Strut proudly presents a new edition of one of Sun Ra"s most celebrated albums, Sleeping Beauty, reissued in its original artwork for the first time. 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.