Sun Ra - Sunrise in Different Dimensions Hat Hut LP (1980)

Many Thanks to Vinylust for this rip of his original US pressing of this wonderful LP.

This double LP features a live concert by Sun Ra & the Arkestra in Switzerland. The only fault to the set is that the two drummers (Chris Henderson and Eric Walker) fail to swing and often sound wooden on the vintage standards, which might be due to the lack of a bassist. However, the nonet (which also includes Ra on piano and organ, tenor great John Gilmore, altoist Marshall Allen, baritonist Danny Thompson, the reeds of Kenneth Williams and Noel Scott, and trumpeter Michael Ray), despite its slightly odd instrumentation, is heard throughout in excellent form. In addition to eight diverse and generally adventurous untitled originals by Ra, the ensemble performs ragged and eccentric versions of such 1930s pieces as "'Big John's Special," "Yeah Man," "Queer Notions," "Limehouse Blues," and "King Porter Stomp." For the remainder of his life, Sun Ra would alternate between reinventions of swing tunes and his outer space originals; despite the drummers, this was one of the better examples of his late-period band.

AMG Review by Scott Yanow

318. [251] Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Sunrise in Different Dimensions

Sun Ra (p, org, syn, cond, voc); Michael Ray (tp, flg, voc); Marshall Allen (as, ob, fl, picc, kora, perc); Noël Scott (as, bars, fl, dance, perc); John Gilmore (ts, cl, timb, voc); Danny Ray Thompson (bars, fl, perc); Kenny Williams (ts, bars, fl); Samarai Celestial [Eric Walker] (d); Chris Henderson (d); June Tyson (voc, dance).

Gastof Mohren, Willisau,
Switzerland, February 24, 1980

Hat Hut 2R17, a 2-LP set titled Sunrise in Different Dimensions, was released in 1980.  All titles were reissued in 1986 on the 2-LP set hat Art 2017.  The Ra compositions were left untitled on the original release.  They were presumably given titles by Sun Ra at a later time; some copies of 2R17 include a separate sheet with the complete track titles (Francesco Martinelli).  Complete track titles did not appear on all copies of the reissue LP.

In 1991, all but three Ra compositions ("Provocative Celestials," "Love in Outer Space," and "On Jupiter") were included in hat Art 6099 [CD].  Information from the album jacket; specifics of the location from Stahl's discography.

According to Otto Flückiger and Armin Büttner, nearly everything from both sets of this engagement (except "A Helio-Hello") was recorded on a 150-minute audience tape.  In addition, there is an essentially complete 75-minute tape from the rehearsal earlier that day.

Samarai Celestial says that this was the very first concert of the tour and that the Arkestra's ranks increased as the tour continued.
from Campbell/Trent  The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Sun Ra Arkestra
Sunrise in Different Dimensions (Hat Hut LP)

1.  A1 Light From A Hidden Sun   3:52
2.  A2 Pin-Points Of Spiral Prisms   4:43
3.  A3 Silhouettes Of The Shadow World   7:20
4.  A4 Cocktails For Two   3:23

5.  B1 'Round Midnight   6:49
6.  B2 Lady Bird / Half Nelson   7:58
7.  B3 Big John's Special   3:37
8.  B4 Yeah Man!   3:42

9.  C1 Provocative Celestials   10:55
10. C2 Love In Outerspace   4:55
11. C3 Disguised Gods In Skullduggery   9:15

12. D1 Queer Notions   2:55
13. D2 Limehouse Blues   3:51
14. D3 King Porter Stomp   3:31
15. D4 Take The A Train   5:11
16. D5 Lightnin'   2:45
17. D6 On Jupiter   3:46
18. D7 A Helio-Hello! And Goodbye Too!   3:11

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For those who prefer a CD rip, I posted an LP/CD hybrid HERE.