Atlantis is an album by Jazz musician Sun Ra

Sun Ra

Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...

 and his Astro-Infinity Arkestra released in 1969.

The album heavily features the "Solar Sound Instrument" - a Hohner Clavinet

Clavinet

A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...

. One of the 4 compositions which originally featured on Side 1 of the original release was substituted by a different piece for the 1973 reissue, though reusing the same name, "Yucatan". Both pieces appear on the later CD reissue.

The title track covered the second side of the LP and is regarded as a key prototype for Sun Ra's performances through the 1970s. It was recorded at a 1967 concert at the Olatunji

Babatunde Olatunji

Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist.- Biography :Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at...

 Center of African Culture in New York and has been described as "a masterpiece that twists and turns through many soundscapes".

'[The title track Atlantis is] one of Ra's most epic pieces, which is free or "space" jazz at its most invigorating. While virtually indescribable, the sonic churnings and juxtaposed images reveal a brilliant display of textures and tonalities set against an ocean of occasional rhythms. Its diversity alone makes this is an essential entry in the voluminous Sun Ra catalog.' Lindsay Planer

12" Vinyl

All songs by Sun Ra

Side A:

1. "Mu
   Mu (lost continent)
   Mu is the name of a hypothetical continent that allegedly existed in one of Earth's oceans, but disappeared at the dawn of human history.The concept and the name were proposed by 19th century traveler and writer Augustus Le Plongeon, who claimed that several ancient civilizations, such as those of...
   
   " – 4:30
2. "Lemuria
   Lemuria (continent)
   Lemuria is the name of a hypothetical "lost land" variously located in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The concept's 19th century origins lie in attempts to account for discontinuities in biogeography; however, the concept of Lemuria has been rendered obsolete by modern theories of plate tectonics...
   
   " – 5:02
3. "Yucatan
   Yucatán
   Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
   
   " (either Saturn version, 5:27 or Impulse! version, 3:38)
4. "Bimini
   Bimini
   Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas composed of a chain of islands located about 53 miles due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles west-northwest of Nassau...
   
   " – 5:45

Side B:

1. "Atlantis
   Atlantis
   Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
   
   " – 21:51

Side one probably recorded at Sun Studios, New York (the Arkestra's commune) between 1967 and 1969 ; side two was recorded at Olatunji's cultural center on 125th Street, NY, in 1967 . When reissued on Evidence, both versions of Yucatan were included back to back.

Production

Produced by: Ihnfinity Inc. and Alton Abraham

Musicians:

Sun Ra - Solar Sound Organ, Solar Sound Instrument
John Gilmore

John Gilmore (musician)

John Gilmore was an American jazz tenor saxophone player best-known for his long tenure as a member of Sun Ra's Arkestra...

- Tenor Saxophone, Percussion
Pat Patrick- Baritone Saxophone, Flute
Marshall Allen

Marshall Allen

Marshall Belford Allen is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EVI ....

- Alto Saxophone, Oboe

Danny Thompson - Alto Saxophone, Flute

Bob Barry - Drums, Lightning Drum

Wayne Harris - Trumpet

Ebah - Trumpet

Carl Nimrod - Space Drums

James Jacson - Log Drums

Robert Cummins - Bass Clarinet

Danny Davis - Alto Saxophone

Ali Harsan - Trombone

Liner Notes

"The Dead Past"

The civilizations of the past have been used as the foundation of the civilization of today. Because of this, the world keeps looking toward the past for guidance. Too many people are following the past. In this new space age, this is dangerous. The past is DEAD and those, who are following the past are doomed to die and be like the past. It is no accident that those who die are said to have passed since those who have PASSED are PAST.