bArchaeology

Description

bArchaeology, sub-titled A Black and White Dogumentary from the PHYDEAUX bARCHIVES, is a 3LP box by the American singer and songwriter Larry Norman, independently released on Phydeaux Records in 1984. It contains the original nine song edition of Street Level (released on One Way Records in 1970), plus Letter of the Law and Labor of Love, two albums released by Larry Norman in 1982, pressed in only 250 copies each. (According to the Quiet Night insert Labor of Love was recorded earlier than Letter of the Law, though Letter, however, has an earlier catalog number.) All the vocal tracks on Letter of the Law and Labor of Love were actually written by Tom Howard except “I Found Love” and “Farther On” co-written by Howard and Randy Stonehill (the latter song was recorded by Stonehill on his 1981-album Between the Glory and the Flame).

A compilation album entitled Quiet Night featuring 12 tracks from the boxed set (some tracks mixed differently, though) was released simultaneously.

Larry covers eight Tom Howard songs from the ‘A View From The Bridge‘ and ‘Danger In Loving You‘ albums. In an attempt to finish an album and release it quickly Larry gets the Young Lions to handle all the musical duties and brings in Bob Somma to produce and mix the sessions while Larry concentrates on tackling only the vocals. The soft pop production sound does not go down well and the album is never officially released. 250 copies were pressed and sold in various hand-written and photocopied sleeves and then a couple of years later the album was re-released as part of the ‘bArchaeology’ boxed set. The very first copies were credited to “The Solid Rock Street Choir & Blues Band” rather than Larry. [Dougie Adam, Cross Rhythms, May 2001]

Eight more songs from Tom Howard’s repertoire and four inconsequential short Larry Norman instrumentals pad out this offering made with the same band and producer as ‘Letter Of The Law’. Some nice performances feature on both albums but neither album gives even the keenest Larry Norman fan anything much to get excited about. Also started life as a limited edition 250 copies LP and appeared in the ‘bArchaeology’ boxed set. The very first copies were credited to “The Solid Rock Street Choir & Blues Band”. [Dougie Adam, Cross Rhythms, May 2001]

> LP tracklist, Street Level (One Way Records 1970):

Side One
A1. “Poem”
A2. “Peace Pollution Revolution”
A3. “Right Here In America”
A4. “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”

Side Two
B1. “I Am The Six O’clock News”
B2. “She’s A Dancer”
B3. “I Don’t Wanna Lose You”
B4. “The Price Of Living”
B5. “Sigrid Jane”

> LP tracklist, Letter of the Law (Phydeaux Records 1982):

Side One
A1. “I Found Love”
A2. “Shine Your Light”
A3. “I Am Your Friend” (feat. Sarah Finch)
A4. “Danger In Loving You”

Side Two
B1. “Iron And Steel”
B2. “Show Me The Shepherd”
B3. “Strong Love”
B4. “Whenever Sarah Cries”

> LP tracklist, Labor of Love (Phydeaux Records 1982):

Side One
A1. “Where His Soul Touches Down”
A2. “Let The Master Make It Right”
A3. “Stairway L’études” (Instrumental)
A4. “Farther On”
A5. “Come On In”

Side Two
B1. “Piano L’etudes” (Instrumental)
B2. “Mansion On The Sand”
B3. “Twilight L’études” (Instrumental)
B4. “Higher Calling”
B5. “Jesus Is The Song Inside Of Me”
B6. “Drum L’etudes” (Instrumental)
B7. “One More Reason”

Note: bArchaeology appeared as part of the double-CD Rough Street Love Letter released by Solid Rock Records ‎in 1999, which also included Rough Mix3 (1979-1985) and another three bonus tracks.

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Larry Norman – Rough Street Love Letter (Solid Rock Records ‎1999)