Sun Ra – The Magic City

It would be great to enter a one-word review. Wow!

If anyone has a copy of this pressing, please a better photo of the liner notes - the current photo is unreadable!

I am extremely blessed to have picked up the best version (1973 first colored sleeve) of this album completely sealed and in minty condition still, one of my absolute favorites. I can’t wait to crack it open and play it, but will refrain until I upgrade my stereo! While I would have happily paid hundreds for this sealed masterpiece (Which for those interested is on Stereo Gatefold), I managed to get it only for $70. What a steal.

Favorite Track: The Shadow World

🕴🌃🍄

Any comments on the overall audio quality of this repress?

I have never been a fan of Free Jazz (or space jazz when it comes to Sun ra.) I had never heard of Sun ra before, Nor have I heard the album when i placed the barely played LP on my turntable.

Like i said, I dislike free jazz, and this is just downright crap to my ears. Lots of abstract sounds, terrible production, knocking noises while drums play out of tempo. (Probably something for you?)

I'll be selling my almost "unplayed" Sun-Ra album. Keep an eye open.

Great album, very atmospheric and deep, one of Sun Ra's finest works, especially the title track on the A-side which reminds of a modern, atonal chamber symphony, dominated by futuristic flute sounds and echoing effects from a microphone getting hit by a finger; later the saxophones in and mess it all up, maybe even a bit too chaotic at the peak. Also the B-side features some good grooves, "Abstract Eye" with a wonderful deep cello or double bass, "Abstract 'I'" with a great dark and dreamy percussion, and "The Shadow World" with a fast, forward driving percussion and very wild saxophones.

Unfortunately, my record (I own the Saturn reissue on 180 gram vinyl) is strictly MONO (at least the A-side, B is stereo), and I wonder if the Impulse-pressing is really stereo (like mentioned on the labels). Maybe someone here can answer this? Are there real stereo effects on this record? I suppose it would make a big difference since this album relies very much on its wide sound panorama...

This album is a great free jazz listen and most of it is fairly soft. I would say it's almost more of an orchestral piece as well, the title track mostly. The title track is a great piece. It starts off very slow moving and light and then starts to pick up finally at the 15 minute mark and hardky gives you time to rest and collect your thoughts. I really like the piano in it too and wish there was more of it.

The Shadow World starts off softly again with rolling type thunder jazz. It almost has a hard-bop feel to it for a while. This track suits its title very well and I consider it pretty dark, for free-jazz. At 3 minutes various instruments slowly creep in, horns and piano, until a certain mess starts to form. A very well done track and probably my favorite on the album.

Abstract Eye, being under 3 minutes, is a nice little set with bleeding cello strokes and low horn sounds hidden in the background. It ends with some light flute play and rolling tom drums. Not a great piece but it does the trick.

Abstract "I" is kind of a part II from the last track. The same type of style but with more sounds added. Overall it ends the album very nicely.