Space Is the Place (Sun Ra album)

Space Is the Place is a studio album by Sun Ra. It was originally released on the Blue Thumb label in 1973. In 1998, it was reissued by Impulse! Records.

Space Is The Place
A photo of the artist looking up and wearing an elaborate Egyptian crown with an orb coming out of the top.
Studio album by
Released1973
RecordedOctober 19–20, 1972
StudioStreeterville Recording Studio, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenreAvant-garde jazz
Length42:51
LabelBlue Thumb
Producer
Sun Ra chronology
Live in Egypt
(1971)
Space Is The Place
(1973)
Pathways to Unknown Worlds
(1973)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [2]

Stephen Cook of AllMusic commented that "Space Is the Place provides an excellent introduction to Sun Ra's vast and free-form jazz catalog."[1] He called it "a fine recording and a must for Sun Ra fans."[1] Stevie Chick of BBC described the album's title track as "Sun Ra's ultimate anthem, espousing the fusion of science fiction and ancient myth with the panoply of jazz that would seduce Sun Ra fans on rock's innovative vanguard, the likes of the MC5, Sonic Youth and Primal Scream."[3]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Sun Ra

No.TitleLength
1."Space Is the Place"21:14
2."Images"6:15
3."Discipline"4:50
4."Sea of Sounds"7:42
5."Rocket Number Nine"2:50
Total length:42:51

Personnel

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Credits adapted from liner notes.

Sun Ra and His Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra

  • Sun Ra – Farfisa organ (1, 3, 4, 5), piano (2), arrangement
  • Akh Tal Ebah – vocals (1), trumpet (2), flugelhorn (4)
  • Kwame Hadi (Lamont McClamb) – trumpet (2, 4)
  • Marshall Allen – flute (3), alto saxophone (4)
  • Danny Davis – flute (3), alto saxophone (4)
  • John Gilmore – vocals (1, 5), tenor saxophone (2, 3, 4)
  • Danny Thompson – baritone saxophone (1), flute (3), vocals (5)
  • Eloe Omoe – bass clarinet (1, 5), flute (3)
  • Pat Patrick – bass guitar (1, 2), baritone saxophone (4), vocals (5)
  • Lex Humphries – drums (4)
  • Atakatun (Stanley Morgan) – percussion (4)
  • Odun (Russel Branch) – percussion (4)

Space Ethnic Voices

  • June Tyson – vocals (1, 5)
  • Ruth Wright – vocals (1, 5)
  • Cheryl Banks – vocals (1, 5)
  • Judith Holton – vocals (1, 5)

Technical

  • Alton Abraham – production
  • Ed Michel – production
  • Baker Bigsby – engineering
  • Steve Skinder – engineering assistance
  • Jim Dolan – engineering assistance
  • Mitch Hennes – engineering assistance
  • Preston Wakeland – engineering assistance
  • Dominic Lumetta – engineering assistance
  • Jim Newman – photography (Impulse! Records edition)
  • Chuck Stewart – photography (Impulse! Records edition)
  • Hollis King – art direction (Impulse! Records edition)
  • Señora Brown – graphic design (Impulse! Records edition)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Cook, Stephen. "Space Is the Place - Sun Ra". AllMusic. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1358. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  3. ^ Chick, Stevie (2012). "Sun Ra Space Is the Place Review". BBC. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
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