RIP: Larry Norman, The Most Amazing Artist You Never Heard Of

[GilWave]

Mark Joseph
Huffington Post
February 26, 2008 | 12:44 AM (EST)

Larry Norman, the most amazing artist you've never heard of has died. I found Norman's 1976 record "Only Visiting This Planet" on vinyl when I was a kid and was amazed at Norman's creative genius-later I wrote a chapter on him in my book The Rock & Roll Rebellion. [note: that album was recorded by George Martin at Air Studios in London -gil]

Norman will be mentioned in obits as the Father of Christian Rock, but that's a misunderstanding of who he was. Someone once said "I'm too saved for the Sinners and the Saved don't want me around" and that best described Norman's amazing life and career.

He first cracked the pop charts in the late 60's with his band People and their smash hit "I Love You," but became disgruntled when Capitol Records wouldn't let him call his album "We Need A Whole Lot More Jesus and A Lot Less Rock & Roll" and put a painting of his Master on the cover. That led Norman to quit the band and go solo, recording for MGM Records, but they too tired of his religious imagery and Norman soon formed his own label, Solid Rock Records. The Christian world was freaked out by the blond hippie and had little use for his music and despite his association with the term "Christian Rock" he was always an outsider and always strived to make his records for everybody.

While Christian Rock is sometimes assailed as formulaic and derivative, Norman was anything but and his admirers included Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, The Pixies, Van Morrison, John Mellencamp and Sammy Davis, Jr. among others.

Martin Luther, no slouch of a songwriter himself once said "Why should the Devil have all the good tunes," and Norman took that line and wrote a memorable song "Why Should the Devil Have All The Good Music" which included these lines:

"I want the people to know that He saved my soul but I still like to listen to the radio/They say rock and roll is wrong give you one more chance/I say I feel so good I gotta get up and dance/There's nothing wrong with playing blues licks/If you gotta reason tell me to my face/Why should the Devil have all the good music"

Norman further alienated many churchgoers with his song "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" which went: "Gonorrhea on Valentine's Day/You're still looking for the perfect lay/You think rock and roll will set you free/But honey you'll be dead before you're 33"

And only the eclectic Larry Norman could write a song about his Master Jesus, comparing him to a U.F.O. and singing this memorable line: "If there's life on other planets than I'm sure that He must know and He's been there once already and has died to save their souls"

Norman gave the world one last gift as he lay dying dictating these words shortly before his heart gave out. Who wouldn't want to go out like this?

"I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home... I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone...My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside... I want to say I love you. I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort...Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again Somewhere beyond the sky. I pray that you will stay with God. Goodbye, my friends, goodbye."

YouTube - Larry Norman Song for a small circle of friends circa 1975




Wikipedia article: Larry Norman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[GilWave]

THE GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHY
originally published in 2003
Larry Norman Dotcom

Larry Norman is celebrating more than 45 years as a songwriter and performer. In 1956 he began writing his songs and performing them in public. He has continued to perform them all over the world. Instead of concentrating solely on America, he has toured exotic places like Russia, Lebanon, Israel, India, Hong Kong, and Japan. He has also performed in Western World countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, The Czech Republic, Poland, Holland, Britain, France, Italy, and Australia. He has sung in small clubs like New York’s Bitter End, and L.A.’s Troubadour, and also given concerts at The San Francisco Pop Festival and other outdoor festivals with crowds of up to 180,000. He has performed for The White House, twice - and in direct contrast, in Moscow at the 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium. He has headlined at venues like The Hollywood Bowl, The Sydney Opera House, The Palladium and London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, which he has sold out six times; once filling it twice on the same day. Only recently has he slowed down.

For almost thirty years the press has referred to him as “the father of Christian rock” because it was he who first combined rock and roll with Christian lyrics. In the 70’s Billboard Magazine called him “the most important writer since Paul Simon.” To the church, in the early years, these accolades only deepened their doubts about him. He was banned in most Bible bookstores. But in later years he began to gain wider acceptance. Christian Artists Seminar awarded him their Lifetime Achievement Award and Contemporary Christian Music Magazine named Norman's Only Visiting This Planet record the most significant and influential gospel album ever released in the field of contemporary Christian music. This kind of recognition is not new to Norman. Time Magazine once called him “the most significant artist in his field.” He has said, “I’m just an artist, reaching toward Heaven."

His recording ministry started in 1966 when he was offered a contract by Capitol Records and found himself on the same label as The Beatles and The Beach Boys. His first single, “Riding High,” was a song about the Christian life through the Holy Spirit. His first album was titled We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus, And A Lot Less Rock And Roll. Larry and his band People! opened for secular groups like The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Janis Joplin, The Byrds and many others. Larry was outspoken about his beliefs. His music was original and thought-provoking. Pete Townshend credited Larry's own rock-opera, The Epic, for inspiring the rock-opera, Tommy, recorded by The Who. In 1969 Larry recorded his third Capitol album, Upon This Rock, which introduced the songs “I Wish We’d All Been Ready,” and “Sweet Song of Salvation.”

His style of music had been controversial for almost fifteen years before the Jesus Movement sprang up. During the Fifties and Sixties, he felt pretty much alone, but when other Christians began to write songs which were more modern and rock-based, things began to change. Larry’s broken finger, held up after each song, had become the One Way sign for the 70’s movement and his song “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” had become its anthem. The film A Thief In The Night used this song as part of its storyline. Other films would later incorporate his music into their soundtracks. His ministry continued to grow. Over the years his songs were translated into more than a dozen languages, including Russian and Hebrew. His music was studied in various universities and seminaries. He became friends with writers like Francis Schaeffer, Malcolm Muggeridge, and Hal Lindsey. Larry has had over three hundred cover records of his songs by other groups, including recordings by non-gospel artists like Sammy Davis, Jr. and Petula Clark. Later, even Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Black Francis of The Pixies nee Frank Black, the group U2, and Van Morrison have called themselves fans.

LARRY HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP BY TIME MAGAZINE, BILLBOARD, RECORD WORLD, CASHBOX, SCREW, COSMOPOLITAN AND OTHER SECULAR MAGAZINES AND MANY SECULAR NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE WORLD.

TODAY, THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BUT BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE JESUS MOVEMENT, HIGH PRAISE FROM “LOW” SOURCES HEAPED EXTRA CONDEMNATION UPON HIM. . . “GUILT THROUGH ASSOCIATION.”

To the church these accolades only confirmed his secularity. Upon This Rock had been banned by the majority of Bible Bookstores for two years. Only Visiting This Planet remained in limbo for over six years. Although on stage he rarely smiled and often appeared to be almost daring an audience to like him, this enfant terrible - the “bad boy of Christian music” - was making music which could not be ignored; and finally he began to be perceived not as a “tool of Satan” but as a Christian with an unusual perspective on both secular and Christian cultures.

Upon leaving MGM Records in 1974 he started his own label, Solid Rock Records. His first recording, Orphans From Eden, was never released. His next album, In Another Land, was censored by Word Records, which insisted upon removing music they felt was “too controversial.”

When his 1976 album, Something New Under The Son, met with similar censorship, he took off on a seven-month world tour and wrote Voyage Of The Vigilant. This expansive tour was covered by journalist Steve Turner and also chronicled by photographer D.C. Riggott.

Larry toured with a rock and roll band and also performed solo sets throughout America, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and more exotic locales like Israel, Lebanon, India, Hong Kong, and Japan - but with songs like “Three Million Gods,” and “Cats Of The Coliseum,” discussing the Hindu religion and the early martyrdom of Christians in Rome, Voyage Of The Vigilant was not acceptable because it was considered too “avant garde.” It was never released.

Despite the censorship difficulties he was experiencing with his own albums, he was hitting home runs with other artists’ albums. He had found Randy Stonehill in obscurity, worked for several years to get him off of drugs, produced Welcome To Paradise, and took Randy with him all across Europe and America, which firmly established Randy’s recognition by 1977.

He had also discovered Steve Camp, who signed with Solid Rock and then asked Larry to let him sign with Myrhh. Larry had nurtured Keith Green, but felt that Keith was too restless to work with peacefully, so Keith then signed with Sparrow. A country group on the verge of breaking up came to Larry and he jump-started a new career for them with the release of the experimental rock album, Horrendous Disc. It remains Daniel Amos’ most popular work to this day. Mark Heard was working in a chicken cage factory for Spinkomatic when Larry met him. Larry invited him to join Solid Rock. With the exception of Mark, who went on to produce increasingly perceptive albums, the albums of the other artists which were released on Solid Rock, have generally been considered the most definitive albums they ever recorded.

So for what proved to be only a very short time, Larry produced other artists in addition to himself. This “golden age of Solid Rock” was still in full flower, and Larry was getting ready to sign with Warner Brothers when he was involved in the airplane accident of 1978 which injured his spine, neck, and skull - and caused him partial brain damage and silenced his literate voice for the next twelve years. After fighting with Word Records for two more years, Larry dismantled Solid Rock and moved to Europe.

He started a new label, Phydeaux - as in “Fido.” At the time, Larry joked that “if Christian music was going to the dogs, then he wanted to remain on the cutting edge.” Phydeaux released several studio compilations and bootleg style albums to compete with the illegal albums like “Live At The Mac,” being released by bootleggers and music pirates like Randy Leyton.

He was standing as far away from the music industry as possible and enjoying the distance. Basically, he was ignoring the American distributors who had for years ignored him. Through the mail he found that he could go directly to the people who well and truly understood music and his ministry.

When critics attacked his Phydeaux albums for not keeping up with the fads and trends of the current gospel industry, Larry could only laugh about it. He had been ahead of his time for years and had his music censored and banned because of it. In the Eighties, he was only vaguely interested in making his albums available to the stores.

Larry continued to travel extensively through other countries, coming back to America occasionally to report on his adventures. The 1978 airplane accident had made him seem much friendlier and more accessible than during the intensity of his earlier years. He started inviting members of the audience out to restaurants after the concerts - not to continue preaching but to listen to the stories of their lives, and their experiences. Although he remained at odds with the gospel music industry, avoided Christian television, granted very few interviews, and did not try to push his ministry as a commercial business. His ministry continued to grow.

– Larry was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MUSIC:
After recording three albums for Capitol Records, Larry left and signed with MGM Records. Working in England with The Beatles’ producer, George Martin, and the Triumvirate production team in London’s brand new Air Studios, Larry recorded his next album, Only Visiting This Planet. It contained songs like “Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music,” “The Outlaw,” and “Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus.”

In 1973, while recording So Long Ago The Garden for MGM, Larry decided to start his own record label, Solid Rock Records. He departed from MGM in 1974 and signed with ABC Records for distribution. At the time, ABC was branching out by purchasing Word Records - so suddenly Larry’s albums became more acceptable through association with Word. Before this time his albums may have been widely available at Tower Records, Peaches and other secular record stores, but they could rarely be found in Christian bookshops. As the head of his own record company, Larry displayed a talent for helping discover and develop other artists. He discovered Randy Stonehill and Keith Green, even before they had become Christians, and helped lead them to conversion. He discovered Mark Heard and helped Daniel Amos make the leap from country gospel music to futuristic rock, by releasing Horrendous Disc. He also discovered Steve Taylor, Steve Camp, Scott Wesley Brown, and other artists in their early years but was, regrettably, too busy to record.

But his desire to preach went far beyond the format of vinyl; into evangelism. He led Susan Perlman to Christ and with Moishe Rosen she developed the international ministry, Jews for Jesus. And in 1974 Larry started The Vineyard Church which met in his living room on Wednesdays in Los Angeles. It grew to become several hundred churches around the world. Musically, with Solid Rock and later Street Level Records and Phydeaux, Larry was avoiding traditional industry concepts and creating a new direction which many other bands would gravitate toward in the next decade: the alternative, independent record label.

He has been re-discovered by Christian punk and grunge and metal groups and major CCM groups who perform his songs as though they are standards. His songs have been recorded by contemporary artists like DC Talk, Rebecca St. James, Audio Adrenaline and others. His recent albums have become harder edged and even more confrontational.

more on Larry's independent labels 'Solid Rock' and 'Phydeaux' here: Larry Norman - Bio

[KingDaddyO]

Sorry to hear that GilWave. Had never heard of him before your posts ... but you've got me interested in looking him up now. It's sad that all too often (for me at least) it seems that we don't hear about many fine artists until after they are gone.

Thanks for sharing & condolences to his family & friends.

[musikwerks]

Larry pretty much started the whole CCM thing. He was a legend.

[GilWave]

Originally Posted by KingDaddyO

...you've got me interested in looking him up now. It's sad that all too often (for me at least) it seems that we don't hear about many fine artists until after they are gone.

So true.

Check out the audio production quality on Only Visiting This Planet - for 1972 it sounds incredible (I'm sure having George Martin around didn't hurt!!)

His 1991 album "Stranded in Babylon" is one of the best sounding recordings and mixes I've ever heard. Even if I have it playing in the background at a party, people will perk up their ears and ask me who it is - it so stands out.

Larry's history as "the father of Contemporary Christian Music" sometimes overshadows his accomplishments as a songwriter, arranger and producer/engineer. He was also one of the first artists to have his own record label and do his own distribution.

When he signed artists to his label, he would produce their first record and encourage them to learn the craft during the sessions. Then, for their second record he would help them find a producer who they felt understood their music and mission, and more often then not the band would co-produce thanks to what Larry had taught them.

Like Frank Zappa, Larry was very keen that artists should control their own destinies - publishing, production, distribution and marketing - so as not to run the risk of being mis-handled or marketed by some clueless record exec.

[indie]

I talked with him once and he was such a great guy. SO non judgmental and cool.

[Spud]

Home at last Larry :)

I've sung Larry's song "The Outlaw" in hundreds of settings...I don't think I've ever sung it without the thought striking me "what a great song writer!" He was a gem for sure.

Don't know a lot about the recent history of illness...but I was fortunate to speak with Randy Stonehill (a long time cronie of Larry's) about 6 or 7 years ago after a performance..I asked about Larry...where he'd been etc....and Randy mentioned health issues even back then.

A loss to us..but a fine legacy.

[Reverend Rhythm]

Larry Norman was a unique artist who refused to be labeled. He will be missed.

And for the record, I agree: Why should the devil have all the good music?

[GilWave]

Originally Posted by Spud

Don't know a lot about the recent history of illness...but I was fortunate to speak with Randy Stonehill...

I organized a benefit show for Larry back in 1994 to help pay for a defibrillator, not long after his first heart attack. The rider called for an ambulance and EMT on-site.

Larry was frail and a little shaky, but he pulled off the show without a hitch nor complaint. We gave him some oxygen from a tank between sets, that was the only help he needed. What a pro.

I worked for Eventide at the time and brought a DSP4000 to the show. I set it up at the FOH rig and recorded the show with a little pitch shift spread on his vocal and a bit of reverb, then straight to DAT off the digital out. It came out great, Larry loved it.

Randy Stonehill is another great songwriter and performer. Larry broke his own rule and recorded the first *and* second album for Randy - 'Welcome To Paradise' and 'The Sky Is Falling' - both amazing records and extremely well produced.

I booked a show with Randy two years ago in Oak Ridge, NJ and it was incredible. He had the crowd eating out of his hand, and his sense of humor had everyone in stitches. It was a solo acoustic performance. This year he is touring with a band, I hope to be able to see him again because his music is so powerful and I'd love to see it with the full band complement.

-gil

[Cosmic Closet]

Thank you for posting this about Norman and Stonehill; I have never heard of them, and now I wish I had. I will look up their music.

Best,
Claus.

[GilWave]

Claus -

From Larry, check out "I Am The Six O'Clock News" and "Great American Novel'' from 'Only Visiting This Planet', and "God, Part III" and "A Dangerous Place to Be"from 'Stranded in Babylon'

check out the lyrics from Great American Novel, written around 1970, and consider our current situation:

i was born and raised an orphan
in a land that once was free
in a land that poured its love out on the moon
and i grew up in the shadows
of your silos filled with grain
but you never helped to fill my empty spoon

and when i was ten you murdered law
with courtroom politics
and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
but i know you better now
and i don't fall for all your tricks
and you've lost the one advantage of my youth

you kill a black man at midnight
just for talking to your daughter
then you make his wife your mistress
and you leave her without water
and the sheet you wear upon your face
is the sheet your children sleep on
at every meal you say a prayer
you don't believe but still you keep on

and your money says 'In God We Trust'
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it

you are far across the ocean
but the war is not your own
and while you're winning theirs
you're gonna lose the one at home
do you really think the only way
to bring about the peace
is to sacrifice your children
and kill all your enemies

the politicians all make speeches
while the news men all take note
and they exagerate the issues
as they shove them down our throats
is it really up to them
whether this country sinks or floats
well i wonder who would lead us
if none of us would vote

well my phone is tapped and my lips are chapped
from whispering through the fence
you know every move i make
or is that just coincidence
well you try to make my way of life
a little less like jail
if i promise to make tapes and slides
and send them through the mail

and your money says "In God We Trust"
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it
you say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
don't ask me for the answer i've only got one
that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son


From Randy, I suggest "Keep Me Running" and "The Winner (High Card)" from 'Welcome to Paradise"

These are good places to start, there is so much great music from both artists it is hard to narrow down recommendations.

-g

[Cosmic Closet]

Great lyrics, Gil; I'll keep an eye out for the songs you mention.

Claus.

[Vandergraf]

Wow! I will never forget hearing "He's the rock that doesn't roll"" the first time. RIP larry.