It would have been Sun Ra’s 101st birthday last Friday, and to celebrate, Harte Recordings has released a 40th anniversary edition of the artist’s otherworldly cosmic trip, Space is the Place. We’ve done our share of commenting on the proliferation of Sun Ra remasters out there and how they’re organized for consumption in an Internet world, but this one—with its restored footage showcasing the film’s truly incredible sets—seems like it’s more than worth a peek. The reissue comprises a DVD, CD, and book including all the features you could want from a release like this: commentary from the directly relevant to the celebratory, the film’s producer Jim Newman to famous fans like Wayne Coyne; cut and uncut versions of the film; never-before-published photographs; and all other kinds of anniversary edition fanfare. Watch the film’s intro after the jump and check out the full details of the release at Birdman Records.
