{"product_id":"sun-ra-his-arkestra-supersonic-jazz-expanded-edition-2xlp","title":"Sun Ra \u0026 His Arkestra - SuperSonic Jazz (Expanded Edition) 2xLP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDouble LP version. \"Official expanded edition of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eSun Ra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e's Saturn debut features an additional fourteen tracks of alternate versions and studio takes. The CD also contains four CD only bonus tracks. Liner notes were penned by avid fan \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eIra Kaplan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eYo La Tengo\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as well as an essay from longtime Ra blogger \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRodger Coleman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (NUVOID Sun Ra Sundays). Vinyl gatefold jacket includes a 12x12 insert reproduction of the original LP jacket art. Recorded in 1956 and released in 1957, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSupersonic Jazz\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is arguably the first long-playing album by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eSun Ra and His Arkestra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on his Saturn label. However, it was not recorded as a debut. Rather, the album was assembled from tapes recorded during a number of sessions at two Chicago studios (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRCA Victor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBalkan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), and several tracks had been released as singles before their inclusion on this album. (Sunny's first fully realized commercial album was 1957's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eJazz\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by Sun Ra, produced by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eTom Wilson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on his short lived\/soon to be defunct Transition label.) Prior to these sessions, Sunny was still arranging for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRed Saunders Orchestra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and singer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eJoe Williams\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, in addition to arranging for and coaching doo-wop ensembles. As Sunny's ambitions achieved liftoff, the Arkestra coalesced, began building a repertoire (mostly of Ra's originals), and making forays into studios. Deciding it was time for commercial releases, Sunny and business partner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlton Abraham\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e launched Saturn (sometimes called El Saturn) as a record company in 1956. As a first offering, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSupersonic Jazz\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a pinnacle Sun Ra release. While reflecting many prevailing bebop, Latin, and R\u0026amp;B conventions of the mid-1950s, it's evident that Sun Ra's musical voice and vision were starting to propel him away from the jazz mainstream. Biographer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Szwed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e finds on these recordings 'characteristics which seemed alien to swing, bebop, or the new, more soulful and hard-edged music which was coming to be called hard bop.'\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Forced Exposure","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44987442561232,"sku":null,"price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0554\/4201\/4416\/files\/sunrasupersonic.jpg?v=1776191793","url":"https:\/\/www.grapefruitrecordclub.com\/products\/sun-ra-his-arkestra-supersonic-jazz-expanded-edition-2xlp","provider":"Grapefruit Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}