Sun Ra; Claude Dangerfield, design

[Unused Sun Ra Album Art] “When Sun Comes Out”

[Chicago]: El Saturn Records, ca. 1963. Offset. 22 ½ x 12 ½ in. Near fine. Item #6820

Original proof sheet of unused album artwork from El Saturn Records for the 1963 Sun Ra album, When Sun Comes Out, printed in red and blue ink on goldenrod paper. This is the first of many Sun Ra albums to be recorded at the Choreographer’s Workshop, the Arkestra’s rehearsal space in New York.

This alternate artwork was never used in any releases of the album, and is therefore incredibly scarce. Designed by Claude Dangerfield, who designed many album covers and promotional artworks for Sun Ra beginning in the late-1950s. Dangerfield was a DuSable high school student alongside Arkestra members John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, and manager Alton Abraham. Many of Dangerfield’s early designs were never used as album artwork and only survive as original sketches or proofs, such as this work.

When Sun Comes Out was a landmark record for Sun Ra: it was the first New York recording to be released with Ra’s own El Saturn Records, and featuring Tommy Hunter’s first stereo recordings at the Choreographer’s Workshop.

A remarkable trace of Sun Ra’s early visual language and a heretofore unseen Sun Ra album artwork.

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