Description
The self-titled debut album – also known as Gospel Hard Rock – by the hippie-era American psychedelic hard rock act Agape was independently released on Mark Records in 1971. The album was recorded and mixed by Wally Duguid at Abbey Sound Ltd. in Hollywood, California; with Marlin Jones and Duguid producing. All songs written by Fred Caban.
The power rock trio features Fred Caban on bluesy vocals and guitar, and a rhythm section consisting of John Peckhart on bass and Mike Jungkman on drums and organ.
The band was founded by Fred Caban who actually had been the room mate of Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill, two singer/songwriters who turned out to become the biggest Christian rock & roll artists of the 70s. Stonehill, who had not yet recorded his debut album Born Twice (1971), would sometimes open for Agape when they were on tour, and Norman actually did record a few demos featuring Agape. (The five tracks listed as numbers on the Larry Norman CD Motorola Corolla 2 eg “1-0411-7-4” are early 1970 demo recordings which Larry Norman did with Fred Caban’s Agape band with no vocals recorded. After the session Larry and Agape went their separate ways. These songs are resurrected on Corolla 2 with Larry’s vocals on them. Mike Jungman: Worked with Larry early days at the Salt Company. He was the first to want work with us, Agape, in 1968. Talented and deep believer in Jesus!)
“Jesus rock at it’s crustiest” wrote Paul Baker in his book Contemporary Christian Music describing California’s hard-rocking trio Agape. Hendrix fans should take note here as the style is very similar, from the music right down ton Fred Caban’s bluesy vocals. Caban is also the guitarist, John Peckhart plays bass and Mike Jungkman supplies drums and organ. Mostly heavy blues rock – the high-quality turn-of-the-decade FM radio kind. Not just a three-chord bash – these songs have mood and texture to them. You’ll find quiet understated passages here as well as hard-driving guitar solos. Atmosphere, too, as on the eerie «Rejoice» which narrates tribulation prophesies against a hypnotic Doors-ish rhythm, enhanced by psychedelic guitar-induced missiles, rockets and earthquakes. Includes slow blues rockers ala Clapton («Blind», «Blood»), as well as fast ones («Happy» and «Choose»). «Man» and «Trust» are both heavily influenced by the Are You Experienced? era, as is «Freedom», a first-rate psych number with layers of fuzz and wah-wah guitars darting in and out like hornets over a constant throbbing two-note bass beat, marching snare drums, and Fred singing a hymn in a different key. Weird! Front cover is an abstract b&w image of the face of Christ – reportedly a photograph of a natural image of melting snow against a black background. The original and scarcest press has a photo of the band in concert on the back, while the later version has individual circular photos of the band members and manager Ron Turner. The commonly used title Gospel Hard Rock appears only on the spine of the later press. Re-issued on CD in 1996 with the bonus tracks «Street Walker» and «Alchemy». [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Blind”
A2. “Happy”
A3. “Believe”
A4. “Man”
A5. “Trust”
Side Two
B1. “Freedom”
B2. “Choose”
B3. “Blood”
B4. “Rejoice”
Note: “Also available in tapes (includes closing message by Ron Turner).” Re-issued on CD by Hidden Vision in 1995.
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