CD Sun Ra – The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums (Cymbals & Crystal Spears)

Sun Ra – The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums (Cymbals & Crystal Spears)

Unearthed after more than a quarter of a century, The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums captures a pivotal moment in the discography of the self-proclaimed Saturnian visionary. Originally recorded in 1973 for Impulse! but shelved due to contract disputes, this essential Evidence release finally brings two "lost" masterpieces—Cymbals and Crystal Spears—to the public.

Recorded during the same prolific era as Space Is The Place and Astro Black, these sessions lean toward the experimental, blues-based improvisations of his mid-60s work. The collection offers a fascinating contrast in Sun Ra's sonic exploration:

• Cymbals: Features a pared-down, "mini-Arkestra" lineup. It showcases Sun Ra at his bluesiest on the organ and Rocksichord, highlighted by the sprawling, 16-minute "Thoughts Under a Dark Blue Night."
• Crystal Spears: A more adventurous affair, defined by percussion-heavy arrangements and the squawking textures of analog synthesizers.

As part of Evidence’s acclaimed reissue campaign, this 2000 CD release is a mandatory addition for collectors, bridging the gap between space-age bebop and the avant-garde stratosphere that defined the Arkestra’s 1970s output.