Super-Sonic Jazz is the second studio album by Sun Ra, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn Records, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s. (The other two are Jazz by Sun Ra, also released in 1957, and Jazz in Silhouette, released May 1959.)[1]
The album was retitled as Super-Sonic Sounds when it was reissued in 1974 by Impulse!, but reverted to its original title when it was released on CD by Evidence records in 1992.
Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on El Saturn Records, the label run by Sun Ra and his business partner Alton Abraham. Set up in 1955, they released their first singles, including a doo-wop group The Cosmic Rays[5] and the Arkestra's Saturn, at the beginning of 1956,[6] and had recorded the whole of their first album by the end of the year, to be released in March 1957. El Saturn is now considered, along with Charles Mingus and Max Roach’s Debut label and Harry Partch’s Gate 5 label, "one of the very first and most active artist-owned record labels."[7] Often pressed in editions of 75[8] — sometimes as few as 20 were made for specific concerts — the records would be manufactured using local black businesses, and often put together in Abraham's own home.[6] As John F. Szwed described,
El Saturn Records purchased no advertising, gave out no promotional copies for review, and no distribution channels except mail order, hand delivery to the record shops, and, in the southern tradition, sales from the bandstand after performances. An order to the El Saturn address might or might not get a response, and when a record came it might be a different one than ordered (a 1971 Saturn price list asked orderers to list five alternatives), or arrive months later.[9]
Recordingedit
The album was primarily recorded between September and October of 1956,[1] with a handful of tracks recorded prior to the Jazz by Sun Ra sessions used to fill out the album.
Track listingedit
All tracks are written by Sun Ra except where noted. All tracks recorded from September - October 1956 except where noted
Art Hoyle – Trumpet, Percussion on all tracks except 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
Pat Patrick – Alto Sax on all tracks except 'Springtime in Chicago,' 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics', Percussion on all tracks except 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics',
John Gilmore – Tenor Sax on all tracks except 'Springtime in Chicago', Percussion on all tracks except 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
Charles Davis – Baritone Sax & Percussion on all tracks except 'Springtime in Chicago', 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
Victor Sproles – Bass on all tracks except 'Springtime in Chicago', 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
William Cochran – Drums on all tracks except 'Springtime in Chicago', 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
Jim Herndon – Tympani & Percussion on tracks except 'Springtime in Chicago'
Guestsedit
Julian Priester – Trombone on 'Springtime in Chicago,' 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
Wilburn Green – Electric Bass on 'Springtime in Chicago,' 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
Robert Barry – Drums on 'Springtime in Chicago,' 'Super Blonde', 'Soft Talk', 'Medicine for a Nightmare', and 'Advice to Medics'
James Scales – Alto Sax & Percussion on 'Springtime in Chicago'
Mixed at RCA studios, Chicago, February 14, 1957, and released in March with an initial pressing of 500.[1]
^Talk, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Campbell, 1995 retrieved 31-07-09
^Szwed, John F., "Space is the Place", Mojo, 2000, p. 170
External linksedit
Complete Sun Ra's Discography
An Essay by John Corbett on Ra's Saturn label
Pathways to Unknown Worlds: Sun Ra, El Saturn & Chicago's Afro-Futurist Underground, 1954-68, an exhibition about early Saturn activities
A Review of Pathways to Unknown Worlds exhibition
Saturn record catalogues from 1967 and 1969
December 18, 2023
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Super Sonic Jazz is the second studio album by Sun Ra recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios Chicago Super Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn Records the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s The other two are Jazz by Sun Ra also released in 1957 and Jazz in Silhouette released May 1959 1 Super Sonic JazzStudio album by Sun Ra and his ArkestraReleasedMarch 1957 1 RecordedApril 13 October 1956 ChicagoGenreJazzLength49 31LabelSaturnImpulse RecordsEvidenceProducerAlton AbrahamSun Ra and his Arkestra chronologyJazz by Sun Ra 1956 Super Sonic Jazz 1957 Jazz in Silhouette 1959 Sun Ra recording chronologyJazz by Sun Ra 1956 Super Sonic Jazz 1956 Sound of Joy 1956 Reissue coverImpulse reissue 1974Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 2 The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings 4 Rolling Stone 3 The album was retitled as Super Sonic Sounds when it was reissued in 1974 by Impulse but reverted to its original title when it was released on CD by Evidence records in 1992 Contents 1 Background 1 1 El Saturn Records 1 2 Recording 2 Track listing 3 Musicians 3 1 Guests 4 References 5 External linksBackground editEl Saturn Records edit Super Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on El Saturn Records the label run by Sun Ra and his business partner Alton Abraham Set up in 1955 they released their first singles including a doo wop group The Cosmic Rays 5 and the Arkestra s Saturn at the beginning of 1956 6 and had recorded the whole of their first album by the end of the year to be released in March 1957 El Saturn is now considered along with Charles Mingus and Max Roach s Debut label and Harry Partch s Gate 5 label one of the very first and most active artist owned record labels 7 Often pressed in editions of 75 8 sometimes as few as 20 were made for specific concerts the records would be manufactured using local black businesses and often put together in Abraham s own home 6 As John F Szwed described El Saturn Records purchased no advertising gave out no promotional copies for review and no distribution channels except mail order hand delivery to the record shops and in the southern tradition sales from the bandstand after performances An order to the El Saturn address might or might not get a response and when a record came it might be a different one than ordered a 1971 Saturn price list asked orderers to list five alternatives or arrive months later 9 Recording edit The album was primarily recorded between September and October of 1956 1 with a handful of tracks recorded prior to the Jazz by Sun Ra sessions used to fill out the album Track listing editAll tracks are written by Sun Ra except where noted All tracks recorded from September October 1956 except where notedSide OneNo TitleWriter s Recording DateLength1 India 4 472 Sunology 5 393 Advice To Medics June 16 19562 014 Super Blonde June 16 19562 315 Soft Talk Julian PriesterJune 16 19562 406 Sunology Part II 7 03Total length 24 41Side TwoNo TitleRecording DateLength7 Kingdom Of Not 5 268 Portrait Of The Living Sky 1 489 Blues At Midnight 6 3010 El Is A Sound Of Joy 3 5511 Springtime In Chicago April 13 19563 5012 Medicine For A Nightmare June 16 19562 23Total length 23 52Musicians edit nbsp The Arkestra in an unidentified club late 1955 or 1956 l r Sun Ra Richard Evans Robert Barry John Gilmore amp Pat PatrickSun Ra Piano Electric Piano Space Gong on all tracks except Springtime in Chicago Art Hoyle Trumpet Percussion on all tracks except Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Pat Patrick Alto Sax on all tracks except Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Percussion on all tracks except Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics John Gilmore Tenor Sax on all tracks except Springtime in Chicago Percussion on all tracks except Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Charles Davis Baritone Sax amp Percussion on all tracks except Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Victor Sproles Bass on all tracks except Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics William Cochran Drums on all tracks except Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Jim Herndon Tympani amp Percussion on tracks except Springtime in Chicago Guests edit Julian Priester Trombone on Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Wilburn Green Electric Bass on Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics Robert Barry Drums on Springtime in Chicago Super Blonde Soft Talk Medicine for a Nightmare and Advice to Medics James Scales Alto Sax amp Percussion on Springtime in Chicago Mixed at RCA studios Chicago February 14 1957 and released in March with an initial pressing of 500 1 References edit a b c d From Sunny Blount to Sun Ra R Campbell Wynn Ron Super Sonic Jazz Allmusic Review AllMusic Swenson John March 4 1993 Review Super Sonic Jazz Rolling Stone Retrieved on 2010 10 10 Cook Richard Morton Brian 2008 The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings 9th ed Penguin p 1355 ISBN 978 0 141 03401 0 Szwed John F Space is the Place Mojo 2000 p 152 a b John Corbett Archived June 2 2009 at the Wayback Machine Hyde Park Art Center Chicago Talk Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Campbell 1995 retrieved 31 07 09 Szwed John F Space is the Place Mojo 2000 p 170External links editComplete Sun Ra s Discography An Essay by John Corbett on Ra s Saturn label Pathways to Unknown Worlds Sun Ra El Saturn amp Chicago s Afro Futurist Underground 1954 68 an exhibition about early Saturn activities A Review of Pathways to Unknown Worlds exhibition Saturn record catalogues from 1967 and 1969 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Super Sonic Jazz amp oldid 1184976431, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
