Originally released in 1979 on his independent Saturn label, Sleeping Beauty captures Sun Ra and his Arkestra at their most soulful and serene. A masterclass in cosmic jazz, the album blends lush grooves, celestial soul, and meditative funk with Ra"s singular spiritual vision - a sound both grounded and otherworldly. The album emerged during an extraordinarily fertile period for Sun Ra in late-"70s New York. Between 1978 and 1982, Ra "occupied" Variety Recording Studios on West 42nd Street, often staging marathon sessions following late-night Arkestra gigs around the city - from the Village Vanguard to Sweet Basil and even a wedding in Central Park. These were not just recordings; they were rituals. Ra and his core players - John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, June Tyson, Michael Ray, and others - would begin sessions mid-morning, often continuing past midnight, much to the dismay of the studio owner. Out of this creative whirlwind came some of his most enduring work, including A Fireside Chat With Lucifer, On Jupiter, and Sleeping Beauty.[info sheet from distr.]