2nd Chance: Sun Ra - Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Stars That Shine Darkly Vol. 2)

Third of the list of hybrid versions of Stars That Shine Darkly, Outer Reach Intensity-Energy is a mysterious and remarkable album.  Side A contains Ra compositions unheard (or at least rarely heard) elsewhere, from live performances of the late 1970s and early 1980s; Side B is comprised of the amazing Sun Ra All-Stars performance "Stars That Shine Darkly vol. 2" of late 1983. 

415. [309]  Sun Ra

Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (org); Ahmed Abdullah (tp -1); Michael Ray (tp); unidentified (tp); Marshall Allen (as); poss. Danny Davis (as); John Gilmore (ts); Eloe Omoe (as, bcl, cacl); James Jacson (bsn, Inf-d); Danny Ray Thompson (libf -2; bars); unidentified (d); unidentified (d).

Live performances, 1976-1984

          Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Ra)
          Cosmos Rendezvous (Ra) -1
          Barbizon (Ra)
          The Double That… (Ra)
          The Ever Is… (Ra) -2

Saturn Gemini 9-1213-85, titled Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 2 or Outer Reach Intensity-Energy, was released in 1985 (mastered on September 13, 1985, according to the Variety Recording Studio log).  The tracks on Side A appear to have been recorded at several live performances in 1984.  The lineup does not correspond with any of the European tours, and in the United States, Ahmed Abdullah would have played only in the New York area.  It is not clear when Michael Ray would have worked with the Arkestra either (John Gilmore stated in an interview on October 13, 1984, that Ray had not worked with the Arkestra since early 1983; see Sun Ra Research #7).  Personnel identified by rlc with help from ct.

Chris Trent now suggests that these tracks were cut at various concerts in the late 1970s.  If "Outer Reach" includes Danny Davis on alto sax, as ct suggests, that would argue strongly in favor of 1978 or earlier.  the material with Abdullah could also come from 1975-1978.  Further research needed …

Cosmic Rendezvous

400. [297]  Sun Ra All Stars

Stars that Shine Darkly /
Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, EVI, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Archie Shepp (ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).

Montreux, Switzerland
between November 2 and 5, 1883

          Stars That Shine Darkly…
          (Ra) (part 1)
          Stars That Shine Darkly…
          (Ra) (part 2)

"Stars that Shine Darkly part 1" was first released in 1985 on Side A of the Saturn LP 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 1.  This album has also been titled Hiroshima.  "Stars that Shine Darkly parrot 2" was first released in 1985 on Side B of the Saturn Gemini LP 9-1213-85, Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2, also titled Outer Reach Intensity-Energy.  Mark Webber points out that there is also a hybrid Stars That Shine Darkly album with part 1 on Side A and part 2 on Side B.  Date and location from Ted Panken on a WKCR-FM broadcast.  Presence of Omoe noted by ct; Danny Ray Thompson confirms that Ra "augmented" the All-Stars on a couple of occasions.

from Campbell / Trent  The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

 Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Stars That Shine Darkly Vol. 2)

1. Outer Reach Intensity-Energy   4:07
2. Cosmos Rendezvous   4:31
3. Barbizon   4:01
4. The Double That...   5:02
5. The Ever Is...   4:05

6. Stars That Shine Darkly   23:27


Many thanks to Zyxirion for sharing his FLAC rip with us.

-FLAC-
RS
HF

or

-320-
RS
HF




And Otherness:

Hiroshima (Stars That Shine Darkly)

&

Stars That Shine Darkly (hybrid)

2nd Chance: Sun Ra - Stars That Shine Darkly (1985)

In 1983 Ra came to Europe with a pretty impressive ensemble - from the Arkestra he brought Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Richard Davis and Clifford Jarvis, then adding all-star guests Lester Bowie, Archie Shepp, Don Moye and Philly Joe Jones. The sound is generally good and there is a lot of variety in the material across the shows. More importantly, these concerts are different in character and style from regular Arkestra performances - in a very interesting way. It's a smallish ensemble and every detail counts, the two extra drummers Philly Joe Jones and Don Moye drive a lot of the material in their own way, and this very classy ensemble mutates to the accommodation of different languages with great success. The Arkestra alumni also flourish in this changed environment.
from an rermegacorp blurb

This ensemble was first heard on record on Sun Ra's LP Hiroshima (also released under the title Stars That Shine Darkly volume 1).  Two hybrid versions were also released shortly after. Stars That Shine Darkly is a hybrid featuring the two compositions featuring this same title.  Outer Reach Intensity-Energy is the 2nd hybrid release which includes Stars that Shine Darkly volume 2 as Side B and a collection of live material recorded during the 1970's and early 1980s making up Side A. 

Many thanks to Paul W for sharing his rip of this rare hybrid.

400. [297] Sun Ra All Stars

Stars that Shine Darkly /
Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob, EVI); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Archie Shepp (ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).

Montreux, Switzerland,
between November 2 and 5, 1983

"Stars that Shine Darkly part 1" was first released in 1985 on Side A of the Saturn LP 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 1.  This album has also been titled Hiroshima.  "Stars that Shine Darkly part 2" was first released in 1985 on Side B of the Saturn Gemini LP 9-1213-85, Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2, also titled Outer Reach Intensity-Energy.  Mark Webber points out that there is also a hybrid Stars That Shine Darkly album with part 1 on Side A and part 2 on Side B.  Date and location from Ted Panken on a WKCR-FM broadcast.  Presence of Omoe noted by ct; Danny Ray Thompson confirms that Ra "augmented" the All-Stars on a couple of occasions.
from Campbell / Trent  The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Stars that Shine Darkly volume 2

Sun Ra All Stars

Stars That Shine Darkly

(hybrid)

1. Stars that Shine Darkly   14:23
2. Stars that Shine Darkly volume 2   23:05

-FLAC-

RS

HF

or

-320-

RS

HF

2nd Chance: Sun Ra - Hiroshima (1985)

Performed almost solo by Sun Ra (save the occasional selected percussion effects and bird calls) on an Atlanta theatre pipe organ, the haunting title track is every bit as dark, reflective and epic a lament as its title suggests. While Hiroshima very much feels like a standalone piece, Stars That Shine Darkly is equally fascinating, but for very different reasons. Recorded live in Montreux in November 1983 and featuring the Sun Ra All Stars who, besides Arkestra mainstays John Gilmore and Marshall Allen, also include the interstellar talents of Archie Shepp, Don Cherry and Lester Bowie, Stars That Shine Darkly catches the ensemble in heavyweight improvisatory mood.

Part revelatory listening experience, part hair-raising journey to the outer limits of the known jazz universe, the album feels much longer than its 29- minute playing time, thanks to the sheer diversity and scope of the ideas so dazzlingly compressed into its two wildly contrasting tracks.
reviewed by Grahame Bent

Hiroshima (Sun Ra)

400. [297] Sun Ra All Stars

Stars that Shine Darkly /
Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob, EVI); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Archie Shepp (ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).

Montreux, Switzerland,
between November 2 and 5, 1983

"Stars that Shine Darkly part 1" was first released in 1985 on Side A of the Saturn LP 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 1.  This album has also been titled Hiroshima.  "Stars that Shine Darkly part 2" was first released in 1985 on Side B of the Saturn Gemini LP 9-1213-85, Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2, also titled Outer Reach Intensity-Energy.  Mark Webber points out that there is also a hybrid Stars That Shine Darkly album with part 1 on Side A and part 2 on Side B.  Date and location from Ted Panken on a WKCR-FM broadcast.  Presence of Omoe noted by ct; Danny Ray Thompson confirms that Ra "augmented" the All-Stars on a couple of occasions.

Stars that Shine Darkly (Sun Ra All-Stars)

416. [298]  Sun Ra

Stars That Shine Darkly

Sum Ra (pipe org).

Atlanta, GA, 1984 or 1985

Hiroshima (Ra)
unidentified titles (unissued)

Saturn 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly, was released in 1985.  It is sometimes titled Hiroshima.  "Hiroshima" appeared on Side B.  In the first edition of this discography [Earthly Recordings vol. 1], this piece was said to have been recorded on the same European tour as the All Stars material.  However, in a conversation with Peter Hinds on Feb. 14, 1986, Sun Ra alluded to the existence of additional material from this performance, as well as an unissued video by Danny Ray Thompson.  Peter Hinds refers to "the thing in Atlanta, Ga, with the organ."  According to John and Peter Hinds, the organ was located in a large theater in Atlanta.  The exact date is not known, but the Arkestra was in Atlanta on October 26, 1984 and again on January 1, 1985.

From The Earthly Recordings of Sun Ra 2nd ed.

 

 

Hiroshima
Art Yard Stereo LP 2007

1. Hiroshima   14:33
2. Stars that Shine Darkly   14:15

Files include a rip I received through the Sun Ra Trading Group
of Saturn 10-11-85 (1985)

-FLAC-

RS

HF

or

-320-

RS

HF

 

original post

Sun Ra - Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Stars That Shine Darkly Vol. 2)

Third of the list of hybrid versions of Stars That Shine Darkly, Outer Reach Intensity-Energy is a mysterious and remarkable album.  Side A contains Ra compositions unheard (or at least rarely heard) elsewhere, from live performances of the late 1970s and early 1980s; Side B is comprised of the amazing Sun Ra All-Stars performance "Stars That Shine Darkly vol. 2" of late 1983. 

415. [309]  Sun Ra

Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (org); Ahmed Abdullah (tp -1); Michael Ray (tp); unidentified (tp); Marshall Allen (as); poss. Danny Davis (as); John Gilmore (ts); Eloe Omoe (as, bcl, cacl); James Jacson (bsn, Inf-d); Danny Ray Thompson (libf -2; bars); unidentified (d); unidentified (d).

Live performances, 1976-1984

          Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Ra)
          Cosmos Rendezvous (Ra) -1
          Barbizon (Ra)
          The Double That… (Ra)
          The Ever Is… (Ra) -2

Saturn Gemini 9-1213-85, titled Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 2 or Outer Reach Intensity-Energy, was released in 1985 (mastered on September 13, 1985, according to the Variety Recording Studio log).  The tracks on Side A appear to have been recorded at several live performances in 1984.  The lineup does not correspond with any of the European tours, and in the United States, Ahmed Abdullah would have played only in the New York area.  It is not clear when Michael Ray would have worked with the Arkestra either (John Gilmore stated in an interview on October 13, 1984, that Ray had not worked with the Arkestra since early 1983; see Sun Ra Research #7).  Personnel identified by rlc with help from ct.

Chris Trent now suggests that these tracks were cut at various concerts in the late 1970s.  If "Outer Reach" includes Danny Davis on alto sax, as ct suggests, that would argue strongly in favor of 1978 or earlier.  the material with Abdullah could also come from 1975-1978.  Further research needed …

400. [297]  Sun Ra All Stars

Stars that Shine Darkly /
Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, EVI, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Archie Shepp (ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).

Montreux, Switzerland
between November 2 and 5, 1883

          Stars That Shine Darkly…
          (Ra) (part 1)
          Stars That Shine Darkly…
          (Ra) (part 2)

"Stars that Shine Darkly part 1" was first released in 1985 on Side A of the Saturn LP 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 1.  This album has also been titled Hiroshima.  "Stars that Shine Darkly parrot 2" was first released in 1985 on Side B of the Saturn Gemini LP 9-1213-85, Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2, also titled Outer Reach Intensity-Energy.  Mark Webber points out that there is also a hybrid Stars That Shine Darkly album with part 1 on Side A and part 2 on Side B.  Date and location from Ted Panken on a WKCR-FM broadcast.  Presence of Omoe noted by ct; Danny Ray Thompson confirms that Ra "augmented" the All-Stars on a couple of occasions.

-from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

 Outer Reach Intensity-Energy (Stars That Shine Darkly Vol. 2)

1. Outer Reach Intensity-Energy   4:07
2. Cosmos Rendezvous   4:31
3. Barbizon   4:01
4. The Double That...   5:02
5. The Ever Is...   4:05

6. Stars That Shine Darkly   23:27


Many thanks to Zyxirion for sharing his FLAC rip with us.

FLAC

or

320




And Otherness:

Hiroshima (Stars That Shine Darkly)

& 
Stars That Shine Darkly (hybrid) 

Sun Ra - Hiroshima (1985)

I hope you've been enjoying the Solo Piano LPs.  Because the solo posts are now complete, I thought a suitable segue back to The Mighty Arkestra might be an LP that is nearly solo (pipe organ + a li'l bit o' percussion) on one side and the Sun Ra All Stars on the other.  I have two rips for you today: the first is courtesy of Paul W. from his original LP; You might notice a bit of 'radio music concrete' on Side A on this version that does not appear on the 2nd offering - my Art Yard LP rip (but not my scans).  Curious difference, no?

Hiroshima (Stars That Shine Darkly)
Sun Ra (pipe org).
Atlanta, GA, 1984 or 1985

Stars That Shine Darkly vol. 1
Sun Ra All Stars

Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob, EVI); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Archie Shepp (ts, ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).

 

Saturn 10-11-85, Stars That Shine Darkly, was released in 1985.  It is sometimes titled Hiroshima.  "Hiroshima" appeared on Side B.  In the first edition of this discography [Earthly Recordings vol. 1], this piece was said to have been recorded on the same European tour as the All Stars material.  However, in a conversation with Peter Hinds on Feb. 14, 1986, Sun Ra alluded to the existence of additional material from this performance, as well as an unissued video by Danny Ray Thompson.  Peter Hinds refers to "the thing in Atlanta, Ga, with the organ."  According to John and Peter Hinds, the organ was located in a large theater in Atlanta.  The exact date is not known, but the Arkestra was in Atlanta on October 26, 1984 and again on January 1, 1985.

From The Earthly Recordings of Sun Ra 2nd ed.

Hiroshima (Stars That Shine Darkly)

1. Stars that shine darkly (part 1)    14:50
2. Hiroshima    15:05

 

Paul W. Original LP Rip

FLAC

or

320k

 

Art Yard LP Rip

 FLAC

or

320k

Sun Ra - Stars That Shine Darkly (1985)

Sun Ra All Stars recorded Montreux, Switzerland between November 2 and 5, 1983
"Stars that Shine Darkly part 1" was first released in 1985 on Side A of the Saturn LP 10-11-85. Stars That Shine Darkly Volume 1. This album has also been titled Hiroshima. "Stars that Shine Darkly part 2" was first released in 1985 on Side B of the Saturn Gemini LP 9-1213-85, Stars that Shine Darkly Volume 2, also titled Outer Reach Intensity-Energy. Mark Webber points out that there is also a hybrid Stars That Shine Darkly album with part 1 on Side A and part 2 on Side B. Date and location from Ted Panken on WKCR-FM broadcast. Presence of Omoe noted by Chris Trent; Danny Ray Thompson confirms that Ra "augmented" the All-Stars on a couple of occasions.

According to Danny Ray Thompson, the All Star tour lasted about a week [it must have been closer to two weeks], during which time the rest of the Arkestra stayed in Paris. The Arkestra re-formed in Brussels to continue the tour. Thompson says both Arkestra and All-Stars played in Nancy and Brussels, but on different nights.


From The Earthly Recordings of Sun Ra 2nd ed.

Sun Ra All Stars
Sun Ra (p, syn, voc); Don Cherry (pocket tp); Eloe Omoe (cacl); Lester Bowie (tp); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob, EVI); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Archie Shepp (ts, ss); Richard Davis (b); Clifford Jarvis (d); Philly Joe Jones (d); Famoudou Don Moye (d, Sun Percussion).




Stars That Shine Darkly
hybrid version LP rip

1. Stars that shine darkly vol. 1 14:23
2. Stars that shine darkly vol. 2 23:05

FLAC
or
320k

Many thanks to Paul W for this fantastic rarity!