People! - The Reunion Concert 2006

Reviewed by Tom Lennie

'60s mainstream rock'n'roll band People! is known in Christian music circles for being the launchpad for Larry Norman's subsequent musical career. Here three of the original band team up for a 40 year reunion concert, recorded in Salem, Oregon in April '06. The trio consist of Gene Mason (vocals), Dennis Fridkin (drums, harmony vocals) and of course, Larry Norman (vocals, guitars). Unfortunately, the stark cover sheet gives absolutely none of this information, nor a lyric sheet, no dates or origins of songs, while the cover pic itself is very lacklustre. Many of the songs consist of old People! tunes with the lead vocals of Mason - very similar in fact to the track listing on the very recent 'Best Of People! Vol 1: 40 Year Anniversary' project. So there's "I Love You", "Crying Shoes", the bluesy "She's A Dancer" and the Merseybeat sound of "I've Got You On My Mind". All very retro, and with slightly shaky group vocals, but striking guitar breaks throughout. Then Norman rises with a couple of Christian classics - "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" and "Twelve Good Men". Not sure who leads on the brilliant, country-styled "We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus" with its honky-tonk piano, but it sure sounds good. Despite his health issues, Norman still knows how to rock and these veterans can still hold an audience. If you're a pop music nostalgist who still gets misty-eyed remembering "I Love You", or a reader fascinated by the recent Denny Fridkin interview in Cross Rhythms, this CD is well worth the purchase price.