ChristianRock: Why Should The Devil Have ALL The Good Music?

[the Scribe]

ans. BECAUSE IT'S THE DEVIL LOL.



Larry Norman - Only Visiting This Planet - Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music

[the Scribe]

Very interesting guy this Larry Norman. He and Linda seem to have come onto the music scene around the same time. Wonder if their paths ever crossed? (no pon intended).


The 'Father Of Christian Rock' Larry Norman's Battles With Evangelicalism

Listen· 6:51 ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2018/03/20180325_atc_why_should_the_devil_have_all_the_good_music_larry_normans_battle_for_and_against_evangelism.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1033&d=411&p=2&story=596450516&siteplayer=true&dl=1

March 25, 2018·5:10 PM ET

Heard on All Things Considered
Sarah McCammon
Elizabeth Baker



The life of musician Larry Norman, pictured left, is chronicled in Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock

Upon the release of his first album Upon This Rock in 1969, Larry Norman unwittingly created the billion-dollar industry of Christian rock. Author Gregory Alan Thornbury is sure that if Norman were alive today, the musician would have despaired at the state of the genre and evangelicalism.

Thornbury's latest book Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock, out now, chronicles the life of the evangelical singer and his divergence from the audience he sought to reach.

Norman's name is cemented among other famous evangelicals of the 1970's like Billy Graham and President Jimmy Carter. Even Vice President Mike Pence remembers "[giving] his life to Jesus Christ" at the 1978 Ichthus Music Festival in Wilmore, Kentucky, which Norman headlined.

"Over the years I've been listening to it, I've come to see Larry Norman's voice as a machine for killing complacency in religious people, and it is my sincere hope that this book does the same," writes Thornbury in the biography.

Thornbury points to "The Great American Novel" off Norman's 1972 album Only Visiting This Planet as a quintessential, complacency-killing Larry Norman song.



www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A79B806366FECDA

"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," Norman sings.

The great irony of Norman's career, Thornbury says, is that secular musicians like Bono and Pixies' Black Francis embraced his message, but the Church largely rejected it.

"The church absolutely hated what he was doing because they thought that rock and roll was the devil's music," Thornbury says. The author remembers managing a Christian contemporary radio station in the '90s and finding Larry Norman CDs on the shelves labeled 'Don't play this song.'

Author Gregory Alan Thornbury is Chancellor and a professor of philosophy at The King's College in New York City.

Thornbury says Norman's songs like "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" didn't appeal to the Church because Christian music was supposed to be positive and uplifting. Though Norman is known as the "father of Christian rock" for such incisive criticisms of Christian hypocrisy, Christian rock today often strays from this specificity.

"The name evangelical has definitely become a polarizing one," Thornbury says, speculating that Norman might despair about the role of evangelicalsm in American politics today. "Quite a different story from 1976 ... when it seemed like the evangelicals in leadership might actually be people that might bring the country together."

NPR's Music digital intern Stefanie Fernández contributed to this story.

www.npr.org/2018/03/25/596450516/why-should-the-devil-have-all-the-good-music-larry-norman-s-battle-for-and-again



www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSmYOhNPYIS9HwSI96S-x1Z2uMCpdEBQ

[the Scribe]

Linda has recorded what could be considered Christian music but not necessarily Christian Rock. This one would fit the category.

[Dianna]

Really like that song We Need A lot more Jesus...

Speaking of Christians Singers. I really like this guy, Keith Green.. and he reminds me of Rob (RonstadtFanaz) Keith passed away in a plane crash around 1980. My aunt got me his album in the 70's and I used to play it all the time. Keith starts around 1:10

[the Scribe]

There are two kinds of music....good and bad. There is some really good stuff here. Bluegrass gospel has always been one of my favorite genres. When music became corporate it had to be divvied up I suppose hence all these Christian music categories and growing. I had no idea how extensive this genre is.

Types of Christian / Gospel Music

An intro to Christian and Gospel music
by Kim Jones
Updated January 16, 2018

Christian Music used to be something that you only found in church and it came straight from the hymnals. However, in the late '60s/early '70s, the "Jesus Movement" brought the music out into the world and Christian music began to become an industry within itself. Pioneers like Marsha Stevens, Chuck Girard and Larry Norman took the music that spoke of Jesus and merged it with the times.

We've come a long way since. Now Christian music is found in so many different styles it is the only genre of music that is defined by its lyrical content.

Christian Adult Contemporary

Adult Contemporary Christian Music offers a pop flair, but is delivered in a softer, lighter style. However, since the modern pop elements are still there -- sometimes interspersed with folk sounds, which are back in favor with college-aged listeners -- Adult Contemporary isn't restricted to just the older folks.

Popular Adult Contemporary Artists
Carman
Michael W. Smith
Newsong
Steven Curtis Chapman

Christian Bluegrass

Christian Bluegrass is intricate and technically difficult, belying the stereotype of "mountain music" as being slow and simple. Some of the best pickers I've ever heard were bluegrass musicians.

Popular Bluegrass Artists
Alison Krauss & Union Station
The Easter Brothers
The Lewis Family

Christian Music For Children

Artists like Carman, Sandi Patty and Steve Green are more Adult Contemporary, but they have released projects specifically for kids. Then you have music that is 100% kid-friendly, like songs from the popular Veggie Tales, The Cedarmont Kids and The Praise Baby Collection. And let's not forget the "tweens." Jump5 was the first band that came out specifically aimed at the pre-teen group. Since they disbanded, PureNRG and The Rubyz have worked hard to fill the gap.

Popular Kids Artists
Veggie Tales
Jump5 (retired but not forgotten)
PureNRG (retired but not forgotten)

Christian Country Music

Country music, lyrically, is about real life. And for many, real life includes heartbreak, as well as the faith that gets them through it. Yes, country music's sub-genres "honky tonk" and "outlaw country" are more about drinking and thumbing your nose at the "establishment," but today's country music is less outlaw and more Godlaw.

Popular Country Artists
Alan Jackson
Charlie Daniels
Point of Grace
Randy Travis

Inspirational Music

Inspo blends pop, contemporary, AC, hymns, and even praise and worship, without the corporate worship elements. Artists from several of the Christian music styles have recorded inspirational albums, making the inspo genre full of variety.

Popular Inspirational Artists
Amy Grant
Ray Boltz
Sandi Patty
Selah

Instrumental

Many people have asked how instrumental music can be labeled as Christian, since the basis for the entire Christian music genre is the lyrics. The answer to that question, at least my answer, is to look beyond the music into the heart of the musician.

Popular Instrumental Artists
Dino - "America's Piano Showman"
Doug Doppler
Phil Keaggy

Christian Metal / Hard Rock

From the underground days of the Resurrection Band of the late 1970s to the 1980s when Stryper put Christian Metal on the map, the genre has twisted, turned and grown. With several styles of metal, such as melodic metal, classic metal, speed metal, thrash metal and screamo available to metal-heads, it is absolutely possible to find a metal band that fits your taste and glorifies your Savior.

Popular Metal / Hard Rock Artists
August Burns Red
Day of Fire
Falling Up
Flyleaf
Skillet
Stryper
Top Christian Hard Rock Bands
Top Christian Metal Bands

Christian Pop Contemporary

Using secular music terms, Christian pop contemporary could easily be described as "Top 40." Pop music meets soft rock and voila! -- Pop Contemporary!

Popular Pop/Contemporary Artists
Casting Crowns
Matthew West
MercyMe
Natalie Grant
Steven Curtis Chapman
Bebo Norman (retired but not forgotten)

Praise and Worship

Praise and Worship is music that is commonly found in contemporary churches of today. Short and easy to sing (and remember) choruses that repeat several times make the style perfect for corporate worship because even people who aren't familiar with a particular song can sing along with ease after hearing one or two repeats of the chorus.

Popular Praise and Worship Artists
Chris Tomlin
Hillsong
Matt Maher
Matt Redman
SONICFLOOd

Christian Rap

Artists using a rap style to share their faith reach places that other styles could never enter. Unlike secular rap, which frequently glorifies sex, drinking, violence and drugs, Holy Hip Hop focuses on The One who can deliver you from those things.

Popular Christian Rap Artists
dcTalk
Group 1 Crew
KJ-52
tobyMac

Christian Rock

Christian rock, much like its secular counterpart, has several sub-styles within the genre. Modern rock, alternative rock, indie rock, punk and southern rock are all well represented, bringing much to like to the masses. Using electric guitars, passionate vocals and drum kits beating out killer back beats, Christian rock was a way to share the Message of Hope to people in churches who wanted more than traditional hymns and to those outside of the church that didn't know Jesus.

Popular Modern / Alternative Christian Rock Bands
Family Force 5
Hawk Nelson
Jeremy Camp
Switchfoot
Third Day
Todd Agnew
BarlowGirl (retired but not forgotten)

Southern Gospel

Southern gospel music today ranges from the traditional four-part harmony quartets to a blend of country and bluegrass.

Popular Southern Gospel Artists
The Martins
Gaither Vocal Band
Karen Peck & New River

Urban Gospel

Urban Gospel hit the big time via quartets. Most of the early groups were composed of all males, but there were a few female groups. Huge choirs eventually replaced the quartets in popularity and were soon joined by smaller groups, led by strong directors like Kirk Franklin. As younger fans discovered the joys of Urban Gospel, the genre added another facet in the form of the modern R&B sound.

Popular Urban Gospel Artists
Donnie McClurkin
Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
Smokie Norful
Vickie Winans
Yolanda Adams

www.thoughtco.com/types-of-christian-gospel-music-708423


A more extensive explanation: www.thoughtco.com/the-changing-face-of-christian-music-710628

[the Scribe]

I suppose this Linda Ronstadt song would be classified as Christian Country or Bluegrass in todays system. Seems like they left out Christian Folk.:



Life Is Like a Mountain Railway

Published on Apr 30, 2015

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group

Life Is Like a Mountain Railway · Linda Ronstadt

Silk Purse

℗ Originally released 1970 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

[the Scribe]

Like Linda I too adore Alison Krauss. I have considered this song Bluegrass Gospel although this person may have it correct in today's categories:

Chaviva S.C. Fickenwirth8 months ago

Tfw after years of listening to Alison I finally realize this was a Jesus love song..

In The Palm of Your Hand ~ Alison Kraus ~

[the Scribe]

I am not even sure this Ronstadt song is even Christian but it seems to be classified as choral. This is from The Prayer Cycle...beautiful song.



Benediction - Linda Ronstadt, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Devin Provenzano with the American Boychoir

The Prayer Cycle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Studio album by Jonathan Elias
featuring various artists

Released
March 23, 1999 (U.S.)

Genre
Choral

Length
51:29

Label
Sony Classical

Producer
Jonathan Elias, R. Walt Vincent

The Prayer Cycle is a choral/orchestral album by American film and television composer Jonathan Elias, and was released by Sony Classical Records in the United States on March 23, 1999.

The project, recorded and mixed by co-producer R. Walt Vincent, consists of a nine-part contemporary choral symphony in twelve languages (Hungarian, Hebrew, Latin, Swahili, Tibetan, Urdu, Mali, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and English).

Featured vocalists include Alanis Morissette, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Salif Keita, Linda Ronstadt, Ofra Haza, James Taylor, Richard Bona, Mah Damba, Yungchen Lhamo, and Perry Farrell, who were backed by Devin Provenzano, The American Boychoir and The English Chamber Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Lawrence Schwartz.

Music from The Prayer Cycle was featured on the 1999 ABC documentary series called "The Century", which aired in six parts March 29 and April 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10.

The Prayer Cycle was played in its entirety for two Music from the Hearts of Space programs, "The Prayer Cycle" (program 536, originally aired September 10, 1999)[1] and again as "Terror and Hope" (program 605, originally aired September 21, 2001) in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.[2] It has only ever been performed live once, by the Branford High School choir at Woolsey Hall in New Haven, Connecticut. The piece was conducted by choir director Cathyann Roding and performed by the choir (including featured soloists) and a 45-piece orchestra.[3]

Track listing[edit]
1."Mercy"- Hungarian and Swahili – Alanis Morissette and Salif Keita
2."Strength"- German – Richard Bona, Yungchen Lhamo, Perry Farrell, and Liz Constantine
3."Hope"- French – Alanis Morissette, Devin Provenzano, and The American Boychoir
4."Compassion"- Latin – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mah Damba
5."Grace"- English – James Taylor
6."Innocence"- French – Alanis Morissette and Salif Keita
7."Forgiveness"- Hebrew– Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ofra Haza
8."Benediction"- Spanish – Linda Ronstadt and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
9."Faith"- German – Alanis Morissette and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

[the Scribe]

Larry Norman: National Treasure

Category: News
Published on April 8, 2014
Written by Allen Flemming


The United States Library of Congress has chosen Larry Norman’s album Only Visiting This Planet album to be deemed a National Treasure. The only other Rock album was U2’s Joshua Tree (an album depicting U2’s vision of America). What I love about this honor bestowed upon Larry is that the criteria for what music was chosen to be included in the Library of Congress had nothing to do with album sales or popularity, but rather, each album was deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Just try to imagine all the albums they had to choose from!

Only Visiting This Planet Deemed a National Treasure by the Library of Congress


Larry Norman’s son Mike, Bono, and Larry

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said of the significance of the registry “These recordings represent an important part of America’s culture and history.” As I know, and if you are reading this article you know, the art and life of Larry Norman contributed to shaping the culture within our small group of friends, but now the powers that be in America have recognized Larry’s contribution to the culture of the entire country.

Larry, now as long as America exists you will be forever remembered for what I remember you to be: A great artist who believed in Jesus, and who, inspired by America’s great artists Mahalia Jackson and Little Richard, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan, Herman Melville and Superman Comics, Robert Frost and Allen Ginsberg and countless classic movies; created a literature of music that shined a transforming light into the dark corners of my life and into the dark corners of America, and now will shine for all future generations.

Albums
•Only Visiting This Planet – Larry Norman (1972)
•A Night at Birdland (Vols. 1 and 2) – Art Blakey (1954)
•Texas Sharecropper and Songster – Mance Lipscomb (1960)
•The First Family – Vaughn Meader (1962)
•Carnegie Hall Concert with Buck Owens and His Buckaroos – Buck Owens and His Buckaroos (1966)
•Theme from ‘Shaft’ – Isaac Hayes (1971)
•Celia & Johnny – Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco (1974)
•Copland Conducts Copland: Appalachian Spring – Aaron Copland (1974)
•Heart Like a Wheel – Linda Ronstadt (1974)
•Sweeney Todd – Original Cast Recording (1979)
•The Joshua Tree – U2 (1987)

Buy a copy today and give it to someone for Larry’s birthday!

And contribute to Larry’s favorite charity Compassion International in Larry’s name.

If you want to be on our mailing list or have any stories about Larry you would like to share (especially film footage or photographs) please contact me at [e-mail].