OK so like I said: here on Sun Ra's 106th birthday - my top ten Sun Ra albums!

(In no particular order.)

UNITY (1978) - This isn't a preferred album for a lot of his followers because not many people have heard it. This live recording was released on the Italian Horo label, and it captures the Arkestra in all of its glory. If you find a copy, don't let go!

MY BROTHER THE WIND (1970) - Ra is my favorite synthesizer player of all time! He bent waves of sound to fit his will. The Cosmic Myth Records version has plenty of noisy bonus tracks!

LANQUIDITY (1978) - Everyone enjoys this one - it's one of his more "accessible" records. The band is particularly tight and Sonny plays some irresistible solos here. It's kind of a funk album! Kind of.

SINGLES (2016) - When I attended Eastern Michigan University, someone gave me a cassette of Ra's singles which I listened to incessantly until it broke somewhere in Wyoming. I was crushed! Luckily we live in the future now.

THE COMPLETE DETROIT JAZZ CENTER RESIDENCY (1980-1981) - For diehards only! The guy who ran the Transparency Records label hand assembled these box sets. I believe he burned the CDs off of his computer! 26 hours in length!

DISCO 3000 (1978) - Everyone gives it their all in this 1978 quartet concert. Tons of effervescent electronics and the unrivaled tenor sax of John Gilmore! Find it!

REFLECTIONS IN BLUE (1987) - Sun Ra's late-period recordings are somewhat underrated, but I love the warmth of the albums he and the Arkestra recorded for the Black Saint label. It's like having friends (from outer space) over to the house!

GOD IS MORE THAN LOVE CAN EVER BE (1979) - It's not just another piano trio album - it's a (rarest of the rare settings for him) SUN RA piano trio album! Recently rescued from obscurity.

THE MAGIC CITY (1965) - A deep epic here. There are so many revolutionary ideas. I can't imagine how this music was received at the time.

THE NIGHT OF THE PURPLE MOON (1970) - Listen to the glory of the fabled Roksichord. This might be the first Ra album I'd recommend to a new listener. Then they'd be hooked for life.

There are dozens more. I'll probably have ten different favorites next year. Thanks to all who made it to the end of this thread!