🎵 AotW AOTW: Sun Ra - PURPLE NIGHT (CD-5324)

[Captain Bacardi]

Sun Ra
PURPLE NIGHT
A&M CD-5324

Released 1990

Format: CD/Cassette

Produced by John Snyder
Executive Producer: Steve Ralbovsky

Songs:

• 1. Journey Towards The Stars - 3:44
  2. Friendly Galaxy - 7:43
  3. Love In Outer Space - 7:12
  4. Stars Fell On Alabama (Mitchell Parish/Frank Perkins) - 10:27
  5. Of Invisible Them - 19:08
  6. Neverness - 13:16
  7. Purple Night Blues - 4:02
  
  All compositions composed by Sun Ra except where indicated.

Musicians:
Sun Ra - Piano, Synthesizer, Voice
Don Cherry - Pocket Trumpet
June Tyson - Violin, Voice
Fred Adams - Trumpet
Michael Ray - Trumpet, Voice
Ahmed Abdullah - Trumpet
Jothan Collins - Trumpet
Al Evans - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Tyrone Hill - Trombone
Julian Priester - Trombone
Reynold Scott - Baritone Saxophone, Flute
James Spaulding - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Marshall Allen - Alto Saxophone, Flute, Percussion
John Gilmore - Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, Voice
James Jackson - Bassoon, African Drum
Earl C. "Buster" Smith - Drums
Eric "Samarai" Walker - Drums
Thomas "Bugs" Henderson - Drums
Elson Nascimento - Surdo, Percussion
Jorge Silva - Repinique, Percussion
Rollo Radford - Electric Bass
John Ore - Acoustic Bass


Recorded and Mixed November 1989 at BMG Studios, New York City.
Engineered by Joe Lopes and Jay Newland.
Special Thanks to Jack Reich and Catherine Moore.

Art Direction: Chuck Beeson with Ph.D
Design: Ph.D
Photography: Carol Friedman (cover), Teri Bloom (session)
Grooming: Quietfire
"Calling Planet Earth" poem by Sun Ra



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Another cosmic romp through the galaxy for Sun Ra on his second release for A&M. This time, though, it's not quite as coherent as the Blue Delight album. Don Cherry is a featured soloist for most of the album, and he fits right in with the band. Many of these tunes are long vamps with sporadic horn attacks. Unfortunately, there's also some vocal work included, which for me just didn't cut it. "Stars Fell On Alabama" is one example of how to ruin a song, despite Julian Priester's nifty trombone solo. Another is "Love In Outer Space", where the vocals aren't necessarily too bad, but after a while they get annoying. One of the brighter spots is John Gilmore's tenor solo on "Neverness", and the album closes on a hip "Purple Night Blues", which makes this album worthwhile. It's an interesting listening to say the least. 3 stars.




Capt. Bacardi