Customer Reviews

One Way: The Songs of Larry Norman

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Larry Norman has been hailed as the godfather of contemporary christian music. His no-compromise lyrics helped revolutionize the christian music industry in the 1960's and 1970's. These songs, written during one of the most culturally turbulent times in US history, present the Christian gospel in a straight-foward, no nonsense manner.On the "One Way" album, today's top Christian artists gather to pay tribute to this living legend.

"One Way" brings together some of today's top Christian artists for a tribute to an amazing singer/songwriter whose songs have helped to shape Christian music for over 30 years.

Whether you have been listening to his music for decades, or have never heard of him before, Larry Norman's music will change your life.

Most of the people interested in this album are Larry Norman fans and couldn't find his albums online. They are in for a treat. More than a best-of album, or an honorary collection of cover songs, "One Way-Songs" serves as a lesson in how to write a rock song without losing faith. This is the good stuff, done by some good bands.

LN fans might know about bluesman Larry Howard, and have already heard a Geoff Moore cover of "Why Should the Devil." They'll know dc Talk, but the other musicians may be new to them. Michael Anderson came and went, and Dana Key fans aren't usually looking to buy Holy Soldier songs. Rebecca St. James is still out there, bigger now than when this now obscure CD first came out. Norman is often called the grandfather of Christian rock, and these are his grandchildren.

The album title "One Way-Songs" refers to Norman's famous index finger pointed skyward toward Heaven, which became a symbol of a generation of young Christians. It also refers to an ethereal song from "In Another Land," based on the same same theme.

Larry Norman's history, from his days with People! has been amazing. Remember their 1967 cover of the Zombie's tune, "I Love You (and I Don't Know What to Say)" and the satiric "What We Need Is a Lot More Jesus and a Lot Less Rock & Roll"? No one since Martin Luther has brought more contemporary music into the Church. While his days with People! aren't many, his prodigious work in the 1970s and early 1980s forged the way for each of the bands playing on this CD. That's why metal, rock and pop are all here, doing homage as best they can.

"I Wish We'd All Been Ready" is Norman's signature song, but the others are not toss-offs, but poignant in their own right. "Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation" is still in many camp hymn books, sung just as it was in the height of the Jesus Movement days.

For a Larry Norman-sounding album, look elsewhere. These aren't sung in that high rock-folk nasal California/Texas Dylan style that Norman is famous for. This isn't "In Another Land," "Only Visiting This Planet" or "Something New Under The Son." The words are the same, but that's it. Find those anywhere you can, but in the meantime, check this one out. It'll hit you in a new way.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

IF you thought this was great or if you are truely a Larry Norman Fan, check out his web site larrynorman.com. Tons more stuff to collect and every album possible, some that have been out of print and made available again for limited runs. Total inspiration.

My brothers and sister and I all grew up listening to Larry Norman, and his songs are a part of our lives. His music struck a chord with our parents, and the lyrics still ring true. All the artists that covered Larry Norman's songs did a great job of making the songs their own, but nothing beats the originals. Larry still gives the best concert around -- my sister and I saw him at Creation '99 in PA, two of the four kids under 25 who sang all his songs right along with him. If you do enjoy this CD, then you *MUST* hear the original.

Larry Norman's songs will always be rellevant regradless of when these songs were originally recorded. It's great to hear these songs done by some of the more contemporary artist of the day. These songs are as powerful and convicting as the day the they were originally recorded. This is a must album/CD to have in ones collection.

I have never listened to Larry Norman sing. I have, however, listened to the songs on this album. Not only is the music excellent, but the lyrics are tough, heartfelt and inspiring all at the same time. "The Great American Novel," "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus," "Six O'Clock News," "The Outlaw," and, last but not least, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready" are songs that don't hammer non-Christians, but send a message to all people to look at themselves and study their hearts.

These songs must have been really scandalous in their heyday. I know a lot of Christians today who are turned off by Norman's honesty. I hear a lot of people claim that Christians shouldn't sing songs like "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" because it is too graphic. Granted, it is graphic, but that's the beauty of this song. Many Christians think that life is always peachy and perfect, but real Christians know that isn't true. The songs herein are the kinds that "poser Christians" don't want to hear. Some of the lyrics are downright scary.

This album is a blessing to anyone who can snag a copy of it. I bought mine when it first came out and it is a true treasure to me.

It has been twenty years since I last listened to Larry's music. I went one way, and he went another. Last week I stumbled into a Christain Book Store and saw this CD on the rack. I purchased it, unsure of what I was going to hear (I knew of none of the artists on this tribute album), and have been listening to it over and over. I am usually found listening to Nick Cave or Leonard Cohen, but now Larry is back on the list.

I was surprised at how good Larry's music is. I thought it was good when I was in college, but I wondered how I would respond twenty years later after three kids, etc. We have found one another again. I am eager to hear more of him and from him.

Some of the interpretations of his songs on this album are better than others, but the music still speaks. A credit to Larry and the skill with which he executed his craft.

Larry Norman is whithout a doubt "The Father" of Christian Rock. Larry's songs were born out of his experiences during the turbulent 60's. Larry was one of the first to put his personal faith to music in the early stages of the "Jesus Music movement." Larry made Contemporary Christian Music before their was even a industry vehicle to distribute it. His songs are full of passion, expereince and questioning the status quo. This is a compilation of some of Larry's "huge" body of work that spands more than three decades. The songs are timeless and stand on their own merit. They are "covered" here by Forefront records artists. The only draw back is some of CCM's biggest names were not given the chance to bring to life Larry's music. Some of the outstanding tracks are; dc Talk's "I Wish We'd All Been Ready," and Geoff Moore's "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" A must album for any generation!

Larry Norman was among the pioneers who created relevent, rock-based Christian music in the 1960's. This CD is a tribute by current artists to Larry Norman's vision and commitment to Jesus. The music speaks for itself. The collection includes "I wish we had all been ready" - one of the best Contemporay Christian singles of all time. If you love Christian rock music and want a blessing - this CD is a must. Timeless music by a great artist.

Larry Normans' music and lyrics are some of the best of early Christian Rock. This set of recordings has a mixure of both well done remakes which immediately remind you of the originals and some not so easily understood remakes. One thing about the originals was that you always understood the meaning of the song. I was a slightly disappointed that they weren't closer to the original songs, but still pleasatntly suprised to see this legend of Christian Rock revisited.