Sun Ra - ESP Radio presented by The Good Doctor part 1

In anticipation and celebration of the imminent release of The Eternal Myth Revealed Vol. 1 (pre-order directly from Transparency [transparency2011@yahoo.com] for an exceptional price)!  The set is expected to ship within the next two weeks and Michael S. seemed very excited about not only the music and narration but also the fit and finish of the book / packaging.  It seems that this will truly be a landmark release for the label and a wonderful opportunity for us to listen as Sun Ra himself guides our tour of his influences and earliest recordings.

Several years ago, Arkestra member and official Sun Ra archivist, Michael D. Anderson "The Good Doctor," enhanced the ESP-Disc website with a 14-hour Sun Ra retrospective.  The Good Doctor, just as what I expect to hear from the forthcoming 14-CD Transparency Release, The Eternal Myth Revealed Vol. 1, presents a timeline of Sun Ra's career featuring both classic releases and unheard nuggets from the Archive.  The tribute is divided into 6 parts, each approximately 2 hours for a total of 14 hours of amazing information and music.  Throughout the broadcasts, Michael D. Anderson relates biographical information about Ra and shares many anecdotes of his time with the Arkestra; I find these are particularly interesting and entertaining.

A few of my favorite moments from these broadcasts have already been featured here.  You might remember Rusty Morgan's "Blame Shame" or the Arkestra's remarkable performances of Universe in Blue and I Roam the Cosmos (if you missed these, rectify!).  There are plenty more incredible rarities peppered throughout these broadcasts so stay tuned as each will be featured here over the next weeks.  Each post will feature the original master tape offered in both FLAC and 320k mp3 as well as an mp3 audio stream of the show.

MANY THANKS to our friend, I-), for sending me these wonderful recordings.

ESP Sun Ra Radio Tribute Part 1

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Part 1 Setlist

1. Introduction by the Good Doctor [Michael Anderson] (0:09)

2. Message to Earthman -- Yochannan with Sun Ra & His Arkestra (master take, no spoken intro) (2:16)

3. The Good Doctor (0:21)

4. "This is my day, a sunny day" (Sun Ra studio recitation over pre-recorded music: live Discipline 27) (4:38)

5. Sun Ra speaking (early history) (7:34)

6. The Good Doctor (intro to Wynonie Harris) (0:14)

7. Dig This Boogie -- Wynonie Harris 19460414 [RLC has March 1946] (2:27)

8. Lightning' Struck the Poorhouse -- Wynonie Harris 19460414 [RLC has March 1946] (2:39)

9. My Baby's Barrelhouse -- Wynonie Harris 19460414 [RLC has March 1946] (2:47)

10. Drinking By Myself -- Wynonie Harris 19460414 [RLC has March 1946] (2:35)

11. The Good Doctor (intro to vocal groups) (1:25)

12. He's Got Her and Gone -- Andrew Tibbs [not in RLC; Ra: prob. arr.] (3:12)

13. Holidays Are Over -- Sax Mallard's Combo [not in RLC] ( Ra: p?, prob. arr.) (3:00)

14. Big Time Baby -- The Dozier Boys & Eugene Wright [GD claims this is a Ra composition] (Ra, p., arr.) (2:16)

15. In a Traveling' Mood -- Andrew Tibbs with the Dozier Boys (Ra, p.) (2:55)

16. In Every Man's Life -- Andrew Tibbs with the Dozier Boys (Ra, p.) (3:27)

17. The Good Doctor (2:27)

18. Deep Purple -- Sun Ra & Stuff Smith [from Evidence "Sound Sun Pleasure!!"] (3:56)

19. Yesterdays [inc.] Sun Ra, p. and solovox & poss. Bill Coleman, tp. (same day as "Deep Purple," between Nov. 1948 and mid-1949) (1:01)

20. Darn That Dream -- Sun Ra, p. and solovox (same day as "Deep Purple," between Nov. 1948 and mid-1949) (5:07)

21. The Good Doctor (2:36)

22. Stop Pretty Baby Stop -- Red Saunders w/Joe Williams, voc. 19510420 (Ra, arr. only) (2:46)

23. Boot 'Em Up -- Red Saunders 19510824 (Ra, arr. only) (2:52)

24. Sugar Bounce -- Red Saunders w/Joe Williams, voc. 19510824 (Ra, arr. only) (2:28)

25. The Good Doctor (1:16)

26. Hambone (1st version) -- Red Saunders 19520118 (Ra, arr. only) (2:32)

27. Zeke'l Zeke'l -- Red Saunders 19520403 (Ra, arr. only) (2:20)

28. The Good Doctor (0:56)

29. Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie -- the Cosmic Rays [from "The Singles"] (2:58)

30. Spaceship Lullabye -- Nu Sounds (1954 or '55) [from "Spaceship Lullabye"] (2:15)

31. "Are you afraid of spaceships? Earth is a spaceship" (Sun Ra studio recitation over pre-recorded music: "Neptune") (1:15) [also on disc 2, track 11, but a bit longer there]

32. The Good Doctor (0:31)

33. The Good Doctor (0:15)

34. Sun Ra speaking ("the most neglected artist in the world") (2:55)

35. Hot Skillet Mama -- Yochannan ["The Singles"] (3:10)

36. The Good Doctor (1:43)

37. Just You Just Me -- jam session, Pershing Ballroom, Chicago, poss. 19560610. Personnel includes Ra, p; Pat Patrick, bs; Gene Ammons, ts; J.J. Johnson, tb (off-mic) (11:27)

38. The Good Doctor (0:59)

39. Bernard Stollman speaking (7:02)

40. Heliocentric [from "Heliocentric" vol. 1] (4:12)

41. "There's music everywhere" (Sun Ra studio recitation over pre-recorded music) (0:43)

42. Outer Nothingness [from "Heliocentric" vol. 1] (7:36)