Description
The Rock Revival, Vol. 3: Jesus People Music Festival is a multi-artist compilation featuring various Jesus Music artists from the 1970s, released on Sonrise Music Company in 1994. It is the third album of a three part CD series, alongside The Rock Revival, Vol. 1: Feeling the Spirit and The Rock Revival, Vol. 2: Remembering the Future.
This three album box set was originally released in single volumes back in the ’90s and still remains the best introduction to America’s groundbreaking Jesus music revolution that anyone has put together. It is cram-packed with tracks that are either stunning music (Larry Norman’s «Without Love You Are Nothing», Pratt & McClain’s «The Song Of The Anti-Christ», Love Song’s «Little Country Church») or fascinating chunks of musical history like the cod doowop of Charles McPheeters & The Bible Belt Boogie Band on «Greasy Truth» or Arthur Blessitt (the evangelist who literally carried a cross around the world) preaching with a country band accompaniment. Many of these tracks were recorded for zero budget so consequently acts like the Hallelujah Joy Band or the Good News Circle don’t overcome the thin sound and dated arrangements. But with some fascinating sleevenotes and one or two wonderful vintage photos the whole package conveys much of the joy and excitement when 10 of thousands of Californian hippies and street people found faith in Christ. There are one or two miscues in the compilation – Barry McGuire’s pre-conversion «Eve Of Destruction» is out of place here while the Voices Of Jerusalem is unexceptional call and response black gospel, but on the whole the music or the historic significance make this a hugely enjoyable album that anyone looking to explore CCM’s roots needs to search out. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, January 2012]
Various Artists – The Rock Revival: Original Music from the Jesus Movement (Sonrise/Diadem)
During the late ’60s and early ’70s Jesus Movement when the loose revival resulting in countless thousands of hippies’ conversions to Christianity, the phrase “contemporary Christian music” was unknow. The sounds stirring from young believers with more rockin’ sensibilities than most churches of the time was called “Jesus music.”
Because so little of the music from this important era has been preserved, the three volumes of ‘The Rock Revival’ serve valuable purposes. For those around when this music was first being released, this collection will replace some possibly scratchy LPs. For younger rock fans, it will give a glimpse of tunes that were revolutionary for their time, though some sound downright quaint now.
For both camps, there are rarities and novelties galore. From his debut album, Randy Stonehill sings of coming to Christ where Larry made lunch in «Norman’s Kitchen». Larry Norman’s contributions include two from his ‘Upon This Rock’ premiere, «Sweet Sweet Song Song of Salvation» and «Forget Your Hexagram». Michael Omartian teems up with 2nd Chapter of Acts and Jerry McClain (of Pratt & McClain, who had a pop hit in ’76 with the theme to TV’s “Happy Days”) for a joyful rendition of Tom T. Hall’s contry hit, «Me and Jesus». Agape, possibly Christendom’s first metal band, is represented by two tunes from its tough-to-get records. And hear the late Jim Backus, better known as “Gilligan’s Island”‘s Thurston Howell III, recite the part of God in an excerpt from the rock opera ‘Truth of Truths’.
Other notable figures found throughout the ‘Revival’ include CCM columnist John Fischer, Bob Carlise and the late Keith Green’s first Christian group, Good News, and early hard rocker Randy Matthews. The latter two represent music that postdates the movement, as do a fail deal of the tunes here.
Buying the three-CD set is the best deal, for only a few bucks more than a single disc. Individual discs and tapes may be had separately as well. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, January 1995]
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CD tracklist:
01. Voices of Jerusalem – We’ll Kneel At Jesus Feet – 1:09
02. Arthur Blessitt & the Eternal Rush – Soul Session At His Place – 3:05
03. Andraé Crouch & The Disciples – One Touch of His Hand – 2:16
04. Charles McPheeters & Bible Belt Boogie Band – Greasy Truth – 3:13
05. Hallelujah Joy Band – My Friend Jesus – 3:01
06. Kentucky Faith – Front Seat, Back Seat – 2:56
07. Love Song – Since I Opened the Door – 3:08
08. Love Song – Two Hands – 3:08
09. One Truth – Calm Assurance – 2:52
10. Steve Israel & the Moment of Truth – Lord I Need You – 3:33
11. Larry Norman – Without Love You Are Nothing – 2:41
12. Larry Norman – Taking My Time – 0:53
13. Agape – Happy – 2:35
14. Harvest Flight – Truth – 3:11
15. Randy Stonehill – Never Can Repay – 2:21
16. Ron Salsbury & J. C. Power Outlet – Let All the Applause Be for Jesus – 1:41
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Sonrise Music.
An advertisement for Sonrise Music’s 3-disc Rock Revival Series was featured in the February 1994 issue of CCM Magazine.
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