Search - Sun Ra :: Rocket Ship Rock

WILD SOUL,RHYTHM AND BLUES TRACKS PRODUCED BY SUN RA

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

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One disc 41 minutes in length approximately. The sound (in mono) has been improved with remastering,but it shows it's age-it sounds like what you might hear on a radio in the 50's,a little rough,a little flat,but still enjoyable and at times,exciting. The accompanying booklet is an overview of the artists featured on this set,with a few small black and white reproductions of ads and 45 rpm labels.



This is essentially volume 3 of unreleased 50's and 60's doo-wop/r&b that Sun Ra was connected with for his own,as well as others,projects. There are no extended jams,no sax solos,no Ra keyboard workouts. The majority of tracks,by Yochanan,a "Space age Vocalist",and friend of Sun Ra's,sounds much in the same vein as Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Some of the songs are close to a science fiction theme ("Message To The Earthman #1" as an example),where Yochanan screams about taking a trip through space. Other tracks ("Hot Skillet Momma"),are pure rhythm and blues,with shouted sung/spoken vocals,and a wailing sax. Sun Ra,as most listeners are familiar with,is absent.



The other artists,such as Little Mac,sang in the r&b style of the day. Lacy Gibson,a fairly well known Chicago bluesman,recorded "I'm Gonna Unmask The Batman" in a soul style,and is heard here with Buddy Guy (who is not close enough to the mic) on guitar. This was the era when the "Batman" TV show was popular,with a short album being released with both Sun Ra and THE BLUES PROJECT in collaboration. Ebah,represented with an unissued home rehearsal recording,(also "I'm Going To Unmask The Batman"),shouts his way through this track in a manic fever. The last track is very interesting. It has Sun Ra experimenting with pre-recorded radio broadcasts,in combination with a vocal by Don Dean. "Space Stroll" is Dean singing over a radio broadcast of the song "Twine Time" by Alvin Cash-definitely way out there. Like all the previous volumes,this is for Sun Ra completists or doo-wop/r&b listeners,who aren't concerned with a few rough recording spots,or outright wackiness."