Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Music Review


Larry Norman, Only Visiting This Planet
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Larry Norman
Only Visiting This Planet



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 14 tracks
Street Date: April 8, 1972 / 2001 (CD)


READER RATING:   


Larry Norman's Only Visiting This Planet is as important to the "Christian Rock" scene as "Sgt. Pepper" is to the secular scene. It was the first Christian rock album selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

Norman wrote edgy songs. "Why Don't You Look into Jesus," his song inspired by Janice Joplin's tragic life, cuts hard with lyrics like "Gonorrhea on Valentine's Day," but Norman addressed the issues of the day. The music is top notch, especially for Christian music at the time. Solid rhythms set up Gordon Giltrap and Mickey Keen's guitar work behind Norman's piano. By current genre assessment, one might consider it Southern Rock. It certainly has many of the same elements.

There isn't a bad song on this album. Some have become classics, such as "I Wish We'd All Been Ready" (featured in the movie "A Thief in the Night" and popularly covered by DC Talk in the mid-90's) and "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music."

The only issue with Only Visiting This Planet is that because Norman directly confronted the issues of his day, the album can be quite dated. However, this also makes the album a good historical marker.

Only Visiting This Planet is a must-listen album for anyone interested in the history of the Christian Rock movement. This could easily have been titled, "Songs from a Christian Outsider," because that is how many in the established church saw Norman.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 6/10/22, written by Jim Campbell for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

 

. Record Label: Solid Rock Records
. Album length: 14 tracks
. Street Date: April 8, 1972 / 2001 (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

    Digital Track List
  1. I've Got To Learn To Live Without You (3:35)
  2. The Outlaw (3:52)
  3. Why Don't You Look Into Jesus (4:03)
  4. Righteous Rocker #1 (3:32)
  5. I Wish We'd All Been Ready (4:32)
  6. I Am the Six O'Clock News (6:04)
  7. The Great American Novel (4:30)
  8. Pardon Me (3:36)
  9. Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music (2:37)
  10. Reader's Digest (2:43)
  11. Peacepollutionrevolution (Radio Single Bonus Track) (3:30)
  12. Righteous Rocker (Hard Rock Version - Bonus Track) (4:20)

    2001 CD
  1. I've Got To Learn To Live Without You
  2. The Outlaw
  3. Why Don't You Look Into Jesus
  4. Righteous Rocker #3
  5. I Wish We'd All Been Ready
  6. I Am The Six O'clock News
  7. The Great American Novel
  8. Pardon Me
  9. Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music
  10. Reader's Digest
    Bonus Tracks:
  11. Peacepollutionrevolution
  12. Righteous Rocker (Delta Swamp Version)
  13. The Outlaw (Peace Mix Remake)
  14. Reader's Digest (Solid Rock Studio Remake)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, March 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Brandon Lake Apple Music Nashville Sessions - EP [Provident]

This Thursday, March 28, 2024
ALBUMS
David And Nicole Binion The Revelation Of Jesus - EP [Integrity]
The Rocky Valentines Erase [Velvet Blue/Tooth & Nail]

This Friday, March 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Grungepunks The Fall Blues EP [Charon Collective]
Meadows Familiar with Pain [Facedown]

SINGLES
Joe L. Barnes Altar - Single [RCAI]
iNTELLECT It Ain’t My Fault - Single [Polished Arrow]
Spoken Worth Holy Week - Double Single (independent)
Gileah Taylor Summer Jubilee - Single [Velvet Blue]

VINYL
Battlecross Pursuit of Honor (Blood Moon Vinyl) [Back Breaker]
Battlecross Rise To Power (Silver Bullet Power Vinyl) [Back Breaker]
Battlecross War of Will (Amber Wave Vinyl) [Back Breaker]

Next Friday, April 5, 2024
ALBUMS
EmanuelDaProphet Fab5 [Capitol CMG]
Me'Kayla Prelude - EP [Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG]
We Are Messengers Where the Joy is [Curb]


For all release dates, click here!
 



Listen to the new album from Hope Beyond Suffering!




Listen to the new Album From Tim Juillet!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images