The immense output of Sun Ra and his many backing bands, coupled with the limited production of many of his releases has long defied dedicated collectors. Parallel to a vast list of LP releases, Sun Ra released numerous 45 RPM singles; one-off meteorites from his prolific cosmic journey. Working closely with Sun Ra LLC and Art Yard Records, it is with great pride that Strut presents a definitive collection of the rare singles released by Sun Ra across his illustrious career, spanning 1952 to 1991.
Released prolifically during the 1950s and more sporadically thereafter, primarily on the Saturn label, the 45s trace the development of Sun Ra’s forward-thinking “Space-Bop” and his unique take on jazz and blues traditions which remains unlike anything else from the period. As with his LPs, most 45s were only pressed in small runs and have since become extremely rare and sought after. Some have only been discovered in physical form in recent years; some were planned and penciled but allegedly never made it to vinyl and some appeared as one-off magazine singles and posthumous releases.
‘Singles: The Definitive 45 Collection’ will be released in one volume on CD, and two volumes on vinyl across two release dates. All formats feature fully remastered tracks, rare photos, poster artwork, extensive sleeve notes by Francis Gooding, an interview with Saturn Records founder Alton Abraham by John Corbett and detailed track by track and session notes by Paul Griffiths. The 45 RPM box sets, limited to 500 copies each, are currently only available via pre-orders from the Strut Bandcamp and web store. A full breakdown on formats and release dates is below:
25th NOVEMBER 2016
CD complete set covering Sun Ra’s full career: 1952-1991 (Pre-order)
(3CD digipak including 28pp booklet)
Vinyl 45 box set Volume 1: 1952-1961 (Pre-order)
(10 x 45s in flip top hardboard box. Featuring original single artwork and bound 28pp booklet. Limited edition: 500 copies only)
LP set Volume 1: 1952-1961 (Pre-order)
(3LP in gatefold sleeve)
MARCH 2017
Vinyl 45 box set Volume 2: 1962-1991 (pre-order coming in 2017)
(10 x 45s in flip top hardboard box. Featuring original single artwork and bound 28pp booklet. Limited edition: 500 copies only)
LP set Volume 2: 1962-1991 (pre-order coming in 2017)
(3LP in gatefold sleeve)
TRACKLISTINGS
3CD DIGIPAK:
CD 1
1. SUN RA – I AM AN INSTRUMENT
2. SUN RA – I AM STRANGE
3. SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – CHICAGO USA
4. SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – SPACESHIP LULLABY
5. SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – DADDY’S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIE
6. SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – A FOGGY DAY
7. BILLIE HAWKINS with SUN-RA & HIS ORCHESTRA – I’M COMING HOME
8. BILLIE HAWKINS with SUN-RA & HIS ORCHESTRA – LAST CALL FOR LOVE
9. SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SOFT TALK
10. SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SUPER BLONDE
11. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SATURN
12. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – A CALL FOR DEMONS
13. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – DEMON’S LULLABY
14. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SUPERSONIC JAZZ
15. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – MEDICINE FOR A NIGHTMARE
16. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – URNACK
17. THE QUALITIES – IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME
18. THE QUALITIES – HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU
19. YOCHANAN (THE SPACE AGE VOCALIST) – M UCK M UCK (MATT MATT)
20. YOCHANAN (THE SPACE AGE VOCALIST) – HOT SKILLET MAMA
21. SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – BYE BYE
22. SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – SOMEBODY’S IN LOVE
23. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – HOURS AFTER
24. LE SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
CD 2
1. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – OCTOBER
2. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – ADVENTUR IN SPACE
3. THE COSMIC RAYS with SUN RA & ARKESTRA – DREAMING
4. THE COSMIC RAYS with SUN RA & ARKESTRA – DADDY’S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIE
5. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – ROUND MIDNIGHT
6. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – BACK IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD
7. LE SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – SATURN
8. LE SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – VELVET
9. YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE SUN ONE
10. YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – MESSAGE TO EARTHMAN
11. YOCHANNAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE SUN MAN SPEAKS
12. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – SPACE LONELINESS
13. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – STATE STREET
14. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE BLUE SET
15. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – BIG CITY BLUES
16. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA featuring PAT PATRICK – A BLUE ONE
17. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA featuring PAT PATRICK – ORBITRATION IN BLUE
18. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – OUT THERE A MINUTE
19. LITTLE MACK with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – TELL HER TO COME ON HOME
20. LITTLE MACK with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – I’M MAKING BELIEVE
CD 3
1. SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – THE BRIDGE
2. SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – ROCKET # 9
3. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-SOLAR-INFINITY ARKESTRA – BLUES ON PLANET MARS
4. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-SOLAR-INFINITY ARKESTRA – SATURN MOON
5. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – JOURNEY TO SATURN
6. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – ENLIGHTENMENT
7. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – I’M GONNA UNMASK THE BATMAN
8. SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – THE PERFECT MAN
9. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – LOVE IN OUTER SPACE
10. SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – MAYAN TEMPLE
11. SUN RA QUARTET – SKY BLUES
12. SUN RA QUARTET– DISCO 3000
13. SUN RA – ROUGH HOUSE BLUES
14. SUN RA – COSMO-EXTENSIONS
15. SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – QUEST
16. SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – OUTER SPACE PLATEAU
17. SUN RA ARKESTRA – NUCLEAR WAR
18. SUN RA ARKESTRA – SOMETIMES I’M HAPPY
19. SUN RA ARKESTRA – ON JUPITER / COSMO DRAMA
20. SUN RA ARKESTRA – COSMO DRAMA
21. SUN RA – I AM THE INSTRUMENT
3LP GATEFOLD VOLUME 1
A1 SUN RA – I AM AN INSTRUMENT
A2 SUN RA – I AM STRANGE
A3 SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – CHICAGO USA
A4 SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – SPACESHIP LULLABY
A5 SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – DADDY’S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIE
A6 SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – A FOGGY DAY
A7 BILLIE HAWKINS with SUN RA & HIS ORCHESTRA – I’M COMING HOME A8 BILLIE HAWKINS with SUN RA & HIS ORCHESTRA – LAST CALL FOR LOVE
B1 SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SOFT TALK
B2 SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SUPER BLONDE
B3 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SATURN
B4 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – A CALL FOR DEMONS
B5 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – DEMON’S LULLABY
B6 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SUPERSONIC JAZZ
C1 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – MEDICINE FOR A NIGHTMARE
C2 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – URNACK
C3 THE QUALITIES – IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME
C4 THE QUALITIES – HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!
C5 YOCHANAN (THE SPACE AGE VOCALIST) – M UCK M UCK (MATT MATT) C6 YOCHANAN (THE SPACE AGE VOCALIST) – HOT SKILLET MAMA
D1 SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – BYE BYE
D2 SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – SOMEBODY’S IN LOVE
D3 THE COSMIC RAYS with SUN RA & ARKESTRA – DREAMING (
D4 THE COSMIC RAYS with SUN RA & ARKESTRA – DADDY’S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIE
D5 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – OCTOBER
E1 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – ADVENTUR IN SPACE
E2 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – HOURS AFTER
E3 LE SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
E4 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – ROUND MIDNIGHT
E5 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – BACK IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD
F1 LE SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – SATURN
F2 LE SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – VELVET
F3 YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE SUN ONE
F4 YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – MESSAGE TO EARTHMAN
F5 YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE SUN MAN SPEAKS
10 x 45 SINGLES BOX SET VOLUME 1
1A SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – DADDY’S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIE
1B SUN RA & THE NU SOUNDS – A FOGGY DAY
2A SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS –BYE BYE
2B SUN RA & THE COSMIC RAYS – SOMBODY’S IN LOVE
3A SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SOFT TALK
3B SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SUPER BLONDE
4A LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – MEDICINE FOR A NIGHTMARE
4B LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – URNACK
5A LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – SATURN
5B LE SUN RA & HIS ARKISTRA – A CALL FOR DEMONS
6A SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – OCTOBER
6B SUN RA & HIS ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – ADVENTUR IN SPACE
7A THE COSMIC RAYS with SUN RA & ARKESTRA – DREAMING
7B THE COSMIC RAYS with SUN RA & ARKESTRA – DADDY’S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIE
8A SUN RA & HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – HOURS AFTER
8BSUN RA & HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
9A YOCHANAN (THE SPACE AGE VOCALIST) – M UCK M UCK (MATT MATT) 9B YOCHANAN (THE SPACE AGE VOCALIST) – HOT SKILLET MAMA
10A YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – MESSAGE TO EARTHMAN
10B YOCHANAN with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE SUN ONE
3LP GATEFOLD VOLUME 2
A1 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – SPACE LONELINESS
A2 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – STATE STREET
A3 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – THE BLUE SET
A4 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – BIG CITY BLUES
B1 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA featuring PAT PATRICK – A BLUE ONE
B2 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA featuring PAT PATRICK – ORBITRATION IN BLUE
B3 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – OUT THERE A MINUTE
B4 LITTLE MACK with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – TELL HER TO COME ON HOME
B5 LITTLE MACK with SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – I’M MAKING BELIEVE
C1 SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – THE BRIDGE
C2 SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – ROCKET # 9
C3 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-SOLAR-INFINITY ARKESTRA – BLUES ON PLANET MARS
C4 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-SOLAR-INFINITY ARKESTRA – SATURN MOON
C5 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – JOURNEY TO SATURN
C6 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – ENLIGHTENMENT
D1 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – I’M GONNA UNMASK THE BATMAN
D2 SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – THE PERFECT MAN
D3 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – LOVE IN OUTER SPACE
D4 SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – MAYAN TEMPLE
D5 SUN RA QUARTET – SKY BLUES
E1 SUN RA QUARTET– DISCO 3000
E2 SUN RA – ROUGH HOUSE BLUES
E3 SUN RA – COSMO-EXTENSIONS
E4 SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – QUEST
E5 SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – OUTER SPACE PLATEAU
E6 SUN RA ARKESTRA – SOMETIMES I’M HAPPY
F1 SUN RA ARKESTRA – NUCLEAR WAR
F2 SUN RA ARKESTRA – ON JUPITER / COSMO DRAMA
F3 SUN RA ARKESTRA – COSMO DRAMA
F4 SUN RA – I AM THE INSTRUMENT
10 x 45 SINGLES BOX SET VOLUME 2
1A SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – SPACE LONELINESS
1B SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – STATE STREET
2A SUN RA & HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – THE BLUE SET
2B SUN RA & HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – BIG CITY BLUES
3A SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA featuring PAT PATRICK – A BLUE ONE
3B SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA featuring PAT PATRICK – ORBITRATION IN BLUE
4A SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – THE BRIDGE
4B SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – ROCKET # 9
5A SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-SOLAR-INFINITY ARKESTRA – BLUES ON PLANET MARS
5B SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-SOLAR-INFINITY ARKESTRA – SATURN MOON
6A SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – JOURNEY TO SATURN
6B SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – ENLIGHTENMENT
7A SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – I’M GONNA UNMASK THE BATMAN
7B SUN RA & HIS ASTRO-INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – THE PERFECT MAN
8A SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – LOVE IN OUTER SPACE
8B SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA – MAYAN TEMPLE
9A SUN RA – ROUGH HOUSE BLUES
9B SUN RA – COSMO-EXTENSIONS
10A SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – QUEST
10B SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA – OUTER SPACE PLATEAU
Strut present a brand new compilation documenting the groundbreaking maloya scene on Réunion Island from the mid-‘70s, as Western instrumentation joined traditional Malagasy, African and Indian acoustic instruments to spark a whole era of new fusions and creativity. Compiled by Réunionese DJ duo La Basse Tropicale, ‘Oté Maloya’ is out now on CD and LP as well as digital formats. The CD and LP versions include an extensive booklet featuring the history of maloya by Nathalie Valentine Legros of 7 Lames Lamer.
Kondi Band, the inspired Afro-electronic collaboration between Sierra Leonean kondi (thumb piano) player Sorie Kondi and US producer / DJ Chief Boima, who himself has Sierra Leonean roots, has announced their debut LP Salone, is 
Strut and Art Yard present a special release for Record Store Day 2017, the first ever official reissue of Sun Ra’s revered Discipline 27-II LP from 1972.
