2nd Chance: Sun Ra - Discipline 27-II (1973)

Re-Uploaded and Re-Posted by Re-Quest.

Recorded during the same 1972 sessions as Impulse's Space Is the Place, Discipline 27-II is definitely cut from the same cloth. The title cut is a side-long space chant number (just like "Space Is the Place"), presumably recorded as one lengthy piece, although the tune itself is divided into three sections (radio edits?). Listeners also get another in the instrumental Discipline series (Ra composed and recorded many Disciplines throughout the '70s); this time it's "Discipline 8." "Neptune" is another great space chant ("Have you heard the latest thing from Neptune?"), but the standout track is "Pan Afro," a great blowing session built on Ra's trademark interlocking horn riffs. A tough one to find, Discipline 27-II is well-worth seeking out, especially for those who like Space Is the Place.
AMG Review by Sean Westergaard

This rip is courtesy of Paul W, who was kind enough to remove the track breaks within the title track. Many thanks, Paul!

196. [176]  Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra

Space Is the Place /
Discipline 27-II

Sun Ra (p, spae [Farfisa] org, Mini-Moog syn, Rocksichord, vocal dramatizing); Akh Tal Ebah (tp, flg, sp-mell, space ethnic voice); Lamont McClamb [Kwame Hadi] (tp, perc); Marshall Allen (as, fl, perc); Danny Davis (as, fl, acl, perc); Larry Northington (as, cga, perc); John Gilmore (ts, d, space ethnic voice); Pat Patrick (ts, bars, fl, eb, voc); Danny Ray Thompson (bars, fl, libf, perc, voc); Eloe Omoe (bcl, fl, perc); Lex Humphries (d, perc); Robert Underwood [Aye Aton] (d); Harry Richards (d, perc); Alzo Wright (d, perc); Stanley Morgan [Atakatune] (cga, perc); Russell Branch [Odun] (cga, perc); June Tyson, Ruth Wright, Cheryl Banks, Judith Holton (space ethnic voices).

Streeterville Studios, Chicago,
October 19, 1972

Discipline 33 (Ra) [7:33 version]
Discipline 33 (Ra)
Space Is the Place (Ra) [SR, JT, SEV voc; tk. 2--16:33]
Space Is the Place (Ra) [SR, JT, SEV voc]

Discipline 8 [tk. 1--16:17]
[Ease Mind] East One (Ra) [12:15]
East Two (Ra) [15:12]
East Three (Ra) [7:10]
Discipline 27-II (Ra) [SR, SEV voc]
Images (Ra)

Neptune (Ra) [SEV voc]

197. [176a]  Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra 

Same personnel.

Streeterville Studios, Chicago,
October 20, 1972

Pan Afro (Ra) [earlier take -- 2:25]
Pan Afro (Ra)
Discipline 8 (Ra)
Piano of Never (Ra) [4:13]
Sea of Sounds (Ra)
Rocket Number Nine (Ra) [ens voc]

According to Allan Chase's interview with Ed Michel (the producer), this session ran a day and a half and produced enough material for four albums.  Location from the Impulse jacket; the personnel is a composite of the Blue Thumb and Saturn lists (which diverge only in minor ways).  Working from the session notes, Seth Markow provided a detailed breakdown of the session, including alternate takes and unissued pieces in the order in which they were recorded.  Markow says that "Discipline 27-II" was identified in the studio notes as "The Narrative."

Though only one such instrument is credited, there are two low clarinets on "Discipline 33."  One is Eloe Omoe (bcd).  The other is presumably Danny Davis (cal), though Pat Patrick could have used his "mistro-clarinet."  Thanks to Ed Michel and Alton Abraham for pointing out that Russell Branch and Odun were one and the same person.

Saturn LP 538, Discipline 27-II (surely the only quadraphonic-compatible Saturn!) was issued in 1973.  "Discipline 27-II" (a continuous piece that took up Side B of he Saturn) was sliced, apparently at random, into several bands (Markow says that this was imposed by the LP mastering engineer).  It includes a series of vocal chants that are given separate titles when performed in concert, such as "It's After the End of the World" and "Isn't Life Ridiculous?"

A German LP bootleg of Discipline 27-II (complete with fuzzy computer-mediated reproduction of the original Saturn cover) appeared toward the end of 1998.  Most likely this bootleg was perpetrated by the same individuals who released a bootleg LP of the Arkestra's Berlin concerts of July 22 and 23, 1982 on the quaintly named Ur-Anus label (se below).  On the bootleg the matrix numbers read 538 A, and 538 B, with other writing which looks like "DMM Q.P." on both sides.  The matrix numbers on the genuine Saturn issue were SR-538-A and SR-538-B.

A second Saturn LP was planned.  Title is not known, but very likely it was among the titles known to have been proposed by Saturn but not taken up by Impulse.
from Campbell / Trent  The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Discipline 27-II
Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra

Saturn 538 (1973)

Side A:

Pan Afro (Ra) (8:05)

Discipline 8 (Ra) (8:17)

Neptune (Ra) (5:52)

Side B:

Discipline 27-II (Ra) (24:54)

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