When Angels Speak of Love is a music album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra. Originally released in 1966 on Sun Ra's own Saturn label, the record would have only been available by mail order or sold at Arkestra concerts, and is one of the rarest of all Saturn releases. The record was reissued on compact disc by Evidence in 2000.
Next stop Mars '[When Angels Speak of Love] was considered a bizarre record when it was heard even three years later, made more bizarre by extreme echo, horns straining for the shrillest notes possible, rhythms layered, their polyrhythmic effect exaggerated by massive reverberation (which was abruptly turned off and on). Next Stop Mars is the centrepiece of the album, a very long work which opens with a space chant, followed by Allen and Gilmore taking chances on their horns beyond what almost any other musician would dare at that time. Sun Ra played behind them, again relentlessly spinning around a single tonal center with two-handed independence, then rumbling thunderously at the bottom of the keyboard against Boykins's bass, a clangor made heavier by electronic enhancement.' John F Szwed Szwed, Space is the Place, John Szwed, Mojo, 2000. p199
Track listing 12" Vinyl All songs by Sun Ra Side A: "Celestial Fantasy" - (5.55) "The Idea of It All" - (7.32) "Ecstasy of Being" - (9.53) Side B: "When Angels Speak of Love" - (4.34) "Next Stop Mars" - (17.56)
Musicians Source: Sun Ra - Piano, Clavioline, Gong Walter Miller - Trumpet Marshall Allen - Oboe, Alto Saxophone, Percussion Danny Davis - Alto Sax John Gilmore - Tenor Sax, Percussion Pat Patrick - Baritone Saxophone, Percussion Robert Cummings - Bass Clarinet Ronnie Boykins - Bass Clifford Jarvis - Drums Tommy Hunter - Percussion, Reverb Ensemble vocals
Recorded at the Choreographer's Workshop, New York (the Arkestra's rehearsal space), in 1963.Sun Ra's Discography, R Campbell
Notes