In 1977 one of the more unique albums in the history of CCM
dropped. Larry Norman released STREAMS
OF WHITE LIGHT INTO DARKENED CORNERS-PART ONE (AB Records). It is a project that parodies the efforts of
mainstream artists who write and perform songs of a spiritual nature.
Randy Stonehill plays West Coast DJ ‘The Surf Duke’ and
introduces ‘Spirit in the Sky’ as a deep theological study by Norman
Greenbaum. The song features mocking
backing vocals that put you in mind of a cartoon. Here are some of the words: “When I die and
they lay me to rest/I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best/When I lay me
down to die/Going up to the Spirit in the sky…/Never been a sinner, I never
sin/I got a friend in Jesus/So you know that when I die/He’s gonna set me up with
the Spirit in the sky.” Larry humorously
interjects “That’s bad.” Gene ‘Snowbird’
MacLellan’s ‘Put your hand in the Hand’ is next. Larry performs it for the most part with
reverence, and a slight country feel: “Every time I look into the Holy Book I start
to tremble/When I read about the part/Where the Carpenter cleared the
temple/Because those buyers and the sellers/Weren’t much different fellers than
what I profess to be/And it causes me shame to know that I’m not the man that I
could be.”
Next DJ Stonehill says: “Okay, why don’t we kick back and
listen to a hot little trilogy of faith, hope, and royalties, ha, ha. By Paul
Simon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.”
‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ has a sound that will please fans of
Norman’s ‘I am a Servant’. It is about
true friendship or God’s care for us: “When you’re down and out, when you’re on
the street/When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you, oh I will take your
heart when darkness comes/And pain is all around/And like a bridge over troubled
water/I will lay me down.” ‘Let it Be’
is short. It’s funny hearing Larry
singing Catholic inspired words: “When I find myself in times of trouble/Mother
Mary comes to me/Speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it Be’/And in my darkest
hour/She is standing right in front of me/Speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it
Be’/Let it be (4X)/There will be an answer/Let it be.”
‘My Sweet Lord’ has a classic rock feel to it, with nice
background vocals. It includes these
familiar lyrics: “I really wanna show you/I really wanna go with You/I really
wanna show You Lord/It won’t take long my Lord/Hallelujah/My sweet Lord.” Larry cleverly adds “I’m so bored” because of
the repetitive nature of the song and there is laughter at the end of the
track. Eric Clapton’s ‘Presence of the
Lord’ is a well executed classic rock song with electric guitar emphasis. It talks of finding a spiritual home: “I have
finally found a way to live/Like I never could before/And I know that I don’t
have much to give/But soon I’ll open any door/Everybody knows the
secret/Everybody, everybody knows the score/I have finally found a place to
live/In the presence of the Lord.”
Two Randy Newman songs are next. ‘I Think He’s Hiding’ is a ballad which Larry
sings in a mocking, overly dramatic tone.
Here are some of the awful lyrics: “If the Big Boy/Comes
tomorrow/There’ll be no more teardrops/There’ll be no more sorrow/If the Big
Boy comes tomorrow/Will He take you with Him?/Have you been good?/Have you been
bad?/If you haven’t lived the way you should/You wish you had.” ‘He gives us all His love’ is an easy
listening number that would have fit nicely on Norman’s IN ANOTHER LAND. The song contains words of comfort: “He knows
how hard we try/He hears the babies cry/He sees the old folks die/And He gives
us all His love/Now if you need someone to talk to/You can always talk to
Him/And if you need someone to lean on/You can lean on Him (2X)/He gives us all
His love (2X).”
Larry introduces the first of two Leon Russell tunes,
‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, in a crazy preacher’s voice: “Do you sometimes
feel like a stranger in a strange land, walking through the desert, looking for
the Prince of Peace, but your feet stick in the sand?/Is that what’s troubling
you bubby? Well, never give up!” ‘Prince
of Peace’ is upbeat and reminds us we may at any moment be entertaining angels
unaware: “Never treat a brother like a passing stranger/Always try to keep your
love light burnin’/Listen closely to his song and watch his eyes/Oh, he might
be the Prince of Peace returnin’…/Never be impatient with the ones you
love/Cause it might just be yourself that you’re burnin’/Listen only to their
song and watch their eyes/Oh you might see the Prince of Peace returnin’.”
DJ Stonehill says the next song is by Jackson Browne. Stonehill remarks that some call Browne a
prophet of the 70’s, while others say he’s just making a profit in the 70’s,
ha, ha, ha. ‘Song for Adam’ is a pretty story song: “Together we went
travelling/As we received the call/His destination India/And I had none at all/But
I still remember laughing with our backs against the wall/So free of fear, we
never thought that one of us might fall.”
The album ends with the Rolling Stones feel good rock number ‘Shine a
Light’. Larry does his best Mick Jagger
imitation on this song which has a chorus that rings out like a benediction:
“May the good Lord shine a light on you/Make every song you sing your favourite
tune/May the good Lord shine a light on you/Yeah, like the evening sun.”
While there is certainly plenty of good natured fun poking
going on on this album, Larry also delivers some dandy, shining musical moments
that make this a true collectable. Fans
of Weird Al, the Swirling Eddies, and Mark Lowry will appreciate the humour. Fans of mainstream pop and rock classics with
spiritual lyrics should also give this project a listen. A listen to see how these songs take on new
life when tackled by a CCM pioneer. I’m
rating STREAMS OF WHITE LIGHT INTO DARKENED CORNERS: PART ONE 87.5%.
For more info visit www.larrynorman.com.