Hank, thanks for this--I really enjoy your writing and always look forward to your take on music I love (like Cecil Taylor). I understand your bewilderment with the Ra discography, which continues to grow every year since his death. At the risk of shameless promotion, may I suggest you check out Rodger Coleman's Sun Ra Sundays? This book (edited by me) goes into great detail on Sun Ra's recorded legacy, especially from 1961 to 1979, and provides a great overview on the recordings (not so much on the videos, which are far scarcer). It's open access; you can download the PDF for free here: https://thedigitalpress.org/2022/11/15/new-book-day-rodger-colemans-sun-ra-sundays/ --cheers, Sam
Hank, thanks for this--I really enjoy your writing and always look forward to your take on music I love (like Cecil Taylor). I understand your bewilderment with the Ra discography, which continues to grow every year since his death. At the risk of shameless promotion, may I suggest you check out Rodger Coleman's Sun Ra Sundays? This book (edited by me) goes into great detail on Sun Ra's recorded legacy, especially from 1961 to 1979, and provides a great overview on the recordings (not so much on the videos, which are far scarcer). It's open access; you can download the PDF for free here: https://thedigitalpress.org/2022/11/15/new-book-day-rodger-colemans-sun-ra-sundays/ --cheers, Sam