Larry Norman
Stranded In Babylon
© Spark Music
November 17 - 23, 2024
Year of Release: 1991
Rating:
Oh Lydia
God Part III
Come Away
Hide His Heart
Step Into The Madness
Love Is A Commitment
I Will Survive
All The Way Home
Baby's Got The Blues
A Dangerous Place To Be
White Trash Stomp
If The Rain Fall Down
Under The Eye
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Larry Norman (finally) has arrived to WSVNRadio... In learning Christian music, and especially documetaries, one
name has always been mentioned - LARRY NORMAN. He was considered one of the pioneers of Christian music. He musical
career began as a member of the group People. Their biggest hit was "I Love You" (1968). A year later, he would
venture into a solo career, from the 1970s to the 2000s. In the 1970s he would form his own record label, Solid Rock
Records, and would record his own albums, and produce other Christian artists for the label. Likewise, produced other
Christian albums from other labels. He would record for other labels in the next decade (1980s). An injury from a
plane landing in 1978 would result in mild brain damage, which would result in future health problems throughout the
next decades. However, he would continue his Christian music career, and fulfill himself more into the church, and
the Christian music industry. An incredible output of music he would achieve, with many albums released, and other
unreleased material. Influenced by many, including other genres of music, including punk. Norman was not pleased with
the punk rock lyrics, but was supportive of it's energy.
In 1992, he suffered a nine-hour heart attack, which resulted in permanent heart damage. By early 1995, he was
hospitialized many times, and received a defibrillator implant. This would limit his concert performances to small ones.
After a lengthy illness, Larry Norman died on February 24, 2008, at the age of 60 at his home in Salem, Oregon. The
previous day he had posted on his website: "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... I want to say I love you. I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort...
Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again."
Throughout his career, he achieved many musical awards. His albums received many positive reviews. Larry Norman
marks his debut here on WSVNRadio, with his 1991 release, Stranded In Babylon. This album would comprise of
13 new songs (at the time) by Larry, as he would include his brother Charles "Charly" Norman. Together, they would play
all the instruments on the album, and the songs from the album would represent Norman's best work since the early days of
his career.
"Oh Lydia" is very short, sounding like 1950s doo wop, but you hear an interruption, a needle scratching the
record. Be prepared to hear some great music by Larry Norman. "God Part III" is a take on John Lennon's
"God." The band U2 also had their take on the song "God Part II", as Norman would be an influence on U2's
lead singer, Bono. "Come Away" is a pure Pop/Rock track, and you have to ask yourself, why wasn't Larry Norman a
known name in Rock/Christian music? You can hear a John Lennon solo influence, and another band that was influenced by
Lennon, Electric Light Orchestra. That question I mentioned continues on "Hide His Heart," as it has a small Jazz
feel, yet it's another great Rock & Roll sounding track. It's a good toe-tapper, bouncy tune. The orchestration on the
next track, "Step Into The Madness," is just great. I can't help but hear the main musical verses as a backdrop
to Rap songs (imagine that). Larry Norman certainly knew how to write great songs. This is another one. "Love Is A
Commitment" continues great Rock & Roll, as this one resembles Alice Cooper in a way, on a Rock & Roll level.
"I Will Survive" continues that mentioned question I asked, and yes, it's another good Rock & Roll track, a
bit slow-paced as the others. This song, as others, has a style that would match the 1970s. Yet, it would sound fresh
being from the 1990s decade. And, it still sounds great, even in the 21st Century today. "All The Way Home" is
more of a ballad, and it is, "Wow, this is another GOOD song!" It matches the 1990s decade of music, even the 1980s.
It could have been a power ballad. "Baby's Got The Blues" keeps the toes tappin' and head boppin' and is another
great Rock & Roll number. "A Dangerous Place To Be" is Rock, yet it could be Blues + Rock. It shows that Larry
Norman could put any genre of music together, and make it work.
3 BONUS TRACKS : "White Trash Stomp" has a great piano-based boogie woogie style, and it has a great
basic Rock & Roll sound. Incredible. "If The Rain Fall Down" is another cool slow-paced Rock & Roll track.
It could even pass as Country. It has a Bob Dylan sound. Again, he could have put any kind of genre of music to exception.
"Under The Eye" is also Dylan'ish. It's Rock & Roll.
Larry Norman was a Christian artist. "The Father Of Christian Music." He looked like a Rock & Roller, with his long
hair; the typical look of a Rock star, just as seen by many in the 1970s. He first emerged in the late 1960s, and into the
future decades. Rock & Roll is the definite sound of "Stranded In Babylon. Again, that question is asked: "why
wasn't Larry Norman a known name in Rock/Christian music?" After hearing Stranded In Babylon, you'll want to
discover and hear him more. More Larry Norman's music will be reviewed here in future reviews. Thank God, for Larry Norman.
Thank you for your music. He should have been a legend. It would be interesting if and when he would ever become a member
of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It would be worth having him there. He may not be a well-known name, but he should be.
Great music. Great Christian music. Great Rock & Roll. He may no longer be with us anymore, yet his music continues
to be discovered and heard. Discover Larry Norman. You'll enjoy his music. His Christian music. His Rock & Roll music.
A rock historian, John J. Thompson wrote: "It is certainly no overstatement to say that Larry Norman is to Christian
music what John Lennon issssss to rock & roll or Bob Dylan is to folk music." Thompson also credited Norman for his
impact on the genre as a musician,a producer, and a businessman. Enough said... Thank you again, Larry, and to your music.
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