Artist page · 04/07/2026
About
Over 50 albums spanning free jazz and jazz fusion; original 1976 'Cosmos' LP fetches €45+.
Known for his cosmic philosophy and experimental sound, Sun Ra led his Arkestra to create over two hundred recordings, largely on his Saturn label. His style blends free jazz and jazz fusion with a distinct spiritual and space-age aesthetic that challenged traditional jazz boundaries.
Vinyl collectors will find a rich discography with numerous reissues and original pressings, highlighted by albums such as 'Cosmos', 'Astro Black', and 'Jazz By Sun Ra Vol. 1'. His releases often feature unique pressings, including stereo, mono, quadraphonic, and colored vinyl editions.
Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
El Saturn Records · 1979
El Saturn Records · 1979
El Saturn Records · 1978
El Saturn Records · 1978
Philly Jazz · 1978
Improvising Artists Inc. · 1978
El Saturn Records · 1977
Improvising Artists Inc. · 1977
Saturn Research · 1977
El Saturn Records · 1976
Cobra · 1976
Saturn Research · 1976
El Saturn Records · 1974
El Saturn Records · 1974
El Saturn Records · 1974
El Saturn Records · 1974
Impulse! · 1973
Saturn Records · 1973
Saturn Research · 1973
Blue Thumb Records · 1973
Atlantic · 1973
El Saturn Records · 1973
Black Lion Records · 1971
Shandar · 1971
Shandar · 1971
Saturn Research · 1970
El Saturn Records · 1970
El Saturn Records · 1969
Jihad Productions · 1968
El Saturn Records · 1967
Saturn Research · 1966
ESP-Disk' · 1966
ESP-Disk' · 1966
Saturn Research · 1965
ESP-Disk' · 1965
Savoy Records · 1962
El Saturn Records · 1959
Transition · 1957
El Saturn Records · 1957
El Saturn Records · Playlist
The tracks that sum up Sun Ra's career.
The essentials
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
A studio album featuring seven tracks that mix free and spiritual jazz; original German and French pressings are actively sought after.
Combines free jazz and space-age sounds across four tracks; US original stereo and quadraphonic pressings command collector interest.
Early post-bop album showcasing ten tracks of Sun Ra’s evolving sound; highly valued for its rarity and historic significance.
Go further
Artists who share part of Sun Ra's musical DNA.
Collectors
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
The “Why this rarity” column comes from our upstream sourcing work: for each album, we explain what makes this pressing sought after by collectors (limited run, specific matrix, withdrawn edition…).
Face B
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
"I just want to play the music of the future, the sound of outer space."— Sun Ra
The German original pressing of 'Cosmos' on Cobra label, catalog number B 60005, is a prized collector’s item with a market price topping €50 in recent listings.
Released on Impulse! in 1973, this version of 'Astro Black' features stereo and quadraphonic sound formats under catalog AS-9255, attracting serious audiophiles.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra recorded over two hundred albums, predominantly released on his Saturn label, highlighting prolific creativity from the late 1950s onwards.
A pivotal early album on Transition label, this release showcases a transition in Sun Ra's style blending post-bop with his unique vision, comprising 10 tracks.
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Sun Ra was an American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1914.
His work covers free jazz, jazz fusion, avant-garde jazz, and post-bop, often incorporating experimental and space-themed elements.
Noteworthy albums include 'Cosmos' (1976), 'Astro Black' (1973), and 'Jazz By Sun Ra Vol. 1' (1957), available in various original and reissued formats.
Sun Ra’s albums were released in LP format, including mono, stereo, quadraphonic, gatefold sleeves, and sometimes limited edition colored vinyl.
Yes, 'Cosmos' was released in France in 1976 on Cobra label with catalog numbers COB 37001 and COB 37.001, with several copies available on the collector market.
The French reissues and some original pressings circulate on various marketplaces, often priced between €30 to €50 depending on condition and rarity.
He expanded jazz's boundaries through cosmic themes, experimental arrangements, and pioneering free jazz and fusion styles with his Arkestra.
Yes, his music enjoys continued appreciation among jazz enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, with daily streaming and vinyl sales tracking ongoing.
Transparency
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
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