Description
The Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable, Different World of Gary S. Paxton is a studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and producer Gary S. Paxton, released on his own label NewPax Records in 1976, distributed by Word. The album was produced by Bob MacKenzie and Gary S. Paxton. The album won a Grammy in the Best Inspirational Performance category at the 19th Annual Grammy Awards.
The album track “Love, It Comes In All Colors” was covered by The Imperials on their album Just Because released the same year.
Gary Sanford Paxton (born Larry Wayne Stevens; May 18, 1939 – July 17, 2016) was a multi-talented artist, producer and songwriter with a knack for novelty songs and humor. Paxton was involved in a substantial way (artist, songwriter, producer, engineer, arranger, label owner) with records that are said to have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide since 1956. Paxton infused his solo gospel albums with eccentricity, individuality and hippie humor. Lyrically, the surreal and satirical would be set to humorous poetry. Musically, Paxton alternated between country, gospel, rock, disco and funk. In 1999 Paxton was inducted into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame. (Trivia: In 1977, on a national television program, Bill and Gloria Gaither were asked, “How can you cowrite with a man like Gary S. Paxton?” Bill answered: “Gloria and I are called to comfort the disturbed, and Gary is called to disturb the comforted.”)
In 1975 Gary linked up with Nashville’s Paragon Records, the label run by long time gospel music executive Bob MacKenzie. With Paragon’s roster distinctly middle of the road (Ronn Huff, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Dave Boyer) the label seemed an unlikely company to associate with the still zany producer/songwriter. Yet the launch of Gary’s NewPax Records proved to be a big success. The title of Gary S Paxton’s album debut of 1976 really summed up the producer/songwriter and now artist/record label owner’s eccentric persona. Even the cover photo of The Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievably Different World of Gary S. Paxton depicted the copiously bearded Paxton poking his head out of a manhole. The album contained the folk ballad “Love, It Comes In All Colors”; a tirade against the insanities of modern civilisation and the possibilities of nuclear destruction, “Sophisticated Savages”; a song reminding believers that the highs of drug abuse were nothing compared with knowing God’s Son, “Jesus Keeps Takin’ Me Higher And Higher”; and an anti-smoking anthem “You Ain’t Smokin’ Them Cigarettes (Baby, They’re Smokin’ You)”. Despite the fact that ‘The Astonishing, Outrageous…‘ album didn’t get past the conservative gatekeepers of US Christian radio the album unexpectedly won Paxton his one and only Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance.
As any pop/rock historian will tell you, Gary S. Paxton is a breathtakingly original songwriter, producer and occasional artist with a large wedge of hits under his belt who, after his Christian conversion in 1971, began to make Christian music hits for people like The Blackwood Brothers and The Imperials before starting the CCM label NewPax. On that imprint he released this 1976 album. It’s a fascinating item too, and even all these years on you can hear why it won the multi-talented Paxton a Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance. The standout song here is «Sophisticated Savages» which describes the insanity of our modern world with references to impending nuclear destruction. Some may find the sound of a lady screaming “Rape! Rape!” a little hard to bear, but no-one can deny its impact. This set also offers the listener a memorable anti-smoking song «You Ain’t Smokin’ Them Cigarettes (Baby They’re Smokin’ You)» and the engaging country rock anthem «Love It Comes In All Colors». If you thought Larry Norman or Steve Taylor were as confrontational as Christian music got, ‘Astonishing, Outrageous…’ takes things to a whole new level. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, June 2011]
Gary S. Paxton. Not a name that’s typically bandied about by the cultured rocker. He’s got way too much Nashville gospel/MOR to penetrate that crowd. But you know what? The guy can go from normal to total wacko in no time flat. And when he does, It’s Dr. John meets Barry McGuire in Dr. Demento’s backyard. Of course none of this should come as any surprise given his unusual album titles, odd cover photos and songs like «You Ain’t Smokin’ Those Cigarettes (Baby They’re Smokin’ You)», «Will There Be Hippies In Heaven?», «Fat, Fat Christians», «There’s Goes A Cigar Smokin’ A Man», «The Clone Affair» and the morbid «When The Meat Wagon Comes For You». Cuts like «Victims Of The System», «Sophisticated Savages», «Mental Pollution», «I’m Hooked On A Good Thing», «Ninevah Noose» and «Images» show the boy is certainly capable of brewing up a slick brass-funky swamp-rock groove when called for. Still a lot of traditional songs to wade through, but ultimately worth your time for Gary’s weirdo half. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/astonishing-outrageous-amazing-incredible-unbelievable/348348174)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Different World” – 4:04
A2. “Love, It Comes In All Colors” – 3:29
A3. “Weeds” – 2:06
A4. “I Wonder If God Cries” – 2:30
A5. “What ‘Cha Gonna Do When You Ain’t A Kid No More” – 2:31
A6. “Layed Back (In His Love)” – 4:07
Side Two
B1. “Jesus Keeps Takin’ Me Higher And Higher” – 3:36
B2. “There’s Got To Be More To Livin’ Than Just Waitin’ To Die” – 2:31
B3. “You Ain’t Smokin’ Them Cigarettes (Baby They’re Smokin’ You)” – 2:39
B4. “Victim Of The System” – 3:09
B5. “Sophisticated Savages” – 5:28
B6. “He Was There All The Time” – 4:19
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by NewPax Records with the vinyl edition housed in a gatefold sleeve. Later re-issued on both cassette (featuring 4 bonus tracks) and CD.
Gary S. Paxton on Lightmusic TV show in Pittsburgh, mid 1980s.
Visit to Gary S. Paxtons Nashville Audio Archives in 1998
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