Rock Mass for Love

Description

Rock Mass for Love (front cover and spine say Rock Mass For Love, back cover says A Rock Mass For Love, while the label says The Rock Mass For Love) – sub-titled Celebrated at St. George’s Cathedral by the Dean of Pearth with Bakery and Jazz Ensemble – is an album by the Australian rock group Bakery (joined by a Jazz Ensemble), released in Australia on Astor in 1971 (“pressed by The Manufacturers of Astor Radios, Radiograms and Television”). Also released in the US on Decca Records the same year. The album was recorded by Malcolm Devenish – assisted by Dave Scott and Paul Kirk – live on March 21st, 1971 at St. George’s Cathedral in Perth, Australia, before an audience of 6,000. Mixed at Television City Sound in Melbourne, assisted by John Sayers.

Along with The Electric Prunes’ Mass In F Minor, this is one of the better known rock masses. Recorded live on March 21, 1971 at St. George’s Cathedral in Perth, Australia before an audience of 6,000. Musical backing is provided by the rock group Bakery and a jazz ensemble led by drummer Bruce Devenish. Bakery has a good muscular heavy rock sound typical of the times with some noteworthy guitar and organ action going down. The jazz parts aren’t bad either – sometimes atonal and experimental, other times with electric backing from Bakery The liturgical readings and message from the Very Reverend John Hazlewood, Dean Of Perth are lengthy, but at least he tosses some humor in. Kind of a jumbled mix overall, but intriguing none the less. All original music save for ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

A Rock Mass For Love LP was recorded live during a TVW Channel 7 outside broadcast at St George’s Cathedral, Perth on 21st March 1971.

It was one of the first Australian musical works of its kind, preceding the first Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar by almost a year. It was a hip and happening place at St George’s Cathedral in Perth. Rock masses became a feature at the Cathedral and thousands attended to hear and be moved by updated church music more relevant in an era of Christian rock musicals such as Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar.

The Dean of Perth, the Very Rev. John Hazlewood presided over the event, which was written and performed by local drummer Bruce Devenish, and his Jazz Ensemble and the rock group Bakery, with vocalist Tom Davidson, John Worrall, Peter Walker (ex-Jelly Roll Bakers), Mal Logan (ex-The Rebels), bass player Eddie McDonald and Hank Davis (ex-members of the NZ Avengers).

Use of the heritage listed Cathedral for loud rock music is believed to have contributed to its decay, worsened earlier by the Meckering earthquake in 1968, thereby needing millions in government money for restoration.

The music fitted the Christian Rock, Psychedelic Rock and Jazz-Rock genres with the LP released world wide.

Liner notes featured on the back of the album sleeve:

The ROCK MASSES at St. George’s Cathedral had their beginnings in a rain drenched hut north of Perth as the Bakery and I waited to open a Pop Festival. In the smoky atmosphere of coffee and wet wood we talked about a Festival of Rock Music in the Cathedral. From that the Rock Masses evolved drawing thousands to the brick gothic nineteenth century cathedral standing in the middle of the City and symbolic of conservative establishment.

Beaumont, Appleford and others have tried to up date church music and deliver it from the chrysalis of worn out hymn books and chants that no longer express the freedom and joy of worship so that the people in general can fully understand it. Now in Perth, thanks to the brilliance of BRUCE DEVENISH and his jazz musicians as well as the heavy sound of the BAKERY we have been able to compose and celebrate our own utterly contemporary Rock Mass. This recording, done under enormous difficulties on the night of March 21, 1971, in the Cathedral does attempt to share the whole incredibly wonderful experience.

A great deal of opposition was heard in the press and from more conservative people not present. Many complained that the whole series were all gimmicks for publicity sake. It would seem that a very large number of people were deeply moved both by the occasions and the broadcasts and television presentations. The ecclesiastical authority, the Archbishop of Perth gave both permission and encouragement and the liturgy was an adaptation from the English Series II Communion Service made by me.

The music seeks to emphasise and underline the theme of the Mass, in this case the theme was that of Love. It has been interesting and encouraging to know that this kind of thing is also happening in Pasadena and in St. John the Divine, New York. It seems to me very important that the Faith should burst out of its introspective, hide-bound and ever diminishing adherents to reach the young of the world who so often have never heard it or received it.

JOHN HAZLEWOOD
Dean of Perth, W.A.

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. Entrance Song: “Trust In The Lord”
A2. Kyrie Eleison
A3. Prayer for Love and First Reading (1. Corinthians 13)
A4. “Consider The Heavens” based on Psalm 8
A5. Dean Hazlewood talks to the people
A6. “Song For The Creed”
A7. Prayer of the Church and the Intentions of the Mass. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

Side Two
B1. “The Great Thanksgiving”
B2. “The Lord’s Prayer”
B3. “Lamb Of God”
B4. Holy Communion Music
B5. Blessing and Last Song: “Do You Really Care?”

Note: A note featured on the lyric sheet: “The Rock Mass presented on this 12” 33 1/3 RPM long play recording is actually an edited version of the Mass that was performed in St. George’s Cathedral. In the main the sections omitted were of long instrumental passages which occurred whilst the large congregation present received Holy Communion. Where other omissions have been made, these are indicated in the text matter below.”