The appropriately titled Sub-Underground (also known as Cosmo-Earth Fantasy and Temple U.)
is another super-rare artifact, badly in need of upgrade and reissue.
Originally released as Saturn 92074 in late 1974, Prof. Campbell posits
side one was recorded at Variety Recorders in New York City sometime in
September while side two was recorded live at Temple University in
Philadelphia, possibly on September 20 (Campbell & Trent p.214-215).
Yet, as usual with Sun Ra, there is much confusion and uncertainty
regarding the details of this recording and, after careful listening,
I’m not sure I agree with our discographer in all respects.
Unfortunately, the sound quality is somewhat murky and my
less-than-perfect transfer of the original LP does not help to clarify
much. Despite (or perhaps because of) its difficulties, Sub-Underground a fascinating record.
Side one is taken up with “Cosmo-Earth Fantasy,” an epic, twenty-two minute improvisation, obviously recorded in the studio. It begins with Arkestra scrubbing, scraping and plucking a variety of zithers, harps, guitars and other “Strange Strings” while Ra strums the interior of a piano. I love it! Enervated bass octaves come and go. Is this electric bass? (Prof. Campbell thinks so.) Or is it Ra on some sort of keyboard? Maybe—it’s hard to tell. Anyway, the spacey exotica goes on for about seven minutes before Ra fingers an ominous chord sequence on Clavinet, signaling Marshall Allen to pick up the oboe and echo Ra’s insistently repeated figures. Sonny continues to hold down a pedal point and outline upper-register harmonies while Allen keenly elaborates on the simple theme. Just lovely. Then the oboe drops out and there’s more “bass,” with what sounds like a melodica wheezing around the corner. At the half-way mark, a high-pitched marimba (Ra?) starts clattering away, Chinese-style, eventually joined by Allen on flute. Then the texture starts to thicken (possibly through the use of overdubbing) as multiple flutes, “bass,” Clavinet and percussion build up a spiky, Messiaenic din. Wild! After some slow, held chords, the piece comes to a definite, satisfying conclusion. Prof. Campbell lists additional instrumentalists, including John Gilmore on tenor sax, Eloe Omoe on bass clarinet and (possibly) Dale Williams on guitar (Id.), but I just don’t hear them on this track. Regardless, “Cosmo-Earth Fantasy” is a classic.
Love is For Always
Side two begins with “Love Is For Always,” another impossibly romantic piano ballad featuring Gilmore’s creamy and delicious tenor saxophone—yes, it’s another incredible Gilmore solo! This beautiful Ra composition was, apparently, only performed one time. What a shame! The distant and boomy drums indicate it was indeed recorded live, although, curiously, any applause has been deftly edited from the end of the track.
Side one is taken up with “Cosmo-Earth Fantasy,” an epic, twenty-two minute improvisation, obviously recorded in the studio. It begins with Arkestra scrubbing, scraping and plucking a variety of zithers, harps, guitars and other “Strange Strings” while Ra strums the interior of a piano. I love it! Enervated bass octaves come and go. Is this electric bass? (Prof. Campbell thinks so.) Or is it Ra on some sort of keyboard? Maybe—it’s hard to tell. Anyway, the spacey exotica goes on for about seven minutes before Ra fingers an ominous chord sequence on Clavinet, signaling Marshall Allen to pick up the oboe and echo Ra’s insistently repeated figures. Sonny continues to hold down a pedal point and outline upper-register harmonies while Allen keenly elaborates on the simple theme. Just lovely. Then the oboe drops out and there’s more “bass,” with what sounds like a melodica wheezing around the corner. At the half-way mark, a high-pitched marimba (Ra?) starts clattering away, Chinese-style, eventually joined by Allen on flute. Then the texture starts to thicken (possibly through the use of overdubbing) as multiple flutes, “bass,” Clavinet and percussion build up a spiky, Messiaenic din. Wild! After some slow, held chords, the piece comes to a definite, satisfying conclusion. Prof. Campbell lists additional instrumentalists, including John Gilmore on tenor sax, Eloe Omoe on bass clarinet and (possibly) Dale Williams on guitar (Id.), but I just don’t hear them on this track. Regardless, “Cosmo-Earth Fantasy” is a classic.
Love is For Always
Side two begins with “Love Is For Always,” another impossibly romantic piano ballad featuring Gilmore’s creamy and delicious tenor saxophone—yes, it’s another incredible Gilmore solo! This beautiful Ra composition was, apparently, only performed one time. What a shame! The distant and boomy drums indicate it was indeed recorded live, although, curiously, any applause has been deftly edited from the end of the track.
220. [192] Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Sub Underground
Sun Ra (p, Mini-Moog, syn, keyb, marimba); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, perc); Eloe Omoe (bcl); poss. Dale Williams (eg); unidentified (b); poss. Tommy Hunter (d); prob. Atakatune (cga, perc); prob. Odun (cga, perc).
Sub Underground
Sun Ra (p, Mini-Moog, syn, keyb, marimba); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, perc); Eloe Omoe (bcl); poss. Dale Williams (eg); unidentified (b); poss. Tommy Hunter (d); prob. Atakatune (cga, perc); prob. Odun (cga, perc).
Variety Recording Studio,
NYC, September 1974
Cosmo-Earth Fantasy (Ra)
Released in 1974 as Side A of Philadelphia Saturn LP 92074, Sub Underground.
The title is confusing because other, unrelated LPs were marketed at
one time or another as being in the "Sub Underground Series." Also
known as Cosmo-Earth Fantasy and Temple U.
According to Glen Jones, the Arkestra arrived late at the Five Spot for a gig one night in the fall of 1974 because they had been recording in a studio. This is audibly a studio recording, and Variety Recording Studio was used regularly by Ra during the '70s. Personnel identified by rlc. Gilbert Hsaio points out that a marimba can be heard on this session; very likely the instrument was played by Sunny himself, as on "Crystal Spears" from 1973. John Szwed thinks that overdubbing was used on this session (it definitely was on some Variety sessions from the late 1970s) and that an electric guitarist was also present.
221. [193]
Sun Ra (p, Mii-Moog, syn, org); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, perc); Eloe Omoe (bcl); unidentified (b); poss. Tommy Hunter (d); prob. Atakatune [Stanley Morgan] (cga, perc); prob. Odun [Russell Branch] (cga, perc); Eddie Thomas [Thomas Thaddeus] (voc -1); unidentified male (voc -1); June Tyson (voc -2); poss. Cheryl Banks (voc -2).
Sun Ra (p, Mii-Moog, syn, org); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, perc); Eloe Omoe (bcl); unidentified (b); poss. Tommy Hunter (d); prob. Atakatune [Stanley Morgan] (cga, perc); prob. Odun [Russell Branch] (cga, perc); Eddie Thomas [Thomas Thaddeus] (voc -1); unidentified male (voc -1); June Tyson (voc -2); poss. Cheryl Banks (voc -2).
Temple University, Philadelphia,
poss. September 20, 1974
Love Is for Always (Ra)
The Song of Drums (Ra) -1
The World of Africa (Ra) -2
Released in 1974 as Side B of Saturn LP 92074, Sub Underground. Some copies are titled Sub Underground #2. This LP is also known as Cosmo-Earth Fantasy. The location for these performances, clearly from a live session, is suggested by still another title, Temple U. Alden Kimbrough's copy has "Live at Temple University 1974" written on the back cover.
From Campbell / Trent The Earthly Recordings of Sun Ra 2nd ed.
Sub Underground (1974)
1. Cosmo - Earth fantasy 21:26
2. Love is for always 6:49
3. The song of drums 6:07
4. The world of Africa 3:03
or
thanks, yotte!!!
ReplyDeleteI-)
Side one sounds like it was recorded in the living room of the house on Morton Street (aka Sun studio) rather than Variety. Sounds like a home recording to me anyway. For some reason I rarely listen to this album so I really appreciate this post. There are some real gems here.
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