The Sun Ra discography is one of the largest discographies in music history.[1] [2] Jazz keyboardist, bandleader and composer Sun Ra recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1,000 songs, and making him one of the most prolific recording artists of the 20th century.[3]
His own El Saturn Records albums were usually printed in editions of 75 copies per album, and were sold primarily at live performances. Many of Sun Ra's early albums were recorded at home by Ra himself on wire or early tape recorders, and are decidedly lo-fi. Despite the technological limitations, Ra used some innovative recording techniques, and these recordings provided an unprecedented level of documentation, and were inspirational in showing how artists could take control of production and distribution of their works.
Prior to the 1970s, most of these albums were produced in Chicago through the "El Saturn Records Research" enterprise established by Ra and his colleague Alton Abraham, while later El Saturn Records were produced in Philadelphia. A batch of the most significant recordings were licensed to Impulse! Records in the mid-1970s. They were not as successful as hoped, and were deleted from the Impulse catalog, becoming available around the world as inexpensive "cut-outs" and making the music more widely available.
Most El Saturn Records were hand-decorated by Arkestra members,[4] and these LP records sometimes sell for high prices among collectors. These El Saturn Records releases, dating from the 1950s to at least the late 1980s, typically had little or no information as to performers or recording dates, and sometimes didn't even list the songs on the album, often pressing one LP side from one era with another from a different decade, leading to some confusion among completists and fans.
After Sun Ra's death, many of his recordings were released on compact disc for the first time by Evidence Records, Ihnfinity Music, ESP Disk / ZYX Music, or Impulse!. As is the case with an artist whose output is so extensive, there is quite a bit of debate regarding his "best" albums. Of all these recordings, many critics and enthusiasts feel that the 1959 big band album Jazz In Silhouette is the best entry-point into his work,[5] with The Penguin Guide to Jazz naming the album as part of a recommended "Core Collection" for any serious jazz fan and as "one of the most important jazz records since World War II."[6]
| 1957 | Jazz by Sun Ra (aka Sun Song) | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Transition | |
| Super-Sonic Jazz (aka Super-Sonic Sounds) | Le Sun Ra and His Arkestra | El Saturn | ||
| 1959 | Jazz in Silhouette | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | ||
| 1962 | The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra (aka We are in the Future) | Savoy Records | ||
| 1963 | When Sun Comes Out | Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra | El Saturn | |
| 1965 | The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One | Sun Ra and His Solar Arkestra | ESP-Disk | |
| The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two | ||||
| 1966 | The Magic City | El Saturn | ||
| 1967 | Strange Strings | Sun Ra and His Astro-Infinity Arkestra | ||
| 1968 | Monorails and Satellites | Sun Ra | ||
| 1969 | Atlantis | Sun Ra and His Astro-Infinity Arkestra | ||
| 1970 | My Brother the Wind | |||
| The Night of the Purple Moon | Sun Ra | |||
| 1971 | My Brother the Wind Volume II (Otherness) | Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra | ||
| 1972 | Solar Myth Approach Vols 1+2 | Sun Ra and His Solar Myth Arkestra | BYG Actuel | |
| 1973 | Astro Black | Sun Ra | Impulse! | |
| Space Is the Place | Blue Thumb Records | |||
| Discipline 27 | Sun Ra and His Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra | El Saturn | ||
| 1975 | Pathways to Unknown Worlds | Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra | Impulse! | |
| 1976 | Cosmos | Sun Ra | Cobra | |
| 1977 | Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue | El Saturn | ||
| Solo Piano | Improvising Artists | |||
| 1978 | New Steps | Sun Ra Quartet | Horo | |
| Other Voices, Other Blues | ||||
| Visions | Sun Ra and Walt Dickerson | SteepleChase Records | ||
| Lanquidity | Sun Ra | Philly Jazz | ||
| 1979 | The Other Side of the Sun | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Sweet Earth Records | |
| God Is More than Love Can Ever Be | Sun Ra Trio | Saturn 72579 | ||
| Omniverse | Sun Ra | El Saturn | ||
| Sun Ra and His Arkestra | ||||
| Sleeping Beauty (aka Door of the Cosmos) | ||||
| 1981 | Aurora Borealis | Sun Ra | El Saturn 10480 | |
| 1983 | A Fireside Chat with Lucifer | Sun Ra and His Outer Space Arkestra | Saturn Research B1984SG-9 | |
| 1984 | Celestial Love | El Saturn 19842 | ||
| Nuclear War | Sun Ra Arkestra | Y Records | ||
| 1987 | Reflections in Blue | Black Saint | ||
| Hours After | ||||
| 1988 | Hidden Fire 2 | Sun Ra | Saturn 13088A / 12988B | |
| Hidden Fire 1 | Saturn 13188III / 12988II | |||
| 1989 | Blue Delight | A&M Records | ||
| 1990 | Mayan Temples | Sun Ra Arkestra | Black Saint |
| Released | Title | Recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Angels and Demons at Play | 1960 |
| Fate In A Pleasant Mood | ||
| Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow | 1962 | |
| Secrets of the Sun | ||
| 1966 | Visits Planet Earth | 1958 |
| The Nubians of Plutonia (aka The Lady with the Golden Stockings) | 1959 | |
| Interstellar Low Ways (aka Rocket Number Nine) | 1960 | |
| When Angels Speak of Love | 1963 | |
| Other Planes of There | 1964 | |
| 1967 | We Travel the Space Ways | 1961 |
| Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy | 1963 | |
| 1968 | Sound of Joy | 1956 |
| 1970 | Sound Sun Pleasure!! | 1959 |
| Holiday For Soul Dance | 1960 | |
| Continuation | 1968 | |
| 1972 | Bad and Beautiful | 1961 |
| 1973 | Deep Purple aka Dreams Come True) | 1973–1953 |
| 1974 | Monorails and Satellites Vol. 2 | 1966 |
| The Invisible Shield (aka Janus, A Tonal View of Times Tomorrow, Vol. 2, Satellites are Outerspace) | 1970–1962 | |
| (aka A Tonal View of Times Tomorrow, Vol. 1) | 1969–1970 | |
| 1975 | What's New? | 1962 |
| Pathways to Unknown Worlds | 1973 | |
| 1980 | Strange Celestial Road | 1979 |
| 1989 | 1970–1961 | |
| 1990 | Purple Night | 1989 |
| 1993 | Soundtrack to the Film Space Is the Place | 1972 |
| Somewhere Else | 1989 |
| Recorded | Album | Artist | Release date & notes | Original Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Blue York | Sun Ra | 2014 as a bonus disc for the Continuation album re-release and 2016 as the Blue York Album. Previously unreleased recording from 1963[7] | Jeanne Dielman |
| 1965 | Heliocentric Worlds Vol. 3 (The Lost Tapes) | Sun Ra | 2005. Previously unreleased recording from the Heliocentric Worlds Volume II sessions[8] | ESP Disk |
| 1965 | Other Strange Worlds | Sun Ra And His Astro-Infinity Arkestra | 2014. Previously unreleased recording made in Sun Ra's apartment in New York City[9] | Roaratorio |
| 1966 | Thunder of the Gods | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | 2017. Previously unreleased live and studio recordings[10] | Modern Harmonic |
| 1968–1969 | Sun Embassy | Sun Ra And His Astro-Ihnfinity Arkestra | 2018. Archival recordings from the Sun Ra Philadelphia house, Sun Studios, from May 1968 to October 1969[11] | Roaratorio |
| 1969 | The Intergalactic Thing | Sun Ra And His Astro-Ihnfinity Arkestra | 2016. A dozen previously unreleased recordings from rehearsals at the Sun Ra Philadelphia house[12] | Roaratorio |
| 1973 | Crystal Spears | Sun Ra | 2000. Previously unreleased album which was planned for release and shelved by Impulse! in the 1970s[13] | Evidence |
| 1973 | Cymbals | Sun Ra | 2000. Previously unreleased album which was planned for release and shelved by Impulse! in the 1970s | Evidence |
| 1973 | Friendly Love | Sun Ra | 2000. Previously unreleased album which was planned for release and shelved by Impulse! in the 1970s | Evidence |
| 1973 | Sign Of The Myth | Sun Ra And His Astro-Infinity Arkestra | 2014. Previously unreleased Impulse! recordings from the Pathways To Unknown Worlds sessions[14] | Roaratorio |
| 1974 | Dance of the Living Image: The Lost Reel Collection Volume 4 | Sun Ra | 2007. Previously unreleased reel-to-reel rehearsal sessions made in San Francisco[15] | Transparency |
| Recorded | Released | Album | Credited artist | Original label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2002 | Music from Tomorrow's World: Chicago 1960 | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Atavistic |
| 1964-12-31 | 1976 | Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold (aka Judson Hall, New York, December 31, 1964) | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | El Saturn Records |
| 1966-05 | 1970 | Nothing Is | Sun Ra | ESP-Disk |
| 1966 | 1971 | (aka Outer Spaceways Incorporated) | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Black Lion Records |
| 1970-08-03/05 | 1971 | Nuits de la Fondation Maeght | Sun Ra Arkestra | Shandar |
| 1970-10-17/11-07 | 1970 | It's After the End of the World | Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Research Arkestra | MPS |
| 1970 | Black Myth/Out in Space | Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Research Arkestra | Motor Music | |
| 1971 | Nidhamu | Sun Ra and His Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra | El Saturn | |
| 1971 | Live in Egypt 1 | Sun Ra and His Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra | El Saturn | |
| 1971 | Horizon | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | El Saturn | |
| 1971 | The Paris Tapes - Live at Le Theatre Du Chatlet 1971 | Sun Ra and His Mythic Science Arkestra | Kindred Spirits / Art Yard | |
| 1973 | 1999 | Outer Space Employment Agency | Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Arkestra | Total Energy |
| 1973 | What Planet Is This? | Sun Ra and His Space Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1973 | Concert for the Comet Kohoutek | Sun Ra | ESP-Disk | |
| 1973 | Live in Paris at the "Gibus" | Sun Ra | Atlantic Records | |
| 1973 | Planets Of Life Or Death: Amiens '73 | Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Research Arkestra | Strut | |
| 1974 | Out Beyond the Kingdom Of | Sun Ra and His Outer Space Arkestra | El Saturn 61674 | |
| 1974 | The Antique Blacks | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn 81774 | |
| 1974 | Sub Underground | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn 92074 | |
| 1976 | Live at Montreux | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Inner City Records | |
| 1976 | A Quiet Place in the Universe | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1977 | Taking a Chance on Chances | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn | |
| 1977 | Somewhere Over the Rainbow | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn | |
| 1977 | The Soul Vibrations of Man | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn | |
| 1977 | St. Louis Blues (solo piano) | Sun Ra | Improvising Artists | |
| 1977 | Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn | |
| 1977 | Solo Piano Recital Teatro La Fenice | Sun Ra | Leo | |
| 1977 | Unity | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Horo | |
| 1978 | Springtime in Chicago | The Sun Ra Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1978 | Disco 3000 | Sun Ra Quartet | El Saturn | |
| 1978 | Media Dreams | Sun Ra Quartet | El Saturn | |
| 1978 | The Sound Mirror | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | El Saturn | |
| 1979 | Of Mythic Worlds | Sun Ra | Philly Jazz[16] | |
| 1979 | I, Pharaoh | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | El Saturn 6680[17] | |
| 1979[18] | Live from Soundscape | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | DIW Records | |
| 1980 | Sunrise in Different Dimensions | The Sun Ra Arkestra | Hathut Records | |
| 1980 | The Complete Detroit Jazz Center Residency | Sun Ra And The Omniverse Jet Set Arkestra Limited issue of 500 copies, 28-CD Box Set | Transparency | |
| 1981 | Beyond the Purple Star Zone | Sun Ra And His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra | El Saturn 123180 | |
| 1981 | Dance of Innocent Passion | Sun Ra | El Saturn | |
| 1982 | Oblique Parallax | primarily Sun Ra on keyboard | El Saturn SR72881 | |
| 1983 | The Sun Ra Arkestra Meets Salah Ragab In Egypt | The Sun Ra Arkestra / Salah Ragab / The Cairo Jazz Band | Leo | |
| 1983 | Love in Outer Space | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1983 | Hiroshima | The Sun Ra All Stars Band | Art Yard Records | |
| 1984 | Cosmo Sun Connection | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Saturn/ Recommended Records | |
| 1984 | Live at Praxis '84 | The Sun Ra Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1985 | Live at Club Lingerie | The Sun Ra Arkestra | Transparency | |
| 1985 | Live at Myron's Ballroom | The Sun Ra Arkestra | Transparency | |
| 1986 | A Night in East Berlin | Sun Ra and His Cosmo Discipline Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1987 | John Cage Meets Sun Ra | Sun Ra and John Cage | Meltdown | |
| 1988[19] | Cosmo Omnibus Imagiable Illusion | Sun Ra Arkestra | DIW | |
| 1989 | Second Star to the Right (Salute to Walt Disney) | Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1989 | Stardust from Tomorrow | Sun Ra & His Intergalaxtic Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1990 | Live in London 1990 | Sun Ra and His Year 2000 Myth Science Arkestra | Blast First | |
| 1990 | Live at the Hackney Empire | Sun Ra And The Year 2000 Myth Science Arkestra | Leo | |
| 1990 | Pleiades[20] | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Leo Records | |
| 1991 | At the Village Vanguard | Sun Ra Sextet | Rounder | |
| 1991 | 1993 | Friendly Galaxy | Sun Ra Arkestra | Leo |
| 1991-04-20 | 2016-11-25 | At Inter-Media Arts, April 1991 | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Modern Harmonic |
| 1992 | Destination Unknown | Sun Ra & His Omniverse Arkestra | Enja Records | |
| Recorded | Released | Album | Credited artist | Original Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956–1973 | 2000 | Greatest Hits: Easy Listening for Intergalactic Travel | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Evidence |
| 1970-10-17/1970-11-07 | 1998 | Black Myth/Out in Space | Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Research Arkestra | MPS Records/Motor Music |
| 2007 | The Creator of the Universe (Lost Reel: Volume 1) | Sun Ra | Transparency | |
| 2007 | Intergalactic Research (Lost Reel: Volume 2) | Sun Ra | Transparency | |
| 2007 | The Shadows Took Shape (Lost Reel: Volume 3) | Sun Ra | Transparency | |
| 2007 | Dance of the Living Image (Lost Reel: Volume 4) | Sun Ra | Transparency | |
| 2009 | Interplanetary Melodies | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Norton | |
| 2009 | The Second Stop Is Jupiter | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Norton | |
| 2009 | Rocket Ship Rock | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Norton | |
| 2014 | In the Orbit of Ra[21] | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Strut | |
| 2015 | To Those of Earth... And Other Worlds | Sun Ra and His Arkestra | Strut | |
| 1952–1961 | 2016-11-25 | Singles: The Definitive 45s Collection, Vol. 1—1952–1961 | Sun Ra | Strut |
| 1958–1985 | 2018-03-27 | The Space Age Is Here To Stay | Sun Ra and His Interplanetary Vocal Arkestra | Modern Harmonic/Sundazed Music |
| Recorded | Album | Credited artist | Original Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954–1960 | Spaceship Lullaby: Chicago 1954-60 | Sun Ra/the Vocal Groups featuring Nu Sounds, the Unitels & the Cosmic Rays | Atavistic |
| 1966 | Impressions of a Patch of Blue | Walt Dickerson Quartet with Sun Ra on harpsichord | MGM |
| 1966 | Batman and Robin - The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale | Uncredited, but featuring Sun Ra & members of the Arkestra and the Blues Project | Tifton |
| 1968 | A Black Mass | Imamu Amiri Baraka with Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra | Jihad Productions[22] |
| 1988 | Sun Ra & His Arkestra perform "Pink Elephants On Parade" from Dumbo | A&M Records | |
| 1992 | A Tribute to Stuff Smith | Billy Bang with Sun Ra, John Ore and Andrew Cyrille | Soul Note |
| 2013 | ARTPOP | Writing credit with Lady Gaga for the song "Venus" | Interscope |