Since today would have been Larry Norman’s 75th, let’s take a look at his groundbreaking album that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
This Dylan/Stones -esque 1972 social commentary was unique in that it came straight from the ‘Jesus Movement.’ It made jabs at Vietnam and stood up for civil rights, but Larry went one step further, telling the still-somewhat-hippie world that ‘peace and love’ came only from Jesus.
Larry is best known as ‘the grandfather of Christian rock’ (or Contemporary Christian Music) which was still at the grassroots stage at this point. But ‘Planet’ was released on Verve Records and recorded under the George Martin production crew, which can account for its superior production quality compared to other Christian albums of the time.
The album contains the Christian baby-boom anthems, “I wish we’d all been ready” and “Why should the devil have all the good music,” as well as the Janis Joplin-inspired “Why don’t you look into Jesus.” Though this was Norman’s fourth album, it is considered the first of a trilogy–Planet…
View original post 103 more words
A Closer Look 