planned and penciled in but allegedly never made it to vinyl (including "Saturn" and "Velvet" from the Jazz In Silhouette LP) and some appeared as limited one-off magazine singles and posthumous releases, including "Hell #1" aka "Out There A Minute." The set is the most comprehensive collection of Ra's singles to date. Sleeve note writers Francis Gooding and Paul Griffiths brilliantly illustrate the role of the single within Ra's career and break down each release with detailed track by track notes. Working with Sun Ra LLC and Sun Raarchivist Michael D. Anderson, Strut has also assembled the best possible master sources for each track.

Limited green colored vinyl LP pressing. Digitally remastered edition. One of the rarer albums in the Sun Ra canon, RTTR originally entered our orbit in 1983, mystifying listeners and confounding Ra fanatics with the minimal info on the Saturn pressing. Recorded at several locations over several years (including legendary avant-garde arts enclave, the Squat Theater in NYC), the tracks here include everything from Ra's sci-fi synthesizer insanity, Marshall Allen's skronking sax, an excellent Arkestra vocal track 'They Plan To Leave,' and so much more.