Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra 　　Rocket Number Nine (retitled Interstellar Low Ways) 　　Saturn SR 9956-2-M/N (mid 60s) 　　Saturn LP 203 　　Evidence 22039 (CD, 1992) 　　Side A: 　　Onward (Ra) (3:30) 　　Ra-p; George Hudson-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. 　　If Edward Skinner is actually present on this LP, it would be on this track. 　　Somewhere in Space (Ra) (2:58) 　　Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy, d. 　　Interplanetary Music (Ra) (2:22) 　　Ra-p; Ronnie Boykins-b, space gong; Jon Hardy-d; Marshall Allen-perc; John Gilmore-perc. All sing. 　　Different version from the one on We Travel the Spaceways. 　　Interstellar Low Ways (Ra) (8:20) 　　Ra-p, chimes, gong; Marshall Allen-fl (solo); John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-fl, bells, claves; Ronnie Boykins-b; William Cochran-d. 　　This might be Hardy on drums but it's consistent with Cochran's mallet-on-tom-tom routine and there are no Hardy trademarks. Cohran doesn't recall working with Patrick at the time. It could be Ronald Wilson, who also played flute, or the piece could be from 1959. 　　Side B: 　　Space Loneliness (Ra) (4:28) 　　Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. 　　This is the slow version, featuring the harmonies that Gilmore, Allen, and Cohran worked out for the head arrangement. [Cohran] 　　Space Aura (Ra) (3:07) 　　Ra-p; George Hudson-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. 　　Chase correctly notes that there is no baritone sax on this piece -- it's just forceful low register playing from Gilmore and Allen. 　　Rocket Number Nine Take off for the Planet Venus (Ra) (6:11) 　　Ra-p; Phil Cohran-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Ronnie Boykins-b; Jon Hardy-d. Ensemble voc. 　　Cohran recalls recording this piece, and says that the drummer is Jon Hardy. Probably made in rehearsal. 　　Various locations, Chicago, late 1960. [personnel from Saturn jacket; soloists from jacket, rest is rlc's guess]. 　　Phil Cohran says late 1960 or perhaps January 1961, which is when he left the Arkestra. Hudson was being groomed to replace him at the time. The 1967 Saturn catalog lists Jon Hardy as the only percussionist. The later Saturn jacket has William Cochran and Edward Skinner, and credits Skinner for the drum solo on Rocket Number Nine (hence all the discographies, including mine up to now). According to John Gilmore, Edward Skinner was from Memphis and joined the band around the same time as George Hudson (who was also from Memphis). Ricky Murray suggests that Skinner and Hudson were cousins. That means that if Skinner realy appears on any released Saturn recordings from this period, they would almost certainly be ones with Hudson on trumpet. Skinner did appear on later recordings (starting in 1977) -- by then he had changed his name to Luqman Ali. 　　Originally issued as Rocket Number Nine with a Sun Ra monogram cover (complete with burning candle sticking out of the R); advertised as such in the 1967 Sun Ra catalog. New title and red on white cover were in place by the 1969 Saturn poster/catalog. [rlc; thanks to Trent for the 1969 catalog]