This special 60th Anniversary reissue of groundbreaking jazz artist Sun Ras iconic 1962 album The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra features all-analog re-mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The package includes Tom Wilsons original liner notes, plus insightful new essays by jazz historian Ben Young, as well as by Irwin Chusid, who is also a journalist, radio personality, and author.

Engineered byPaul Cady, the sessions featured nine players, including Ra on piano,Bernard McKinney(later known asKiane Zawadi, on trombone and euphonium),Marshall Allen(alto sax, flute, among other reed instruments),John Gilmore(tenor sax, bass clarinet),Pat Patrick(bass saxophone),Ronnie Boykins(bass),Willie Jones(drums),Leah Ananda(conga), andRicky Murray(vocals).

Recorded in just one day, onOctober 10, 1961,The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Rafeatured 11 tracks.Among the selections is the Latin-influenced opener,Bassism,the bluesyOf Sounds and Something Else,and the aptly named,Whats That?,which breaks into a four-saxophone improvisation, stands out as an example of Ras early experimental work.