Sun Ra - Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Stars That Shine Darkly Vol. 2)

Third of the list of hybrid versions of Stars That Shine Darkly, Outer Reach Intensity-Energy is a mysterious and remarkable album.  Side A contains Ra compositions unheard (or at least rarely heard) elsewhere, from live performances of the late 1970s and early 1980s; Side B is comprised of the amazing Sun Ra All-Stars performance "Stars That Shine Darkly vol. 2" of late 1983. 

415. [309]  Sun Ra

Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (org); Ahmed Abdullah (tp -1); Michael Ray (tp); unidentified (tp); Marshall Allen (as); poss. Danny Davis (as); John Gilmore (ts); Eloe Omoe (as, bcl, cacl); James Jacson (bsn, Inf-d); Danny Ray Thompson (libf -2; bars); unidentified (d); unidentified (d).

Live performances, 1976-1984

          Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Ra)
          Cosmos Rendezvous (Ra) -1
          Barbizon (Ra)
          The Double That… (Ra)
          The Ever Is… (Ra) -2

Saturn Gemini 9-1213-85, titled Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 2 or Outer Reach Intensity-Energy, was released in 1985 (mastered on September 13, 1985, according to the Variety Recording Studio log).  The tracks on Side A appear to have been recorded at several live performances in 1984.  The lineup does not correspond with any of the European tours, and in the United States, Ahmed Abdullah would have played only in the New York area.  It is not clear when Michael Ray would have worked with the Arkestra either (John Gilmore stated in an interview on October 13, 1984, that Ray had not worked with the Arkestra since early 1983; see Sun Ra Research #7).  Personnel identified by rlc with help from ct.

Chris Trent now suggests that these tracks were cut at various concerts in the late 1970s.  If "Outer Reach" includes Danny Davis on alto sax, as ct suggests, that would argue strongly in favor of 1978 or earlier.  the material with Abdullah could also come from 1975-1978.  Further research needed …

400. [297]  Sun Ra All Stars

Stars that Shine Darkly /
Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, EVI, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Archie Shepp (ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).

Montreux, Switzerland
between November 2 and 5, 1883

          Stars That Shine Darkly…
          (Ra) (part 1)
          Stars That Shine Darkly…
          (Ra) (part 2)

"Stars that Shine Darkly part 1" was first released in 1985 on Side A of the Saturn LP 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 1.  This album has also been titled Hiroshima.  "Stars that Shine Darkly parrot 2" was first released in 1985 on Side B of the Saturn Gemini LP 9-1213-85, Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2, also titled Outer Reach Intensity-Energy.  Mark Webber points out that there is also a hybrid Stars That Shine Darkly album with part 1 on Side A and part 2 on Side B.  Date and location from Ted Panken on a WKCR-FM broadcast.  Presence of Omoe noted by ct; Danny Ray Thompson confirms that Ra "augmented" the All-Stars on a couple of occasions.

-from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

 Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Stars That Shine Darkly Vol. 2)

1. Outer Reach Intensity-Energy   4:07
2. Cosmos Rendezvous   4:31
3. Barbizon   4:01
4. The Double That...   5:02
5. The Ever Is...   4:05

6. Stars That Shine Darkly   23:27


Many thanks to Zyxirion for sharing his FLAC rip with us.

FLAC

or

320




And Otherness:

Hiroshima (Stars That Shine Darkly)

& 
Stars That Shine Darkly (hybrid)