Search - Sun Ra :: Interplanetary Melodies

SUN RA DOES DOO-WOP/RHYTHM & BLUES FROM THE 50'S

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 12/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One disc 39 minutes in length approximately. The sound is good,considering when and under what conditions these tracks were recorded. Be aware that this music is in mono,which gives it even more of a period feeling,but some listeners may object to listening to something so "ancient". These tracks have been remastered for best sound,but don't expect miracles. The accompanying booklet lays out a good overview of the era when this music (doo-wop/r&b) was in it's prime. It connects Sun Ra with his love of this type of music and the different groups he used for his various music projects. This is volume 1 of a 3 disc release from Norton Records.



All of these tracks are unreleased rehearsal or studio sessions from the 50's by several vocal groups,except for one track under Sun Ra's name-"Tony's Wife",a home recording featuring Ra on piano/vocal,from 1949,which was a big band hit. At the beginning of the track,if you listen closely,you can hear the sound of the elevated train rumbling past Ra's apartment. For those who have heard the 2 CD collection "The Singles" under Sun Ra's name,this is a continuation of some of the r&b/doo-wop singles heard on that collection. There is another set-"Spaceship Lullaby",that features more of this music,on the Atavistic label.



Let me repeat-this is not the "usual" Sun Ra that most people have come to appreciate. There are no free jams,no long keyboard workouts,no blazing John Gilmore solos (or anyone else for that matter) to be found here. This is straight doo-wop/rhythm and blues. There is even a delicate solo-vocal/recitation by Juanita Rogers ("Love Letters Full of Promises"),that is innocent sounding even for the era. The next track ("Teenager's Letter of Promises")has a combination of sung-vocals and recitation in a man's deep bass voice,in stark contrast to Roger's voice. For people of a certain age (like myself) this style of music will bring back memories from long ago-when this type of music was heard on any popular radio station. About the closest this music comes to sounding like a Sun Ra release most people would be familiar with,is track 9-"Africa" (which has an (slightly) extended percussion workout),by the NU SOUNDS,who went on to become the most recorded group of all Sun Ra's vocal groups. But the next track is a rehearsal by the same group-"Dabba Dabba Dabba Du Bay",written by Sun Ra,which is squarely in doo-wop territory.



Obviously this release is for Sun Ra listeners who want everything he had a hand in recording. Or for people who appreciate doo-wop from the 50's,even if some tracks are obviously rehearsal tracks. Saying that,this collection has a curious effect,knowing that Sun Ra was responsible for recording and releasing music of this type,its difficult to reconcile the Ra listeners know,and this music,which is close to polar opposite of his African/space jams. The short playing time is something else to consider. Why the folks at Norton Records didn't combine these three releases into two discs is a mystery,unless they are strictly out for the money. Too bad. But in the end this is enjoyable music from an era that will never be repeated."