Sun Ra: Fate In A Pleasant Mood-1974 ABC/Impulse Gatefold Stereo Record

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Used 1974 ABC/Impulse Gatefold Stereo Reissue of Classic 1961 Saturn Release by Bandleader/Composer/Pianist/Keyboardist Herman Blount AKA Sun Ra Entitled Fate in a Pleasant Mood, Produced by Alton Abraham, Album Recorded at El Saturn Studio in Chicago in 1959, Recordings Originally Released on the Saturn Label as Saturn 202, Transferred from Mono to Stereo at the Village Recorder in Los Angeles March of 1974, All Compositions Written by Sun Ra with the Exception of "Distant Stars by Sun Ra and Ronnie Boykins & "Kingdom of Thunder" by Sun Ra and Marshall Allen - "Of all the jazz musicians, Sun Ra was probably the most controversial. He did not make it easy for people to take him seriously, for he surrounded his adventurous music with costumes and mythology that both looked backward toward ancient Egypt and forward into science fiction. In addition, Ra documented his music in very erratic fashion on his Saturn label, generally not listing recording dates and giving inaccurate personnel information, so one could not really tell how advanced some of his innovations were. It has taken a lot of time to sort it all out (although Robert L. Campbell's Sun Ra discography has done a miraculous job). In addition, while there were times when Sun Ra's aggregation performed brilliantly, on other occasions they were badly out of tune and showcasing absurd vocals. Near the end of his life, Ra was featuring plate twirlers and fire eaters in his colorful show as a sort of Ed Sullivan for the 1980s. But despite all of the trappings, Sun Ra was a major innovator. Born Herman Sonny Blount in Birmingham, AL (although he claimed he was from another planet), Ra led his own band for the first time in 1934. He freelanced at a variety of jobs in the Midwest, working as a pianist/arranger with Fletcher Henderson in 1946-1947. He appeared on some obscure records as early as 1948, but really got started around 1953. Leading a big band (which he called the Arkestra) in Chicago, Ra started off playing advanced bop, but early on was open to the influences of other cultures, experimenting with primitive electric keyboards, and playing free long before the avant-garde got established. After moving to New York in 1961, Ra performed some of his most advanced work. In 1970, he relocated his group to Philadelphia, and in later years alternated free improvisations and mystical group chants with eccentric versions of swing tunes, sounding like a spaced-out Fletcher Henderson orchestra. Many of his most important sidemen were with him on and off for decades (most notably John Gilmore on tenor, altoist Marshall Allen, and baritonist Pat Patrick). Ra, who recorded for more than a dozen labels, has been well served by Evidence's extensive repackaging of many of his Saturn dates, which have at last been outfitted with correct dates and personnel details. In the late '90s, other labels began reissuing albums from Sun Ra's vast catalog, an effort that will surely continue for years to come." - "The "Fate in a Pleasant Mood" LP, recorded in 1960, finds the Arkestra at the very end of their Chicago days. The tunes still have that '50s Arkestra sound (great horn arrangements, prominent tympani), although there is an increasing use of dissonance and the arrangements are more spare, thanks to a dwindling Arkestra. Ra sticks to piano on these tracks, with excellent flute contributions from Marshall Allen and some fine trumpet as well, mostly courtesy of Phil Cohran. Gilmore shines on "Ankhnaton" and "Distant Stars." Most of the tunes still have strong ties to bop and swing, although "Space Mates" and "Kingdom of Thunder" point the way to a percussion-led sound that would be further explored after the band relocated to New York." - Sensational Personnel for the Arkestra Includes Legendary Composer Sun Ra on Piano, the Great John Gilmore on Tenor Sax, the Amazing Marshall Allen on Alto Sax & Flute, Lucious Randolph on Trumpet, Nate Pryor on Trombone, Ronnie Boykins on Bass and Edward Skinner on Percussion! - Selections on Side One Are the Others in Their World, Space Mates & Lights of a Satellite - Songs for Side Two Consist of Distant Stars, Kingdom of Thunder, the Title Track and Ankhnation - Used Copy, Cover Is Slightly Faded & Splotchy with a Light Surface Ring, Record Very Good++ - Gatefold Sleeve, Stereo Recording, Product Code AS-9270 - California Residents Add 9.75% Sales Tax - International S & H Extra -