Strut is proud to present a new edition of one of Sun Ra’s most celebrated albums, Sleeping Beauty, reissued for the first time in its original artwork!
Originally released in 1979 on his independent label Saturn, Sleeping Beauty captures Sun Ra and his Arkestra at their most soulful and serene. A true lesson in cosmic jazz, the album blends lush grooves, celestial soul and meditative funk with Ra’s singular spiritual vision, a sound that is both grounded and otherworldly.
The album emerged in the late 1970s, a particularly fertile period for Sun Ra in New York City. Between 1978 and 1982, Ra “occupied” the Variety Recording Studios on West 42nd Street, often organizing marathon sessions after Arkestra’s nightly gigs around the city, from the Village Vanguard to Sweet Basil, even including a wedding in Central Park. These weren’t just recordings; they were rituals. Ra and his core musicians — John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, June Tyson, Michael Ray and others — would begin sessions mid-morning and often go past midnight, much to the studio owner’s dismay. From this creative whirlwind emerged some of his most striking works, including A Fireside Chat With Lucifer, On Jupiter and Sleeping Beauty.
This new edition features a carefully selected version of the hand-drawn original artwork, stamped with the Sun Ra logo and housed in a heavyweight tip-on sleeve. Liner notes are provided by Arkestra member Knoel Scott and Sun Ra expert Paul Griffiths. The album has been remastered by Technology Works.
“Music is a language. You see, it’s not notes — it’s a language of the spirit. That’s why it’s so important.” Sun Ra
