Sun Ra - United World in Outer Space (1975)

A gig at the Smiling Dog Saloon in Cleveland, OH on January 30, 1975 was broadcast by WMMS-FM and preserved on this sixty-minute recording but the band sounds a bit ragged, exhausted, perhaps, by the long-distance travel and inclement weather. Sadly, they never quite seem to get warmed up. But somewhere along the way, Sonny has picked up a hotshot bass-player, whose identity is unknown (see Campbell & Trent p.218). Whoever it is, he provides an unusually funky bottom-end to the proceedings. The Arkestra had to make do without a bassist at many shows during this period (particularly after the final departure of the inimitable Ronnie Boykins in mid-1974) making the rhythm section sound thin and incomplete, so the presence of the bass is always a welcome addition during this period (even if it isn’t the best show ever). Audio quality is pretty good (especially compared to other “bootlegs” we’ve been listening to recently) suffering more from careless microphone placement and poor balance than subsequent generational loss (my copy indicates the original broadcast was recorded to reel-to-reel, with only one cassette generation prior to being converted to digital). For better or worse, our anonymous bassist is certainly mixed front and center throughout!

After an introduction from the resident DJ, Ra fingers a dissonant organ chord before launching into “Astro Nation.” Loud electric bass anchors the groove and though he tends to overplay, he never loses the beat. The whole band joins in on the weirdly assymetrical chant , clapping and singing as they traipse around the nightclub with vocalist/dancer Eddie Thomas (a/k/a Thomas Thaddeus) adding some soulful yelps and moans. But it goes on for far too long without anything happening, ending with a desultory space chord. I’m sure it was a visual spectacle if nothing else. Sonny teases “Love In Outer Space” before changing his mind and queuing up “Enlightenment” in a new, rhythmically clipped vocal arrangement, ending a cappella. Sort of interesting, but nothing special. Then “Love In Outer Space” follows, propelled by Ra’s BBQ organ comping. Curiously, the theme is never played and after a few minutes, Ra drops out completely, leaving spacey African percussion and handclaps. Eventually, the organ vamp returns, accompanied by some bleating horns, but it ends inconclusively.

“Theme of the Stargazers” and “The Satellites Are Spinning” are presented as a brisk medley and is nicely sung by the band—but the audience doesn’t quite know what to make of it. When it ends, there’s total silence, not even a smattering of applause! Undeterred, Sonny brings up the pulsing drone of “Friendly Galaxy No.2” joined by the electric bass and, later, by pealing trumpets. The mellifluous flutes are woefully off-mic but a ringing vibraphone is crystal clear (presumably Damon Choice). But then Sonny steps up to pontificate, riffing on “I Am The Brother The Wind” and “I, Pharoah.” Here we go again! The unbalanced recording combined with an uncharacteristically subdued performance is disappointing: rather than hypnotic, it is merely boring. Oh well. Next up is a long keyboard solo which also seems to be less than totally inspired. It’s the usual spaceship synthesizer noises and dissonant organ clusters and the fact that the tape repeatedly fades up and down (and cuts in and out) doesn’t really help matters very much. However, after about seven minutes, Sonny speeds up the cheesy “rhythm machine” on his organ and plays along briefly, a hint of Disco 3000 to come!

(Continue reading at NuVoid's Sun Ra Sundays)

225. [194c]  Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Myth Science Arkestra

Sun Ra (org, syn, p, voc); Kwame Hadi (tp); Akh Tal Ebah (tp, voc); Marshall Allen (as, fl, perc); Danny Davis (as, fl, perc); John Gilmore (ts, timb, voc); Eloe Omoe (bcl, fl, perc); Danny Ray Thompson (bars, fl, perc); James Jacson (bsn, fl, Inf-d); unidentified (vib); unidentified (b, eb); unidentified (d); prob. Atakatune (cga); prob. Odun (cga); June Tyson (voc, dance); Eddie Thomas [Thomas Thaddeus] (voc, dance, perc).

Smiling Dog Saloon, Cleveland, OH,
January 30, 1975

There was a 60-minute broadcast of this concert over WMMS-FM.  All information from ct.  According to Jack Lefton, the arrangement of "Sophisticated Lady" (slow, featuring a vocal by Sun Ra reproving wicked women) is not known from any other concert tapes.
from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed. Campbell/Trent

January 30, 1975

United World in Outer Space (180g LP rip)
(Vinyl Lovers 2009)

1. Astro Nation (of the United World in Outer Space)   11:00
2. Enlightenment   2:10
3. Friendly Galaxy 2 (I, Pharaoh)   12:49

4. Theme of the Stargazers / The Satellites are Spinning   2:28
5. Synthesizer Solo   8:29
6. Sophisticated Lady   14:10

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Live in Cleveland
(Golden Years of Jazz [Leo Records] CD (2009)

1. Astro Nation (Of The United World In Outer Space)   11:02
2. Enlightenment   2:13
3. Love In Outer Space   9:30 (not included on LP)
4. Theme Of The Stargazers - The Satellites are Spinning   2:33
5. Friendly Galaxy 2 - I Am The Brother Of The Wind - I Pharaoh   12:49
6. Synthesizer Solo   8:34
7. Sophisticated Lady   14:09

FLAC

or

320