LOST TREASURES – Larry Norman

Posted on 23 September 2016

Lost Treasures

LARRY NORMAN

“Upon This Rock”

larry-norman

Geeky pop fans can argue interminably about what was the first rock ’n’ roll record: was it Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket 88,” Goree Carter’s “Rock Awhile,” Wynonie Harris’ “Good Rockin’ Tonight” or one of any number of other contenders? Similar arguments can be had about the first punk record, the first psych record, the first country rock record, and on and on. Well, to my knowledge there is much less doubt as to what was the first Christian rock album. It’s Larry Norman’s Upon This Rock, released in 1969. Now, I know that the very expression “Christian rock” can put off some pop fans, but in this case at least, that’s a real pity. Upon This Rock is a first-rate album, full of terrific songs with arrangements that are by turns soulful, baroque and introspective. The lyrics and vocals are as emotionally direct as John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band LP and though I am myself agnostic, I continue to be moved by Norman’s courage and musical invention.

 

Norman, though born in Texas, was raised in San Francisco and played in various bands in high school before joining the San Jose band People! in 1966. Signed to Capitol Records, the band enjoyed a top twenty hit with their cover of The Zombies “I Love You” in 1968. Norman left the band before People!’s first album was released later that year. Capitol, however, kept Norman under contract to assist in providing music for rock musicals and, impressed with both the quality of his work and his ability to complete his projects in a timely manner, agreed to finance and release a solo album. Norman was given complete creative control and, while Capitol was surprised by the militant Christian themes of the resulting album, Upon This Rock was released in 1970.

 

The album combines roots, rock, gospel, psychedelia and folk without any affectation. Norman’s writing and production is eclectic, but always earnest and honest. It’s one of the most appealing things about the album. The opener, “You Can’t Take Away the Lord,” is an upbeat, funky number with an irresistible feel. The lyrics are at once irreverent and steadfast—a real feat and one of the hallmarks of Norman’s writing. “I Don’t Believe in Miracles” is a gentle psych-folk ballad with a beautiful melody, lush harmonies and a nice supporting string arrangement. It is my favorite track on the record. “Moses in the Wilderness” is a talking blues with a great psych bridge that alternates between aggressive stabs and gentle fairy voices. I know of no other song quite like it. “Walking Backward Down the Stairs” is a baroque-pop ballad with lyrics that evoke an M.C. Escher design. “Sweet Song of Salvation” is a more conventional gospel number, presented in a ’70s AM radio arrangement (much like Ocean’s “Put Your Hand in the Hand”) with vocals that land somewhere between impassioned and unhinged. He’s not quite singing in tongues, but it’s close! “The Last Supper” is the most challenging track on the album, even harrowing. It features only piano and voice and recounts the familiar tale of the Last Supper before falling apart in a free-form improvisation that I think most listeners will find self-indulgent and off-putting. I’m a big fan of the album and I’m not even sure what to make of it. “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” is one of Norman’s best known songs, a simple folk number that combines a wistful melody with a gentle string arrangement (the last line of the chorus provided the title for the very popular series of Left Behind books and movies). “Nothing Really Changes” is a great track, shifting from style to style with ease and grace, periodically returning to a hooky, almost sing-song chorus, before segueing into choral reprises of some of the previous songs on the album.

 

When Upon This Rock was first released by Capitol in December of 1969, the response was quite negative on all fronts. Norman was vilified by religious leaders for tainting the gospel with rock ’n’ roll, at that time held by the church to be no more than the devil’s music. Rock critics were put off by the Christian themes and Norman’s blunt lyrics and often stark vocals. Just two months later, Capitol dropped Norman from their roster and ceased distributing the album. John Benson’s Heartwarming label, which specialized in gospel recordings, leased the album from Capitol and began distributing it to Christian bookstores, where it was typically sold only from behind the counter. Sales were brisk, however, and in May 1970, Capitol released a promo single from the album, “Sweet Song of Salvation” b/w “Walking Backwards Down the Stairs,” though it failed to generate significant airplay. Norman went on to record nearly twenty more albums—for nearly as many different record labels―including what many believe to be his finest record, 1971’s Only Visiting This Planet (originally released by MGM). Only Visiting This Planet is a much more polished and confident album and for that very reason, is in my view a less interesting and less personal record. After suffering from heart problems for many years, Norman passed away in 2008 at the age of 60.

 

Upon This Rock was reissued on CD in 2009 on Norman’s own Solid Rock label and is readily available. The original vinyl is a little harder to find, but there are always copies available on the second-hand market, usually selling for $15-25. Whether you’re a person of faith or, even more, skeptical that a Christian rock album can be a classic, you’ve got to check this one out!

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Pop Pioneer and “Lost Treasures” writer, Peter Marston is the leader of long-running power pop band, Shplang, whose most recent album, “My Big Three Wheeler” has been described as “the Beatles meet Zappa in pop-psych Sumo match.”  Peter has a new project in 2015 under the name MARSTON.   Marston have a track on the latest “Power Pop Planet – Volume 5” compilation just out now and available at:  www.PopGeekHeavenStore.com.

CHECK OUT SHPLANG out at this link:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shplang

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LINKS:

Home Page :  www.larrynorman.com

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upon_This_Rock_(Larry_Norman_album)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Norman

All Music Guide:  http://www.allmusic.com/album/upon-this-rock-mw0000883089

Discogs:   https://www.discogs.com/Larry-Norman-Upon-This-Rock/release/3427788

Blog Post:   http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Larry_Norman/Upon_This_Rock/51301/

Blog Post:  http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/52043/Larry-Norman-Only-Visiting-This-Planet/

Blog Post:  http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/artists/norman_larry.aspx?mobile=false&u=1

VIDEO:

“Nothing Really Changes”

“Sweet Song Of Salvation”

“Forget Your Hexagram”

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