SPIRITUAL UNITY

Tracks

1.   Ghosts: first variation                     (5:01)

2.   The Wizard                                        (7:26)

3.   Spirits                                                 (6:46)     [‘Alternate take’ 7:45 - further details below]

4.   Ghosts: second variation             (10:11)

(All compositions by Albert Ayler)

Personnel

Albert Ayler   (tenor saxophone)

Gary Peacock   (bass)

Sunny Murray   (drums)

Recording Details

July 10, 1964

New York

Release Details

Released as Spiritual Unity, ESP (USA) 1002, (Japan) MJ7101, BT5002, 15PJ2021, SFX10712, Fontana (UK) SFJL933, ESP Explosive (France) 538.107, (Europe) 858.122FPY, America (France) AM6000,  Venus Records (Japan) TKCZ-36010, ZYX-Music (Germany) ESP 1002-2 (CD),Get Back (Italy) GET1001 (vinyl), GET 1001P (vinyl picture disc), GET 1001CD, Calibre (Netherlands) ESPCD 1002, Abraxas (Italy) ESPCD 1002, ESP (USA) ESPCD 1002 (re-released in 2005, containing previously unreleased photos). Also included in The Complete Esp Disk Recordings, Abraxas (Italy) ESP1.

From the sleevenotes

“The symbol ‘Y’ predates recorded history and represents the rising spirit of man.”

The ‘Alternate Take’ of ‘Spirits’

The first pressings of Spiritual Unity contained the longer, 7:45, version of ‘Spirits’. This was then replaced with the shorter version which has appeared on all the subsequent issues, apart from the 1996 gold CD version released in Japan, (Venus Records TKCZ-36010), which contains both versions. According to George Scala the disc says "Special Limited Version 24K Gold" and "Venus Records Hyper Magnum Sound®", and he also sent the following photos:

In fact, the second version of ‘Spirits’ is not an alternate take but a different tune entirely. And, to confuse matters further, neither corresponds to the tune known as ‘Spirits’ elsewhere. The first version of ‘Spirits’, appearing on the initial pressings of Spiritual Unity and subsequently referred to as the ‘alternate take’ corresponds to ‘Vibrations’ on Ghosts and The Copenhagen Tapes. The second version of ‘Spirits’ which replaced the first on subsequent pressings of Spiritual Unity appears as ‘Saints’ on Witches & Devils and The Copenhagen Tapes.
Christopher Trent sent me the label below and pointed out that some versions of Spiritual Unity (those emanating from the ESP West End Avenue address (1973-75) with the white figure on black background cover) add the subtitle, ‘(Transfiguration)’ to ‘Spirits’.

In April 2009 I emailed Bernard Stollman to see if he could clear up the ‘alternate Spirits’ question. He replied:
“I haven't a clue. This question has been raised in recent years, but I cannot shed any light today on how this occurred.”

From the ESP website

In 2005 ESP released a digitally remastered Spiritual Unity with extra photos. The following description of the recording session is taken from the ESP website (‘B’ is ESP’s founder, Bernard Stollman):

“ESP's first recording session was on July 10, 1964, in the tiny Variety Arts Recording Studio, just off Times Square. Just before 1 PM, SUNNY MURRAY arrived, a large, genial walrus, moving and speaking with an easy agility that belied his appearance. GARY PEACOCK was next, tall, thin, ascetic looking, and soft spoken, with an introspective and kindly demeanor. ALBERT AYLER was last, small, wary and laconic. The walls of the reception area were covered with Latin album jackets. The engineer quickly set up the mikes and began the session. B sat outside in the reception area with Annette Peacock, Gary's wife. As the music was heard through the open outer door of the control room, felt a sense of jubilation. At one point, the engineer fled the control room for a few minutes, but returned in time to change the tape for the next selection. When the session was over, B learned that it had been recorded in monaural, although he remembered requesting a stereo recording. Happily, the engineer Joe had properly miked and mixed the session, and the recording stands today as a classic of the genre. After the session, the participants sat in a coffee shop next door, while they were paid and signed recording agreements. A few days later, B saw them off on their flight to Europe from Idlewild International Airport for a European tour. DON CHERRY was with them.”

***

Regarding the covers of Spiritual Unity, the following information is taken from Michael Fitzgerald’s ESP-disk page:

“1002: Several covers: one is the black-on-white, which has been used for the Get Back vinyl reissue, the other was inverted white-on-black. There is also a copy that has red graphics on a white jacket and 200 were pressed with black ink (possible silk screened) on orange jacket.

"The first (or pre-release) is orange with red (burgundy) silk screened, orange base is painted on white cardboard cover with booklet poem by Paul Haines. The first 200 copies were numbered but unknown how many copies were pressed. There's even two label variations: One has handwritten characters printed and the other is normal (???) red with black typing." - Katsuhiro Imai

"Actually there are three cover versions, the first one being rose on white and was in mono without the Library of Congress info on the bottom of the front cover. The back cover was actually hand-written (!) and the first 100 copies came with an 12 page brochure containing several more drawings by Howard Bernstein (who also did the front-cover drawing) and Paul Haines's 11-page piece, AYLER-PEACOCK-MURRAY-YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC. I have this info directly from Mr. Haines." - Gregor Kessler”

***

The Spiritual Unity booklet

***

In July 2002 one of the original signed copies of Spiritual Unity was sold on ebay for $1,725. The pictures below show Albert Ayler’s signature on the sleeve and the record label.

(LP cover)

(Reviews of Spiritual Unity)

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