''Angels and Demons at Play'' is a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

album by

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

and his Myth Science Arkestra. Side one was recorded in 1960, including two tracks taken from the mammoth session either at Hall Recording Company or at the RCA Studios (both in Chicago), around 17 June 1960, whilst the tracks on side two were recorded at the RCA studios, Chicago, around February 1956. Saturn Records had issued at least three of the songs ("Medicine for a Nightmare" b/w "Urnack", and "A Call For All Demons", the B-side of an early version of the song "Saturn") as 7-inch singles. According to the musicologist Robert L. Campbell, the latter single was probably the first Saturn release. It was a relatively common theme of Saturn releases to feature different sessions, from different eras with different personnel, on different sides of a record. Other examples include ''The Invisible Shield'' (1962/1970) and '' Deep Purple'' (1948-57/1973). The distinctive sleeve was designed by Sun Ra, and uses the same design on both sides, leaving no room for sleeve notes.

Track listing

12" Vinyl

All titles were written by Sun Ra, except where noted.
Side A: # "Tiny Pyramids" (

Ronnie Boykins Ronald Boykins (December 17, 1935 – April 20, 1980) was a jazz bassist and is best known for his work with pianist/bandleader Sun Ra, although he had played with such disparate musicians as Muddy Waters, Johnny Griffin, and Jimmy Witherspoon pr ...

) – 3:38 # "Between Two Worlds" – 1:56 # "Music from the World Tomorrow" – 2:20 # "Angels and Demons at Play" (

Marshall Allen Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EWI (an electronic valve instrument made by Steiner, Crumar company). Allen is best ...

, Ronnie Boykins) – 2:51 Side B: # "Urnack" (

Julian Priester Julian Priester (born June 29, 1935) is an American jazz trombonist and occasional euphoniumist. He is sometimes credited "Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto". He has played with Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock. B ...

) – 3:46 # "Medicine for a Nightmare" – 2:16 # "A Call for All Demons" – 4:12 # "Demon's Lullaby" – 2:35 The 1993

compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in Oc ...

release appends the album '' The Nubians of Plutonia'' in its entirety.

Musicians

On "Urnack", "Medicine for a Nightmare", "A Call For Demons", and "Demon's Lullaby", recorded RCA Studios, Chicago, around February 1956;From Sunny Blount to Sun Ra; R Campbell
/ref> * Sun Ra - Piano, Electric Piano * Art Hoyle - Trumpet, *

- Trombone *

John Gilmore John Gilmore may refer to: * John Gilmore (activist) (born 1955), co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Cygnus Solutions * John Gilmore (musician) (1931–1995), American jazz saxophonist * John Gilmore (representative) (1780–1845 ...

- Tenor Sax * Pat Patrick - Baritone Sax * Wilburn Green - Electric Bass * Robert Barry - Drums * Jim Herndon - Tympani On "Tiny Pyramids" and "Angels And Demons At Play", RCA Studios Chicago, around June 17, 1960; * Sun Ra - Percussion, Bells, Gong and Piano *

Phil Cohran Kelan Phil Cohran (May 8, 1927 June 28, 2017) was a jazz musician. He was best known for playing trumpet in the Sun Ra Arkestra in Chicago from 1959 to 1961, and for his involvement in the foundation of the Association for the Advancement of Cre ...

- Cornet * Nate Pryor - Trombone and Bells * John Gilmore - Tenor Sax and Clarinet, percussion *

- Flute *

- Bass * Jon Hardy - Drums, Percussion On "Between Two Worlds" recorded during rehearsals at the same time; * Sun Ra - Piano * possibly Bo Bailey - Trombone * John Gilmore - Tenor Sax * Marshall Allen - Alto Sax * Ronnie Boykins - Bass * possibly Robert Barry - Drums On "Music From The World Tomorrow", also recorded during rehearsals in Chicago, 1960; * Sun Ra - 'Cosmic tone organ * Ronnie Boykins - Bass * Phil Cohran - Violin-uke * Jon Hardy - Drums

Release history

References

External links

Complete Sun Ra's Discography
{{Authority control Sun Ra albums 1960 albums El Saturn Records albums Impulse! Records albums Evidence Music albums