Born Again

Description

Born Again is a split album by the two American rock bands The Messengers and Good News, independently released on House in 1971. (Cover uses the same image of Christ as Agape’s Gospel Hard Rock.)

Early in March 1970, six people began praying to a way and a love big enough to draw the freaks and straights off the streets of Brattleboro, Vermont (“All American” city which the New York Times one stated as having the second highest per capita drug abuse rate in the U.S.) to find a New Way, a new life in Jesus Christ. Each of the six had little in common: different age, educational background, social orientation everything. Only one thing united them: each had been “born again” through faith in Jesus Christ and His sinless life and selfless death 2,000 years ago. Each had recognized his personal separation from God, his need of a savior and director for his life, and the importance of individually receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, freedom, joy, and peace. The prayer worked. The love was shared. The gospel hit the streets and inevitably people believed. from six we grew to sixty ad more and more. Among the many new believers were those who wanted to present their joy in the Lord through music and expression developed into two groups – The Messengers and Good News. This record is not designed to turn you on to music. The music was not written to give you a good feeling. Eight guys just didn’t pick up their instruments to entertain you. You see there’s a ninth personality involved with this record – the Holy Spirit of the Living God. And if you don’t meet Him through it, you’ve never gotten off at all. If you know Christ already, worship Him with us in song. If you have never trusted Him with your life, we pray deeply for you will find Him through this music. [Album liner notes]

Born Again is an outstanding custom obscurity that showcases the talents of two excellent Jesus music groups from Vermont. Side one belongs to The Messengers, five longhaired chaps who time-warped their sound back to the UK psychedelic garage rock/beat scene circa 1966 and 1967. Man, these guys have got spunk! ‘Not Too Early’ opens with quick-paced jangling electric guitar, surging organ, heavy drums and Merseybeat harmonies – first listen I was absolutely convinced they were British (and it still wouldn’t surprise me if one or two of them actually were). All six tracks are strong, especially the powerful «The Right Way» which opens on a two-note «For What It’s Worth» kind of theme, then building to an explosion of ferocious in-your-face hard rock fuzz guitar. Side two features seven selections by the folk duo Good News. While obviously not as heavy as their buddies on the flip side, Wayne Harvey and David Trombley emerge as one of the better examples of the style, exemplifying much of the depth of Simon & Garfunkel’s acoustic work. Cover uses the same image of Christ as Agape’s Gospel Hard Rock. Eet’z a monstah!!!!!! [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. The Messengers – “Not Too Early” – 2:28
A2. The Messengers – “One Way” – 2:13
A3. The Messengers – “Everywhere You Go” – 2:10
A4. The Messengers – “The Right Way” – 4:44
A5. The Messengers – “Let Him In” – 3:40
A6. The Messengers – “The Other Side” – 2:23

Side Two
B1. Good News – “There Comes A Time” – 2:18
B2. Good News – “Lonely People” – 3:05
B3. Good News – “Holy Joe” – 4:23
B4. Good News – “One Thirteen” – 3:00
B5. Good News – “Disciple Song” – 4:06
B6. Good News – “Ain’t It Nice” – 1:31
B7. Good News – “Here Today Gone Tomorrow” – 3:39

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A-Side: The Messengers

B-Side: Good News