Ah yes, the annual Sun Ra birthday dump. Last year, it was all over iTunes, as reported by our own, glorious Nobodaddy. But, like ionized gas from a wormhole, it never stops. Sun Ra’s body of work, like the universe, just keeps on expanding. As of May 22, the eminent Afrofuturist would have been 101, and, to coincide, Billboard has given word of an upcoming CD and vinyl release series of “remastered, reissued and unreleased recordings.” Irwin Chusid, Sun Ra LLC’s administrator and an outsider music expert is overseeing the campaign.
Apparently, the releases can be broken down into three categories: 1962-65 bits from the band’s New York City recording studio and home the Choreographers Workshop; collected “exotica” recordings spanning 1956-91; and select singles culled by Michael D. Anderson, the co-compiler of this series, as well as the executive director of The Sun Ra Music Archive and a former percussionist for the band. Additionally, some of last year’s 46 iTunes exclusive albums (with, unbelievably, more coming out) will receive physical release. All was announced by Manimal Group, a new label collective founded by Manimal Vinyl head Paul Beahan, which now hosts Sun Ra LLC’s label.
All very exciting, but this is most important:
• Sun Ra: http://www.sunraarkestra.com
• Manimal Group: http://www.manimalgroup.com
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