Angels and Demons at Play

Not to be confused with Angels and Daemons at Play.
Angels and Demons at Play
Studio album by Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra
Released 1965 [1]
Recorded 1956 - 1960
Genre Jazz
Label Saturn
Impulse!
Evidence
Producer Alton Abraham
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra chronology

Holiday for Soul Dance
(1960)		 Angels and Demons at Play
(1956 - 1960)		 We Travel the Space Ways
(1956 - 1961)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic (LP) [2]
Allmusic (CD) [3]

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 (both in Chicago), around 17 June 1960,[1] whilst the tracks on side two were recorded at the RCA studios, Chicago, around February 1956. Saturn Records had issued at least three of the songs ("Medicine for a Nightmare" b/w "Urnack", and "A Call For All Demons", the B-side of an early version of the song "Saturn") as 7" singles.[1]

According to the musicologist Robert L. Campbell, the latter single was probably the very first Saturn release.[1] It was a relatively common theme of Saturn releases to feature different sessions, from different eras with different personnel, on different sides of a record. Other examples include The Invisible Shield (1962/1970) and Deep Purple (1948-57/1973).

The distinctive sleeve was designed by Sun Ra, and uses the same design on both sides, leaving no room for sleeve notes.

Track listing

12" Vinyl

All titles were written by Sun Ra, except where noted.
Side A:

  1. "Tiny Pyramids" (Ronnie Boykins) – 3:38
  2. "Between Two Worlds" – 1:56
  3. "Music from the World Tomorrow" – 2:20
  4. "Angels and Demons at Play" (Boykins) – 2:51

Side B:

  1. "Urnack" (Julian Priester) – 3:46
  2. "Medicine for a Nightmare" – 2:16
  3. "A Call for All Demons" – 4:12
  4. "Demon's Lullaby" – 2:35

The 1993 compact disc release appends the album The Nubians of Plutonia in its entirety.

Musicians

On "Urnack", "Medicine for a Nightmare", "A Call For Demons", and "Demon's Lullaby", recorded RCA Studios, Chicago, around February 1956;[1]

On "Tiny Pyramids" and "Angels And Demons At Play", RCA Studios Chicago, around June 17, 1960;[1]

On "Between Two Worlds" recorded during rehearsals at the same time;[1]

On "Music From The World Tomorrow", also recorded during rehearsals in Chicago, 1960;[1]

Release history

Date Label Format Catalog Notes
1965 Saturn Records LP 9956-2-0/P [4]
1967 Saturn Records LP LP 407 [4]
1974 Impulse! Records LP AS 9245 [4]
1993 Evidence Music CD ECD 22066-2 [5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 From Sunny Blount to Sun Ra; R Campbell
  2. ↑ Allmusic (LP) review
  3. ↑ Allmusic (CD) review
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Campbell, Robert; Joe Moudry. "Sun Ra Discography Items 1-25". Saturn Web. Birmingham, AL: Joe Moudry. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  5. ↑ Paired with The Nubians of Plutonia on a single CD.

External links