Fate in a Pleasant Mood
Encyclopedia
Fate in a Pleasant Mood is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra
and his Myth Science Arkestra recorded in Chicago, mid 1960 and originally released on his own Saturn label in 1965. The album was reissued by Impulse! in 1974, and by Evidence (on CD
) in 1993. For the latter reissue, the record was included as the first half of a CD that also featured the whole of When Sun Comes Out
, an album recorded by the Arkestra in New York, 1963.
, Holiday for Soul Dance
, Angels and Demons at Play
and We Travel The Space Ways
. An early white label version of the album - including other songs that ended up on Holiday For Soul Dance - was found in a Montréal record store by François Lamarche many years later;
(1957), Jazz in Silhouette
(1959) and When Sun Comes Out
(1963) - Saturn released four albums in 1965. Along with Fate In A Pleasant Mood, Angels and Demons at Play
(recorded 1956-60), Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow
(recorded 1961-62) and Secrets of the Sun
(recorded 1962) were all released this year. ESP also released The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One
at the same time.
Side A:
Side B:
According to Sun Ra's discographer Robert Campbell, however, the five tracks recorded at the RCA Studios - "The Others in Their World", "Space Mates", "Lights On A Satellite", "Fate in a Pleasant Mood" and "Ankhnaton" - featured a slightly different line-up;
According to Campbell, "Kingdom of Thunder", recorded during rehearsals around the same time, shares the same line-up but with Lucious Randolph replacing Phil Cohran on trumpet, and Nate Pryor stepping out. "Distant Stars", recorded at the Wonder Inn, Chicago, around October 1960, shares the same line up as "Kingdom of Thunder", except for George Hudson on the trumpet instead of Cohran.
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
and his Myth Science Arkestra recorded in Chicago, mid 1960 and originally released on his own Saturn label in 1965. The album was reissued by Impulse! in 1974, and by Evidence (on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
) in 1993. For the latter reissue, the record was included as the first half of a CD that also featured the whole of When Sun Comes Out
When Sun Comes Out
For the song by Harold Arden and Ted Koehler, see When the Sun Comes OutWhen Sun Comes Out is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra...
, an album recorded by the Arkestra in New York, 1963.
Alternative test pressing
Most of the tracks were recorded at a marathon session of between 30 and 40 songs, either at the RCA Studios or possibly at Hall Recording Company (both in Chicago), around 17 June 1960 . Other albums to include tracks from the session include Interstellar Low WaysInterstellar Low Ways
Interstellar Low Ways is an album recorded by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra, mostly recorded in Chicago, 1960, and probably released in 1966 on his own Saturn label. Originally titled Rocket Number Nine, the album had acquired its present name, and the red-on-white...
, Holiday for Soul Dance
Holiday for Soul Dance
Holiday For Soul Dance is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra recorded in Chicago, mid 1960 and originally released on his own Saturn label in 1970. The album was reissued by Evidence on Compact disc in 1992...
, Angels and Demons at Play
Angels and Demons at Play
Angels and Demons at Play is a jazz album by the American musician Sun Ra 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 , around 17 June 1960 whilst the tracks on side two were...
and We Travel The Space Ways
We Travel the Space Ways
We Travel the Space Ways is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra. Recorded mostly in 1960, the album was released in 1967, on Sun Ra's own label Saturn. The album brings together a number of eras and personnel of the Arkestra, and was probably mostly recorded...
. An early white label version of the album - including other songs that ended up on Holiday For Soul Dance - was found in a Montréal record store by François Lamarche many years later;
'The test pressing was made at Sheldon Recording Studios (aka the Chess studios in Chicago) and titled simply, Music of the Future by Sun Ra Arkestra. Side A contained “Space Mates,” “But Not for Me,” and “The Others in There [sic] World.” Side B had “Lights on the [sic] Satellite,” “Day by Day,” “Ankhnaton,” and “Holiday for Strings.” The pressing contains Alton Abraham's home address at 4115 South Drexel and gives a Montréal address and phone number for Sun Ra. It was therefore cut in August or September 1961. However, the Arkestra's relocation to New York disrupted the plan. Saturn did not actually issue any LPs from this session till 1965, and when they began to appear, the tracks had been redistributed.
Release of the session
After having released three albums in the previous eight years - Super-Sonic JazzSuper-Sonic Jazz
Super-Sonic Jazz is an album by Sun Ra, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn records, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s...
(1957), Jazz in Silhouette
Jazz in Silhouette
Jazz in Silhouette is a jazz album by Sun Ra and His Arkestra. Recorded on March 6, 1959 and released May of the same year. The album was recorded in Chicago during a session that also included the whole of Sound Sun Pleasure!! and Interstellar Low Ways from the album of the same name...
(1959) and When Sun Comes Out
When Sun Comes Out
For the song by Harold Arden and Ted Koehler, see When the Sun Comes OutWhen Sun Comes Out is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra...
(1963) - Saturn released four albums in 1965. Along with Fate In A Pleasant Mood, Angels and Demons at Play
Angels and Demons at Play
Angels and Demons at Play is a jazz album by the American musician Sun Ra 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 , around 17 June 1960 whilst the tracks on side two were...
(recorded 1956-60), Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow
Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow
Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra. Often considered the first of Ra's 'outside' recordings , the album was the first to make extensive use of a discovery by the Arkestra's drummer and engineer, Tommy Hunter;Art Forms of...
(recorded 1961-62) and Secrets of the Sun
Secrets of the Sun
Secrets of the Sun is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra. The album is considered one of the more accessible recordings from his 'Solar' period...
(recorded 1962) were all released this year. ESP also released The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One
The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One
The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One is a 1965 album by the jazz musician Sun Ra. The back cover describes it as an "album of compositions and arrangements by Sun Ra played by Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra"....
at the same time.
12" Vinyl
All songs were written by Sun Ra unless otherwise noted.Side A:
- The Others In Their World - (2.15)
- Space Mates - (7.10)
- Lights Of A Satellite - (3.39)
Side B:
- Distant Stars (Ra-Boykins) - (2.54)
- Kingdom Of Thunder (Ra-Allen) - (3.50)
- Fate In A Pleasant Mood - (2.44)
- Ankhnaton - (3.25)
Musicians
The original sleeve credits the following musicians;- Sun Ra - Piano
- Phil CohranPhil CohranKelan Phil Cohran is a jazz musician. He is known most for his trumpet contributions in the Sun Ra Arkestra in Chicago during 1959-1961 and for his involvement in the foundation of the AACM.-Biography:...
- Trumpet - George Hudson - Trumpet
- John GilmoreJohn Gilmore (musician)John Gilmore was an American jazz tenor saxophone player best-known for his long tenure as a member of Sun Ra's Arkestra...
- Tenor Sax - Marshall AllenMarshall AllenMarshall Belford Allen is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EVI ....
- Alto Sax - Ronnie BoykinsRonnie BoykinsRonnie Boykins 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 prior to joining Sun Ra's Arkestra.-Biography:He joined the Arkestra during the Chicago...
- Bass - Eddy Skinner - Drums
According to Sun Ra's discographer Robert Campbell, however, the five tracks recorded at the RCA Studios - "The Others in Their World", "Space Mates", "Lights On A Satellite", "Fate in a Pleasant Mood" and "Ankhnaton" - featured a slightly different line-up;
- Sun Ra - Percussion, Bells, Gong and Piano
- Phil Cohran - Cornet
- Nate Pryor - Trombone and Bells
- John Gilmore - Tenor Sax and Clarinet, percussion
- Marshall Allen - Alto Sax, Flute, Bells
- Ronnie Boykins - Bass
- Jon Hardy - Drums
According to Campbell, "Kingdom of Thunder", recorded during rehearsals around the same time, shares the same line-up but with Lucious Randolph replacing Phil Cohran on trumpet, and Nate Pryor stepping out. "Distant Stars", recorded at the Wonder Inn, Chicago, around October 1960, shares the same line up as "Kingdom of Thunder", except for George Hudson on the trumpet instead of Cohran.