Jazz Archives

Along with Lanquidity, Nuclear War is one of the rarest discs in Sun Ra's enormous catalog. Recorded in 1982, Nuclear War disappeared until 2001 when the Chicago-based Atavistic label made it part of their exceptional "Unheard Music Series." Originally Ra was so sure the funky dance track was a hit, he immediately took it to Columbia Records, where they immediately rejected it. Why he thought a song with the repeating chant "Nuclear War, they're talking about Nuclear War/It's a motherf***er, don't you know/if they push that button, your ass gotta go/and whatcha gonna do without your ass" would be a hit is another puzzle in the Sun Ra myth. Even with the danceability factor, without heavy censoring, the song would never be played on the radio. Severely depressed by the rejection, but still determined, Ra licensed the track to Y Records, a post-punk label out of Britain. Initially a vinyl 12" was released with "Sometimes I'm Happy" on the flip side. Two years later, Nuclear War was released as an album, but only in Italy. The remaining tracks include four originals and three standards, Ellington's "Drop Me Off in Harlem," "Sometimes I'm Happy," and "Smile." The latter two are highlights in their own right thanks to the gorgeous vocals of June Tyson.

:::Review by Al Campbell:::

Sun Ra - Nuclear War (1982)

1. Nuclear War 7:44
Vocals – June Tyson
2 Retrospect 5:40
3 Drop Me Off In Harlem 5:03
Written-By – Ellington
4 Sometimes I'm Happy 4:27
Vocals – June Tyson
Written-By – Caesar, Youmans
5 Celestial Love 5:30
6 Blue Intensity 5:14
7 Nameless One No. 2 3:59
8 Smile 4:25
Vocals – June Tyson
Written-By – Chaplin

Credits
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Marshall Allen
Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Danny Ray Thompson
Bass – Hayes Burnett
Bassoon, Percussion [Infinity Drum] – James Jacson
Congas, Percussion – Atakatune
Drums – Samarai Celestial
French Horn – Vincent Chancey
Piano, Synthesizer, Organ, Vocals – Sun Ra
Tenor Saxophone – John Gilmore
Trombone, Vocals – Tyron Hill
Trumpet – Walter Miller

The band Sun Ra had at the end of the '70s was surely the funkiest he ever had, with electric bassist Steve Clarke (in tandem with upright player Richard Williams) and the twin guitars of Taylor Richardson and Skeeter McFarland. This is the band that recorded the infamous On Jupiter album, and the slightly different band lineup for Sleeping Beauty (recorded just two weeks later) suggests that Strange Celestial Road was recorded between the two, based on the hybrid band lineup. "Celestial Road" kicks things off, where electric bass, arco bass and wah-wah guitar set the stage for a great June Tyson vocal and then solos from John Gilmore, Michael Ray, Sun Ra, and Damon Choice on vibes. "Say" has a great electric bassline and joyous horn charts, and swings mightily with a vaguely Latin rhythm. There's a fine electric guitar solo, as well as some more fantastic playing from Gilmore. Ra's keyboard sounds and soloing are particularly deranged on this album, but never get into the purely noisy realm. "I'll Wait for You" is the real treat of this album, featuring a great mellow groove and wonderful ensemble vocals led by the beautiful June Tyson. There's plenty of fine soloing on this track as well, but the main attraction is the mix by Ra and Michael Ray. There's a dub-like element to the way the instruments and voices are treated and mixed in and out, but this is dub by way of Saturn, and the mix is at least as weird and wonderful as anything Lee Perry has done. This is an overlooked album in an unwieldy discography, but it's a real gem and the fact that it's on the Rounder label should make it easier to find than many of the Arkestra's other albums. Recommended.

:::Review by Sean Westergaard:::

Sun Ra - Strange Celestial Road (1980)

1. Celestial Road 7:03
2. Say 12:10
3. I'll Wait For You 16:05

Credits
Bass - Richard Williams, Steve Clarke
Drums - Luqman Ali , Reg McDonald
French Horn - Vincent Chancey
Guitar - Skeeter McFarland , Taylor Richardson
Keyboards - Sun Ra
Percussion - Artaukatune
Reeds - Danny Ray Thompson , Eloe Omoe , Hutch Jones , James Jacson , John Gilmore , Kenny Williams , Marshall Allen , Noel Scott , Sylvester Baton
Trombone - Craig Harris, Tony Bethel
Trumpet - Curt Pulliam , Michael Ray , Walter Miller
Vibraphone [Vibes] - Damon Choice , Harry Wilson
Vocals - June Tyson , Rhoda Blount