Tuesday, April 05, 2011

From the Department of "I Wonder Why I've Never Wondered This Before..."

a question: Does Big Star rise to the level of Christian Rock?



I tend to think no, mostly for two reasons: (1.) It's not ALL they wrote about, and (2.) the message is subordinate to the music.

Having said that, there was a weird little hippie religious thing as the sixties segued into the seventies: Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Spirit in the Sky. I've written about that before: I do find it interesting.

So, do we think Alex Chilton = Amy Grant?

22 comments:

geor3ge said...

I do have a soft spot for Godspell, but otherwise I grew up in the age of the guitar Mass, which gives me the hives to this day.

steve simels said...

The short answer: No.
:-)

However, I do think Chris Bell = Sri Chinmoy.

lex dexter said...

Chris Bell was the religious one, right? And as I understand it, that came after he left Big Star.

As far as Chilton goes, to me, the only song I can think of that's more blatantly sardonic than "Jesus Christ" is "Thank You, Friends." Of course, I don't have any evidence for these claims.

steve simels said...

The Velvets' "Jesus" may or may not be ironic too.

edward said...

Then there is the whole Roger McGuinn thing, which includes doing promos for Pat Robertson's 700 Club.

Maybe Alex Chilton=Sam Phillips (the former christian singer and former Mrs T-Bone Burnett, not the producer (who for all I know may have been a good christian, too))

Word verification: Plead, how appropriate

Billy B said...

We did songs from JCS in my youth choir at church back then. I seem to remember doing Godspell's Day by Day also.

I enjoyed all that.

TMink said...

Interesting! I do not hear ANY irony in Alex's performance of Jesus Christ when compared to the wonderful dripping irony of his later work. But then, I am a Christian.

And for me, Amy Grant is MOR in anyone's playlist. And Stryper, give me a break!

For my Christian music Phil Keaggy is the guy. He sings like Paul and plays like Fripp, well, less noodling. Jars of Clay also make interesting music. Then there is this Christian underground podcast that I keep trying to find that has, you know, real rock they say. That is to be determined.

And the Los Lonely Hombres write about their faith. Didn't Richard Thompson do so when he was a Suffi Muslim?

Trey

steve simels said...

I agree with Trey about Chilton and "Jesus Christ." Sounds unironic to me; always did.

steve simels said...

Somebody asked Elvis Costello if he believed in God.

He famously replied: "Well, I saw Al Green sing once."

TMink said...

Al Green makes me hear God too. What a gift!

Edward, that Sam Phillips has a couple of great records that her then husband T Bone produced. My favorite is Martinis and Bikinis, but Omnipop is also interesting.

I have heard conflicting reports regarding T Bone's faith, but man I love his way with a record. And his faith is of course, his business.

Trey

swboy said...

Though God is mentioned in El Goodo,
the song isn't really about religion. Its far too personal, and doesn't sell "what God means to me" like Christian Rock does. Peter Green's
"In the Skies" and Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord" probably do. Another great rock song with a religious theme is PacifiC Gas & Electric's "Are You Ready". A great rock song, probably more obscure than it should be.

TMink said...

Great point, "Are You Ready" was rapture rock, a very, very small genre indeed!

Trey

swboy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
swboy said...

"Rapture rock" A perfect description!
I put the Chambers Brothers "Time Has Come" in the same category. What are some others? I need to make a mix...

pete said...

Roger's best Christian music came before he was a Christian: Jesus is Just Alright. Oil in My Lamp is a good one, although the arrangement on the Easy Rider album is pretty barbituated. It makes a great Springsteen-style rocker if you do it right.

Godspell? Great show. JCS? Not so much.

edward said...

TMink

Just to be clear, no way disparaging Sam or T-Bone, love them both and have all their albums. Their christianity manifests itself in a good way - dealing with ethics and how to live life. As opposed to the totally boring world of "praise rock" or whatever they call it these days.

Brooklyn Girl said...

Well, at least they'll never turn into Polyphonic Spree. One of the creepiest performances I've ever seen ... bar none.

cthulhu said...

Tonio K and T-Bone Burnett are both self-described Christians, although neither is remotely the stereotypical "Christian rock" drek. And Richard Thompson is still a practicing Sufi from what he writes on his web site.

Faze said...

T-Bone Burnett was responsible for Bob Dylan's conversion, according to bassplayer Rob Stoner, who was on tour with both of them at the time. Pacific Gas & Electric's lead guitar player Glenn Schwartz ("Get Ready") and his brother have been playing a blues/evangelist act for the past 40 years that has a following of people who put up with the prosthelytizing for the amazing guitar playing. Then there is that greatest of all summaries of wisdom from the Hebrew sages, the best Bible based song ever, "Turn, Turn, Turn".

TMink said...

Edward, that is just how I took what you said bro! Praise music is worship music, and I think it is very world view dependent. As such, I think it is more liturgical music than pop music, because it has very limited pop appeal.

Actually, some folks who agree with the words describe it as a chorus in search of a verse!


Great tidbits and facts guys.

Trey

swboy said...

>Faze said... the best Bible based >song ever, "Turn, Turn, Turn".

I absolutely agree.
It was Pete Seeger who adapted
Ecclesiastes, added the melody and sang it.

Brooklyn Girl said...

And yet, even though it's based on Ecclesiastes, I hear nothing religious in "Turn, Turn, Turn" ... "under heaven" could just as easily mean "on earth" ...