Universe in Blue (Expanded, Remastered)
Originally released in 1972, "Universe In Blue" has been remastered and expanded to include two extra tracks from the same era. Phenomenal music, it shows a distinctly low-key, stripped-down side to the Arkestra, with Sun Ra on organ throughout.
It doesn't take long to tune into the mood of "Universe In Blue"'s chilly title track. With Sun Ra on his "intergalactic space organ" accompanied by sparse, barely-audible drums, Kwame Hadi on trumpet and John Gilmore on horn, it's a longing blues improvisation that gets to the gooey core of Ra's appeal. This is the sound of Alabama's deep sadness, channelled through ancient and modern technologies that heave through the almost 15-minute composition as Ra leads with monastic charm, lashing the church to the juke joint. June Tyson brings a confident, blown-out vocal performance to 'When the Black Man Ruled This Land' (conspicuously truncated to 'Blackman' on the original issue), emoting over Ra's organ blasts. It's the album's most upfront cut, allowing cracks of sunlight to part the darkness for just a second.
'In a Blue Mood' meanwhile continues where the title track left off, centering Ra's emotional organ jamming over skeletal drums, allowing the texture and timbre of the electric organ the space to cough and splutter emotionally. Anyone who already knows the record will no doubt be interested to pick thru the two additions: 'Discipline 27-II' and 'Intergalactic Research'. Both have been released before but not collected with this exact material, and both were recorded in 1972, so while they hover around a different mood - this ain't sedate organ blues - they capture Ra in the same creative tidal wave.
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Originally released in 1972, "Universe In Blue" has been remastered and expanded to include two extra tracks from the same era. Phenomenal music, it shows a distinctly low-key, stripped-down side to the Arkestra, with Sun Ra on organ throughout.
It doesn't take long to tune into the mood of "Universe In Blue"'s chilly title track. With Sun Ra on his "intergalactic space organ" accompanied by sparse, barely-audible drums, Kwame Hadi on trumpet and John Gilmore on horn, it's a longing blues improvisation that gets to the gooey core of Ra's appeal. This is the sound of Alabama's deep sadness, channelled through ancient and modern technologies that heave through the almost 15-minute composition as Ra leads with monastic charm, lashing the church to the juke joint. June Tyson brings a confident, blown-out vocal performance to 'When the Black Man Ruled This Land' (conspicuously truncated to 'Blackman' on the original issue), emoting over Ra's organ blasts. It's the album's most upfront cut, allowing cracks of sunlight to part the darkness for just a second.
'In a Blue Mood' meanwhile continues where the title track left off, centering Ra's emotional organ jamming over skeletal drums, allowing the texture and timbre of the electric organ the space to cough and splutter emotionally. Anyone who already knows the record will no doubt be interested to pick thru the two additions: 'Discipline 27-II' and 'Intergalactic Research'. Both have been released before but not collected with this exact material, and both were recorded in 1972, so while they hover around a different mood - this ain't sedate organ blues - they capture Ra in the same creative tidal wave.
Originally released in 1972, "Universe In Blue" has been remastered and expanded to include two extra tracks from the same era. Phenomenal music, it shows a distinctly low-key, stripped-down side to the Arkestra, with Sun Ra on organ throughout.
It doesn't take long to tune into the mood of "Universe In Blue"'s chilly title track. With Sun Ra on his "intergalactic space organ" accompanied by sparse, barely-audible drums, Kwame Hadi on trumpet and John Gilmore on horn, it's a longing blues improvisation that gets to the gooey core of Ra's appeal. This is the sound of Alabama's deep sadness, channelled through ancient and modern technologies that heave through the almost 15-minute composition as Ra leads with monastic charm, lashing the church to the juke joint. June Tyson brings a confident, blown-out vocal performance to 'When the Black Man Ruled This Land' (conspicuously truncated to 'Blackman' on the original issue), emoting over Ra's organ blasts. It's the album's most upfront cut, allowing cracks of sunlight to part the darkness for just a second.
'In a Blue Mood' meanwhile continues where the title track left off, centering Ra's emotional organ jamming over skeletal drums, allowing the texture and timbre of the electric organ the space to cough and splutter emotionally. Anyone who already knows the record will no doubt be interested to pick thru the two additions: 'Discipline 27-II' and 'Intergalactic Research'. Both have been released before but not collected with this exact material, and both were recorded in 1972, so while they hover around a different mood - this ain't sedate organ blues - they capture Ra in the same creative tidal wave.
Originally released in 1972, "Universe In Blue" has been remastered and expanded to include two extra tracks from the same era. Phenomenal music, it shows a distinctly low-key, stripped-down side to the Arkestra, with Sun Ra on organ throughout.
It doesn't take long to tune into the mood of "Universe In Blue"'s chilly title track. With Sun Ra on his "intergalactic space organ" accompanied by sparse, barely-audible drums, Kwame Hadi on trumpet and John Gilmore on horn, it's a longing blues improvisation that gets to the gooey core of Ra's appeal. This is the sound of Alabama's deep sadness, channelled through ancient and modern technologies that heave through the almost 15-minute composition as Ra leads with monastic charm, lashing the church to the juke joint. June Tyson brings a confident, blown-out vocal performance to 'When the Black Man Ruled This Land' (conspicuously truncated to 'Blackman' on the original issue), emoting over Ra's organ blasts. It's the album's most upfront cut, allowing cracks of sunlight to part the darkness for just a second.
'In a Blue Mood' meanwhile continues where the title track left off, centering Ra's emotional organ jamming over skeletal drums, allowing the texture and timbre of the electric organ the space to cough and splutter emotionally. Anyone who already knows the record will no doubt be interested to pick thru the two additions: 'Discipline 27-II' and 'Intergalactic Research'. Both have been released before but not collected with this exact material, and both were recorded in 1972, so while they hover around a different mood - this ain't sedate organ blues - they capture Ra in the same creative tidal wave.
Packaged in tip-on jacket with 6 panel insert.
Estimated Release Date: 17 February 2023
Please note that shipping dates for pre-orders are estimated and are subject to change
Originally released in 1972, "Universe In Blue" has been remastered and expanded to include two extra tracks from the same era. Phenomenal music, it shows a distinctly low-key, stripped-down side to the Arkestra, with Sun Ra on organ throughout.
It doesn't take long to tune into the mood of "Universe In Blue"'s chilly title track. With Sun Ra on his "intergalactic space organ" accompanied by sparse, barely-audible drums, Kwame Hadi on trumpet and John Gilmore on horn, it's a longing blues improvisation that gets to the gooey core of Ra's appeal. This is the sound of Alabama's deep sadness, channelled through ancient and modern technologies that heave through the almost 15-minute composition as Ra leads with monastic charm, lashing the church to the juke joint. June Tyson brings a confident, blown-out vocal performance to 'When the Black Man Ruled This Land' (conspicuously truncated to 'Blackman' on the original issue), emoting over Ra's organ blasts. It's the album's most upfront cut, allowing cracks of sunlight to part the darkness for just a second.
'In a Blue Mood' meanwhile continues where the title track left off, centering Ra's emotional organ jamming over skeletal drums, allowing the texture and timbre of the electric organ the space to cough and splutter emotionally. Anyone who already knows the record will no doubt be interested to pick thru the two additions: 'Discipline 27-II' and 'Intergalactic Research'. Both have been released before but not collected with this exact material, and both were recorded in 1972, so while they hover around a different mood - this ain't sedate organ blues - they capture Ra in the same creative tidal wave.
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CD has two bonus tracks with 20+ minutes of bonus material.
Originally released in 1972, "Universe In Blue" has been remastered and expanded to include two extra tracks from the same era. Phenomenal music, it shows a distinctly low-key, stripped-down side to the Arkestra, with Sun Ra on organ throughout.
It doesn't take long to tune into the mood of "Universe In Blue"'s chilly title track. With Sun Ra on his "intergalactic space organ" accompanied by sparse, barely-audible drums, Kwame Hadi on trumpet and John Gilmore on horn, it's a longing blues improvisation that gets to the gooey core of Ra's appeal. This is the sound of Alabama's deep sadness, channelled through ancient and modern technologies that heave through the almost 15-minute composition as Ra leads with monastic charm, lashing the church to the juke joint. June Tyson brings a confident, blown-out vocal performance to 'When the Black Man Ruled This Land' (conspicuously truncated to 'Blackman' on the original issue), emoting over Ra's organ blasts. It's the album's most upfront cut, allowing cracks of sunlight to part the darkness for just a second.
'In a Blue Mood' meanwhile continues where the title track left off, centering Ra's emotional organ jamming over skeletal drums, allowing the texture and timbre of the electric organ the space to cough and splutter emotionally. Anyone who already knows the record will no doubt be interested to pick thru the two additions: 'Discipline 27-II' and 'Intergalactic Research'. Both have been released before but not collected with this exact material, and both were recorded in 1972, so while they hover around a different mood - this ain't sedate organ blues - they capture Ra in the same creative tidal wave.