Sun Ra - Ra To The Rescue (1983)

Saturn IX/1983-220, Ra to the Rescue, was issued in 1983 (mastered September 12, 1983, according to the Variety Recording Studio log).  Some pressings carry a Philadelphia Saturn label; others have a blank white label on a extraordinarily thick vinyl LP and were pressed in England.

Samarai Celestial believes that it may have been recorded at more than one Squat Theatre concert by Tommy Hunter.  Craig Haynes says that in 1981 and 1982, the Arkestra played well over 10 gigs a year at the Squat Theatre: "It was our home base.  When we weren't working, we were at the Squat."  In other words, precise dating will be difficult!

Several titles from this album were surreptitiously reissued on Saturn Sun Ra 101485, an album released in 1985 and variously known as When Spaceships Appear, Cosmo-Party Blues, and Children of the Sun, "When Spaceships Appear" is really "Ra to the Rescue Chapter 1"; "Fragile Emotions Blues" is really "Back Alley Blues"; and "Space Shuttle" is really "Ra to the Rescue Chapter 2."  "Fate in a Pleasant Mood" and "They Plan to Leave" were reissued on this LP without a change in title.

From The Earthly Recordings of Sun Ra 2nd ed.

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); unidentified (tp -1); Marshall Allen (as, fl, perc); John Gilmore (ts, timb, voc); prob. Danny Ray Thompson (bars, fl, perc); Hayes Burnet (b); Samarai Celestial [Eric Walker] (d); unidentified (perc); June Tyson (voc).

Squat Theatre, NYC, 1982

Ra to the Rescue 

1. Ra to the rescue (chapter 1)    5:31 

2. Ra to the rescue (chapter 2)    4:55 

3. Fate in a pleasant mood    9:30 

4. When lights are dark    4:40 

5. They plan to leave    6:44 

6. Back alley blues    4:05

FLAC

or

320

Again, MANY THANKS to Paul W. for this outstanding rare Saturn LP rip!