Reissue of the Week: Do The Impossible: Original Soundtrack, by Sun Ra

Why It Matters

By pairing a high‑profile documentary with a curated soundtrack, the release reintroduces Sun Ra to a mainstream audience, potentially expanding his cultural footprint and driving legacy‑artist revenue streams.

Key Takeaways

• Tracks follow film sequence, ignoring Sun Ra's chronological evolution
• Most pieces trimmed to two‑minute excerpts, losing depth
• Big‑band tributes highlight Fletcher Henderson influence, appealing to newcomers
• Free‑jazz era omitted, limiting representation of Sun Ra's avant‑garde role
• Documentary exposure on PBS may boost streaming and vinyl sales

Pulse Analysis

Sun Ra’s mythic persona has long hovered at the fringe of jazz scholarship, but a wave of reissues and two new documentaries is thrusting him into the cultural mainstream. "Do The Impossible," now part of PBS’s American Masters series, offers a comprehensive narrative of his transformation from Birmingham prodigy to interstellar bandleader. The film’s national broadcast introduces his avant‑garde philosophy to viewers who may have never encountered his work, creating a fertile ground for renewed commercial interest in his catalog.

The accompanying soundtrack attempts to distill four decades of Sun Ra’s output into a 75‑minute listening experience. By preserving the documentary’s order, the compilation sacrifices chronological clarity, and most tracks are edited down to two‑minute vignettes. Iconic pieces like "Spontaneous Simplicity" and "Door To The Cosmos" are dramatically shortened, stripping away the immersive, exploratory qualities that defined his live performances. While the big‑band renditions honor his reverence for Fletcher Henderson, the omission of his free‑jazz milestones leaves a critical gap for serious aficionados.

From a market perspective, the synergy between a high‑visibility documentary and a streamlined soundtrack is a strategic move to monetize legacy jazz assets. Streaming platforms and specialty vinyl labels stand to benefit as new listeners seek out Sun Ra’s original recordings after exposure on PBS. The curated, accessible format may serve as a gateway, prompting deeper dives into his extensive discography and live archives. Ultimately, the release underscores how curated media can revitalize an artist’s relevance, translating cultural curiosity into measurable sales and streaming growth.