Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

7. Sun RaCosmic Tones For Mental Therapy

I should say I love all Sun Ra. I love when he plays in, I love when he plays out, or in between. This one seems to be a bit of an outlier in the discography. The recording has that really heavy delay on some of the songs that’s really bizarre. I don’t know of any record that sounds like that. I mean, most Sun Ra records are pretty unique, but even within the Sun Ra discography, this record really stands out. It just has an alien atmosphere that… I don’t even really know how to describe this record well.

I think it might have been the first Sun Ra that I heard as well, so maybe that’s why it sticks with me a bit through all the other Sun Ra. But Sun Ra is my number one go-to when I have people over for dinner or whatever. I think all my friends are getting kind of sick of it because I just reach for my stack of Sun Ra records and put them on all night long. There’s something about him. I really like him.

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Nate Young
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