The Unheard Music Series does it again, digging up more crazy barely-released recordings. This disc explores Ra’s Tin Pan Alley roots, namely his work with doo-wop and vocal groups in the 50s. Ra led his own groups, arranging and playing piano, and also mentored and backed several other groups (some just kids he found singing on the street). These recordings are long lost tapes of rehearsals of Ra at what could be his most schmaltzy. At the same time, you can hear his genius come through what could have been standard showtune readings. But.. DO NOT MISS the original compositions!! You haven’t heard Sun Ra until you’ve heard a doo-wop group sing “zoom zoom zoom, up in the air!”.

**1: Space doo-wop, yeah man!
4. Nice vocal swing
9: Ra original ballad
*14: Happy go-lucky showtune
**16, **17: 2 versions of a wonderful theme song for Chicago, Ra composed this for a city-sponsored contest.
*22: Great doo-wop (Ra doesn’t play on this one)
29: Swingin version of the old standard (just piano backing)
**31: Tribal beat with full band
**32: Awesome!! doo-wop with Ra-style African drums
34: Nice harmony over laid back rhythm
*35: Ra-style pop-tune, his single
**36: Excellent version of 35, this time with the Arkestra (unfortunately, there are some fidelity issues with this one)
37: Swing featuring Pat Patrick’s sax

Ben Bostwick 7/21/04