Style: Jesus Music Rating: Cross Rhythms Product Code: 22553 Product Format: CD Catalogue Code: Solid Rock SRD-112 Content Type: Album Items: 1 Release Date:
2006 Normal Dispatch Time:1-5 days Price:£11.97RRP £15.99
Larry Norman, a name synonymous with the creation of contemporary Christian music. Now just turned 60 and back on the road after a prolonged battle against illness, Norman releases a collection of his favourite songs which are said to be laid at the bottom of his treasure chest. Made specifically for the Solid Rock Army as a free album to go with the free Phanzine magazine, this album contains all new studio recordings in acoustic style. "The Thanksgiving Song" debuts here as one of the earliest songs written by Norman and revealing his sense of humour and ability to turn a phrase, recorded at a midnight session at Mark Lemhouse's studio with an ad-libbed melody. One of the surprising standout songs is one he wrote in the early '60s called "Forever And A Day". It deals with the future he imagined would come, as it does to some of us, by going back 200 years and telling the story of a husband and wife and a calamity. Every song on this album has great personal meaning to Larry. He even adds a Bob Dylan song, because Bob never recorded or released it. It reveals an early encounter with Christ in Bob's life, written right after his motorcycle accident. If you like Larry Norman, you will love this!
This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms review library. Please note that CD/DVD tracks may vary according to release region or product version. You should not assume that products purchased through Cross Rhythms Direct will necessarily have identical track listings to those shown.
Posted by Bill Dawson in Greensboro, North Carolina at 14:50 on Dec 24 2007
Well, I love Larry Norman. So you know up front I have a
bias.
Larry is the genuine article, as anyone knows who knows
his music at all.
That is probably one of the reasons I love the guy (though
we've never met). This comes through in his music, his
lyrics, and his insistance on being Larry,
whether or not record companies felt he was targeting a big
enough, previously recognized and defined "market".
Just listening to some of these cuts takes me way back. I
hope to make it to his Feb !, 2008 show in Oregon (see his
site if you're interested).
Larry is no "cookie cutter" "fish show" artist.
He is real. Listen and see.
This is not worth 8 out of 10. c'mon guys! Larry hadn't
recovered from bronchitis when he was recording these
tracks. The vocals are awful. His Eyesight was going too
which meant even if he had lyric sheets in front of him he
wouldn't be able to read them... in some cases he takes an
all-time classic Dylan song like 'Visions of Johanna' and
destroys it with sloppy guitar playing, singing it with a
bronchitis-ruined voice, and forgetting the words then
giving up on the song altogether. How on earth can you rank
this album as an 8 out of 10 release... which used to mean
'very good indeed'? On song after song it is heartbreaking
to hear how ill Larry is and how unable he was to perform at
anything like his normal capability. This sounds worse than
if an amateur with no amazing back catalogue was doing these
songs. It is easily one of the worst ad most disappointing
CDs i've ever heard - due entirely to the condition of
Larry's health at the time. I can't believe you have placed
this on a par with studio albums like Copper Wires which had
new songs, great covers, a great band and good production!
This is a 1 or 2 out of 10 quality release. If you like
Larry Norman, you probably won't love this. It'll make you
weep.
For more information about Larry Norman,
check the Larry Norman Artist Profile on the main Cross Rhythms website for news stories,
feature articles, interviews and much more.
(Link opens in new window)
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Well, I love Larry Norman. So you know up front I have a bias.
Larry is the genuine article, as anyone knows who knows his music at all.
That is probably one of the reasons I love the guy (though we've never met). This comes through in his music, his lyrics, and his insistance on being Larry,
whether or not record companies felt he was targeting a big enough, previously recognized and defined "market".
Just listening to some of these cuts takes me way back. I hope to make it to his Feb !, 2008 show in Oregon (see his site if you're interested).
Larry is no "cookie cutter" "fish show" artist.
He is real. Listen and see.