Sun Ra: Nothing Is (ESP)
Bought used in the 80s, probably in Baltimore
Hello, how are you? I'm not so good, but surviving.
My previous missive was during the election night, or the next day I guess? I'm not as crushed or surprised as the last time Mr. Trump was elected president, despite the strong possibility this administration will be far, far, worse.
I've largely avoided broadcast news, radio and television, and online. Not as determinately as 2016, but nearly. They are in large part responsible for Trump getting elected.
I chose this album semi-randomly. Semi because....I went through a few other random selections before deciding this one was right.
I can't recall where I bought this LP, though I doubt it cost me more than $5. The spine is split at the opening. I'm pretty sure I've had it since the late 80s, which would place it in my two year period of living in Baltimore.
I'm not certain, but it's possible I bought this at Red's Records in the Federal Hill neighborhood. Red's was a tiny record story run out of someone's basement in a row house, and the manager didn't own the house. He rented the space. I think he had been in a different space previously. I tried to pay for a copy of Jazz in Silhouette, a Sun Ra reissue on Impulse! for $3 with a twenty dollar bill. He didn't have enough change, but let me take the record with me. When I paid for it in singles a week or two later, he didn't remember the prior exchange.
Red (I guess I can call him that) had a day-glo screen printed poster of The Immoral Mr. Teas, Russ Meyer's first feature length movie, hanging on the wall. I saw it and laughed out loud, and Red said, "Do you want one? I think I have another copy" and gave me a folded, undisplayed copy of the same poster. I still have it. It's beautiful.
What I guess I'm saying is, Red, if you're out there, you have had a friend for life.
But....it's quite possible I bought this LP somewhere else, rendering my previous memories nothing more that the ramblings of an old man.
Nothing Is... is unquestionably one of Sun Ra's best albums. I generally cite Live at Montreux as my favorite, and like the Space is the Place soundtrack album, represents a good overview of Sunny's work. This period, 1966-68, was probably his most daring if not my absolute favorite. The Magic City is from this time period, which I'd probably regard as his most important record. "Important"? Well....critically original. But this is close behind.
"Dancing Shadows" opens the program, and it's a banger melody. Closing side one is "Exotic Forest", wtht Marshall Allen (who turned 100 this year!) kicking it on oboe, his first instrument. It builds, builds, builds with most of the band on percussion.
Side two includes a performance of "The Shadow World", possibly Sun Ra's greatest and most epic composition. He must have known it too, considering how many versions appeared on his records.
I don't know, I'm happy to slip into another world momentarily. Our politics are for shit, I am frustrated teaching apathetic college students, one of whom has lodged a formal complaint against the grade I gave him. I'm tired.
At least there's music.
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