The Son Worshipers

Description

The Son Worshipers is a multi-artist compilation independently released in the US on Larry Norman’s One Way Records in 1972. Also released in the UK the following year, distributed by Marshall, Morgan & Scott.

This is the soundtrack for a movie piecemealed together by Bob Cording and Weldon Hardenbrook and distributed through Larry Norman’s One Way label. It is a half hour documentary of the Jesus People Movement featuring interview footage, some great moments on campus at University of California at Berkeley, some Calvary Chapel scenes shot of the early days at Calvary Chapel. The movie includes footage of Jack Sparks (of the Christian World Liberation Front), Duane Pederson (of the Hollywood Free Paper), the preaching of Os Guinness, some interview footage of Jesus freak evangelist Lonnie Frisbee interspersed with some music. The soundtrack is taken verbatim from the movie.

This album is a soundtrack to an early film documenting the Jesus movement – an interesting mishmash of Berkeley Jesus people interviews, ex-druggie testimonies, street preachers and Jesus music snippets, micro-pressed on Larry Norman’s One Way label. Some of the speakers are listed on the backer cover (Jack Sparks, Larry Norman, Arthur Blessitt), while others are unidentified (Duane Pederson, Os Guinness, and Lonnie Frisbee according to Jesus music historian David Di Sabatino). Also portions of songs by Larry Norman, Love Song and Good Shepherd, the latter a trio that apparently included Terry Taylor (later of Daniel Amos). Definitely a period piece, with lots of talk about Jesus, revolution, peace, LSD, Vietnam, etc. Some intriguing harsh psychedelic rock toward the beginning (I like that guy who keeps screaming “does someone hear!!”), but ultimately this record is more important for its historical contribution rather than repeated listening pleasure. Still, the album is a big item among collectors, especially those of the Larry Norman variety. Back cover has JC 4444 as the catalog number, while the spine shows JC 5555. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

This album is a mainly spoken documentary with several clips from Larry Norman. The two Larry Norman songs – “Forget Your Hexagram” and “Sweet Sweet Song Of Salvation” – are both from Upon This Rock (shortened; they take about 1 minute and 2 minutes, respectively). Also featuring songs by Love Song and Good Shepherd (featuring Terry Taylor). There are no artists or songs listed.

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The SON WORSHIPERS has been hailed as a major contemporary effort in the field of Christian filmmaking. The film also documents some of the key personalities in the emerging Christian counter culture during the early days of the “Jesus Movement” in the United States. Many of the voices (Arthur Blessitt, Larry Norman, Jack Sparks, etc.) embodied on this soundtrack, have since taken their ministries to different part of the world.

This soundtrack not only represents a powerful evangelistic witness, but also a fine artistic accomplishment in the field of motion picture soundtracks. The producers wish to thank all the individuals and organizations who contributed the resources, time, and legal clearances essential to the film and soundtrack production of … The Son Worshipers. [Note on the back of the LP]

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