Circa 1992 (before Ra's passing) I was a guest on one night of a multi-night WDET-FM (Detroit MI) special on Sun Ra. My own verbal contributions were minor, though I was on-air, but I did get to plat a bit of a show I'd then taped recently at Alvin's in Detroit. Anyone have these tapes? I have some somewhere.
Hi Jim, I never saw / heard a recording of the 1992 Detroit show, or of the radio special that you mention. Robert Campbell's book gives 1992/05/07 as the date for the gig, but that's all the info there is. Any chance that you can share your recording?
I'll look for it. There were several nights, though, and I'm not sure how much I taped (hours of it, however). It was part of three or four shows, at least, as those usual hosts played Ra only. Plenty of rare vinyl was played. At least a couple of ex-Arkestra musicians were interviewed, too. The Alvin's show was two sets, tickets were sold separately for each but as it turned out we could have stayed for both. I made a nice mono audience recording of that full first set, possibly about 55 minutes. Nice low-key show, Ra was clearly not in good health, but played keyboards brilliantly. We'd seen him and the band in Ypsilanti MI not that long before (Frog Island Fest.) and I taped that one, too...that Frog Island show was amazing. I doubt that anyone else has the Alvin's show, and I do not believe I copied the Ypsi show for anyone, either.
Circa 1992 (before Ra's passing) I was a guest on one night of a multi-night WDET-FM (Detroit MI) special on Sun Ra. My own verbal contributions were minor, though I was on-air, but I did get to plat a bit of a show I'd then taped recently at Alvin's in Detroit. Anyone have these tapes? I have some somewhere.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim,
ReplyDeleteI never saw / heard a recording of the 1992 Detroit show, or of the radio special that you mention.
Robert Campbell's book gives 1992/05/07 as the date for the gig, but that's all the info there is.
Any chance that you can share your recording?
I'll look for it. There were several nights, though, and I'm not sure how much I taped (hours of it, however). It was part of three or four shows, at least, as those usual hosts played Ra only. Plenty of rare vinyl was played. At least a couple of ex-Arkestra musicians were interviewed, too. The Alvin's show was two sets, tickets were sold separately for each but as it turned out we could have stayed for both. I made a nice mono audience recording of that full first set, possibly about 55 minutes. Nice low-key show, Ra was clearly not in good health, but played keyboards brilliantly. We'd seen him and the band in Ypsilanti MI not that long before (Frog Island Fest.) and I taped that one, too...that Frog Island show was amazing. I doubt that anyone else has the Alvin's show, and I do not believe I copied the Ypsi show for anyone, either.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a copyof that Frog Island show. It was amazing!!
DeleteI'll be looking for the tapes...
ReplyDeleteI would love a copy of that Frog Island show. It was Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteAny luck finding that Frog Island tape?
ReplyDelete