reissues from the Jesus movement

Jester Media David Di Sabatino : Frisbee -DVD- (US,2006)****'

The life and death of a Hippie Preacher

This is a moving, well compiled biographical movie looking back on the life and earnings of Lonnie Frishbee, known as the hippie preacher, a personality who influenced and stimulated Christian movements like the Vineyard Church Movement, The Shepherding Movement and of course the local Cavalry Chapel Movement. It is told how after an LSD trip in the Canyons, he had a vision how he had to lead a mass of people to God. He was first under the guidance of Pastor Chuck Smith, a conservative preacher who was in personal struggle not knowing what to do with all these hippies, when he met the honest and open Lonnie, who had his own vision on the Bible, gave him a new direction, and with this, gave also the hippies some acceptance and way to go forward to. However, Lonnie’s style that led spontaneously to Pentecostal effects, with people falling onto the ground like epileptics, "speaking in tongues", and strangely enough, some lasting miracles, became unacceptable in Chuck Smith’s chapel. The most interesting aspect for me of the movie is that is succeeds to reveal the true personality and fitting significance behind Lonnie’s appearance.

Having had serious problems with his parents, this led him to the hippie life and all the usual experiences and quests that came with that, which became a quest for God, metaphor for a purpose in life. While this gave Lonnie a purpose, during his life it was this apostole aspect that was accepted and used for, while his real personality remained mostly unaccepted and rejected, including his being gay, something which had resulted they say after an early child abuse he experienced. It seemed like the religious personality gave him glances of an unrestricted straight forward energy, whiles his normal personality, while looking for a complete acceptance, could never solve completely his own gay issue. Hippies were now accepted within the church movement, but the gay aspect and sexuality was still an unsolved taboo, something that might have made him complete. People like father Chuck Smith who seemed to have worked like father figures, were also people who rejected him in the end. One friend on the DVD called Lonnie “a screwed up authentic person” or despite the controversy in the end said that “what he did is what he had”, which can work as nice concluding words for this documentary.

Related videos on Lonnie Frisbee on youtube

Info and articles on Lonnie Frisbee : http://www.lonniefrisbee.com/

& http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Frisbee

& http://www.ocweekly.com/features/features/the-first-jesus-freak/19081/

& http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/AlphaRoots_Frisbee.htm

& http://cawley.typepad.com/blog/2005/01/lonnie_frisbee.html

& http://www.slate.com/id/2171430/

& http://members.tripod.com/~prov356/Frisbee.html

& http://www.consolationchamps.com/2005/06/14/who-was-lonnie-frisbee/

Interview about the documentary : http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/daviddisabatino.html cd review ->

Jester Media V.A. : the life and death of a Hippie Preacher (US,1972-1981,pub.2007)***°

-official soundtrack-

Just recently, also a CD release has been added, to be associated with the soundtrack of the documentary on Lonnie Frisbee, even though the list is not exactly the same, that which is featured shows the same background vision of the well documented film producer, David Di Sabbatino, who is also a serious Jesus Music investigator. He published a book on the Jesus music movement, called “The Jesus People Movement: An Annotated Bibliography and General Resource”, which makes it almost obvious the music choice here is excellent. Dave Hollandsworth’s Jesus music website’, has some links to David Di Sabatino’s bibliography, and list as some of their favourite albums of this Jesus movement, two Agape releases, and two of the 4 albums of All Saved Freak Band ; both bands are also included here with 4 and 3 tracks. Other tracks are by Joy, Gentle Faith (2 tracks) and Stonewood Cross.

The compilation listens perfectly as if it is all by one American band, which has some range of expressions. Each band has convincing vocalists, from which I especially like the lead vocalist of The All Saved Freak Band. This was a communal group of Jesus freaks from Ohio gathered around Larry Hill, with former lead guitarist for James Gang / Pacific Gas & Electric, Glenn Schwarz. The group did 3 albums, in a slightly progressively American styled rock, with some well arranged details with additional cello and such. Agape, as one of the first Christian rock groups (they started in 1968), are a much more heavy band, and for a Christian band their bluesrock / psychrock style, with a few harder rock riffs, didn’t fit well in churches, so had to find a public in coffeehouses, schools and public parks. Here is noticeable some Hendrix influence in the singing, and some Cream influence in the approach. The harder rock track of Stonewood Cross fit well with the Agape group, and shows some good improvisation on guitars. In between are more folk-rock / singer-songwriter (Gentle Faith) and joyful (Joy) Californian country styled (Gentle Faith) tracks that fit well as quieter moments of songs. The group Gentle Faith was led by veteran musicians. I cannot tell if each individual group on their albums will be worth discovering more deeply. I can only say that the compilation which is done here, pretty much gives a convincing, independent vision with an expression that stands on its own.

Info on Agape : http://www.one-way.org/jesusmusic/agape.htm

Info on All Saved Freak Band : http://www.one-way.org/jesusmusic/allsaved.htm

Info on Joy : http://www.one-way.org/jesusmusic/joy.htm

Info Gentle Faith : http://www.one-way.org/jesusmusic/gentle.htm

Hemmets Härold

JesusFolket -45" featuring Lonnie Frisbee- (S,1971)-

This EP, which is free for download (not with the best preserved quality), featured Lonnie talking and singing an event in Stockholm, Sweden. The music is like a big church-event, and is rather forgettable.

Download : http://www.lonniefrisbee.com/presskit/print-audio.html

Nom de' Plume Rec. Our Generation : Praise and Prayer (US,rec.1972?,LP reiss.2006)***°

No trace of information could be found on this NY based Christian band. I only found out they had two private albums, “Dawning of the Day” (1971?) and this one, “Praise and Prayer” (1972?). The album has been reissued on LP on a limited pressing of 250 with a roughly done silkscreen cover. Band members were Dwight Craver, Cyrna Craver, John Oostdyk, Donna Oostdyk, Sharon Spear, Steve Mc Tamney, Glenn Eberhardt and Lowell Weeks. According to the cover they “were born of the spirit to minister through music our generation"...

Some of the greatness of this album is that it flows fluently in between more heavy fuzz driven garage and delicate inspired folkpsych hymns. All is of course inspired by Jesus-is-our-saviour experiences, all with a very convincing honesty in expressions and inspirations.

The introduction, “Hello Friends” has a calmly speeding up energy with fuzz distortion and electric bass, organ, leading to the first hymn like song. “Get Together” is already a much softer, vocal driven song with female/male dual vocals and just bass, like a more acidic version or original inspiration that would fit well as inspiration for church singing. “I’m only a man” is even more thinly arranged (soft acoustic guitar, loudly recorded electric bass, some chords of background organ), a late 60’s psych styled ballad-hymn with a beautiful emotionality in voice. On “Jesus said it all”, the organ is louder in the mix, and in that way a stronger ‘60’s psych styled focus, a song with harmony vocals and also, a bit of percussion this time. The last track of side A, "Praise", shows again more heavy fuzz bass and has also a more heavy outfit, and also the singing is more garage/’60’s punk styled, and it has a fine electric fuzz guitar solo. “Sacrifice” on side B can be regarded stylistically as a kind of ‘spiritual garage’, or at least for the first part of it, because the second part, sung by a more folkie female voice, returns quickly to the calm folkier psych accompaniment, sung with emotionally seriously inspired intentions. “Hymn” after that is, like the title says, a calm, inspired hymn, focusing heavenwards, with calm bass and organ, and beautiful Christmas gift gospel-like background vocals. On “Have you tried this one called Jesus” male and female vocals in folkpsych Christmas-is-here style are expressed with delight and devotion, and are accompanied by acoustic guitar, bass, and also beautiful flute this time, making it very sweet. “In the Presence of the Lord” brings back in the electrified guitar, with a more Nashville styled touch to it in the song inspiration. It also has a larger, heavier psych instrumental part, with a much more freaky electric fuzz part (with drums, some organ, electric bass), working as a psychedelic highlighting moment on the album, even when each track for me was equally convincing. Last track, “A Prayer” is a very beautiful, singer-songwriter acid folk ballad accompanied by finger-picking guitar that would not have been out of place on an acid psych singer/songwriter related classic.

A great discovery.

PS. I didn't realize and recognised it immediately, but "Presence Of The Lord", one of the few not self-penned tracks (Clapton), was a cover from Blind Faith (a group with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, ..from their fantastic only album from 1969)-. Also covers are "Hymn" (Paul Stookey from Peter, Paul and Mary) and "Get Together" (from The Youngbloods) .

Audio : "Hello Friends"(and here), "Praise", "Get Together"

Label with order page : http://www.nomdeplumerecords.com/

Other reviews on : http://www.lysergia.com/AcidArchives/lamaArchiveO.htm

Order : http://clear-spot.nl/catalog/view.php?item_id=276722

MORE VALUABLE LINKS :

More on Christian albums and on the 'Jesus Music Era' (1965-1980) on http://heavenly-grooves.blogspot.com/ & http://theancientstar-song.blogspot.com/2007/04/courtney-courtney.html & http://www.slate.com/id/2171430/?GT1=10346#return &

http://jesuspeoplemovement.com/research-1.html

Complete Christian albums discography : http://ccmdiscography.150m.com/

Christian music shop : http://one-way.org/jesusmusic/index.html

Cerebus Rec. Kristyl (US,rec.1975)****

Only 200 copies were pressed of this Christian rock album, it certainly deserves more attention. I gave it several listens and what becomes clear is that they really have a very good and well balanced overall sound and creativity, a really well working combination of elements far above the average comparable example, with beautiful heavier, more improvising electric guitar solos, accompanied by a well fitting more whirling second electric more rhythmic guitar, bass and drums. The songs are well written, and there’s a certain optimism of energy in the performance, with nice background vocal harmonies. For me this only grew in appreciation. One of the better Christian electric guitar albums I have heard so far.

Description on http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/kristyl.html

Other reviews : http://www.geocities.com/badcatrecords/KRISTYL.htm

& http://chrisgoesrocks.blogspot.com/2007/11/req-kristyl-selftitled-very-rare-us.html

Plastic Strip Press V.A.: "Lukk Opp Kirkens Doerer" (N,'70-'80/'10)****

Not only in America there has been a Jesus Movement. In Norway, like in the US, some free churches of Pentecostal movements knew a few priests who started to incorporate musical expressions and youth movements within their church with at first jazz and then rock incorporations. There is a large essay included in the thick booklet from the release explaining briefly but very complete the involved priests, movements and labels, and a small involved discography with album covers. The compilation is just perfect to listen to, with slow changes throughout the listening process, the ranges of expressions of the involved bands, with some songwriters and a funk/disco influence on the last tracks. In general a couple of influences appear more often so that we can pick out a few general tendencies of inspirations, which are different to the American Jesusfreak movement. Clearly there are more often classical church choirs involved, in group singing or with certain harmonies of singing, some lead vocalists who are either more rock or more sweet folk styled with beautiful emotional singing, there are rock bands in the background with some jazz musicians involved. Most of the drummers play it rather safe. Some rock bands bring in interesting breaks and progressive structural changes, some fuzz and Hammond without too many surprising challenges. And there are brass bands involved, trumpet leads and such, which in combination with a safe naivety and straight rhythms make a strange combination of a more conservative popular big band approach of a brass band with drummer and the new creative and surprising contradictory elements of rock, choir music and acoustic expressions and such which gives a new combination of music which didn’t happen anywhere else outside this religious inspired movement. A recommended and pleasant to listen to introduction of this movement.

Label info : http://www.plasticstrip.no/index.php?/cdvinyl/lukk-opp-kirkens-dorer/

& on http://www.normanrecords.com/...

Description : http://www.dustygroove.com/...

& http://www.lunakafe.com/moon180/no180c.php

& http://www.gubemusic.com/album_23996

& http://www.forcedexposure.com/labels/plastic.strip.press.norway.html

About Kerx (Nordic page) : http://www.aftenbladet.no/rogalyd/display/aftenbladet/Keryx

& Sky Sing : http://www.aftenbladet.no/rogalyd/display/aftenbladet/Sky+Sing