1984: The Rise of Christian Rock

 

The Rise of Christian Rock

Normally, I don’t write three posts in a week unless in exceptional circumstances which this is. Nothing major, I’m just going to be in Blackpool for the weekend and working a lot next week so I won’t be able to post again until next Friday. However, this doesn’t excuse any of you from your homework assignment from the last post. Only kidding.

1984 was the golden year of heavy metal but it also saw a huge rise in the interest in what has become known as ‘Christian Rock.’ With the onslaught of accusations of rock music being Satanic, Christian youth needed something they could listen to without their beliefs being affected. What emerged was a large number of bands and artists who were Born Again Christians and wanted to use music to spread their word and entertain the flock. I remember back in 1984 a lot of bands of this nature coming on the scene. In fact, early Sunday mornings, my local radio station had a four hour slot called TCN Hot Rock, where they would play music from Christian groups. When I did listen to it, I immediately dismissed the false belief that Christian bands were second rate musicians who were only using religion as a gimmick because they weren’t good enough to make it mainstream. Really, some people actually thought that. No these people could really wail and the music was very good and to shoot down another myth, not all the songs were in your face about Jesus.

You’d be surprised how many bands there are who are considered Christian Rock, even some of those who were popular among us heathens. Did you know that three of the four members of U2 were Born Again Christians? Adam Clayton is the only non believer in the band. Needless to say, their music got a lot of air play on TCN. As did another band who I featured here not too long ago, The Alarm. Other artists also came onto my radar thanks to this radio programme, including former Kansas star, Kerry Livgren. I’ll be featuring his album two posts from now. There was Mylon LeFevre, (no relation), Petra, the Daniel Band and it was here that I got my introduction to some heavy metal band called Styper. You might have heard of them.

The Alarm

U2

I remember one song getting a lot of airplay on TCN Hot Rock during the summer of 1984 so I thought, I would share it with you. It’s by Steve Taylor and it’s called “We Don’t Need No Color Code.” The song actually is a rant against a supposedly Christian College in the South who was accused of racist practices.

Like with everything to do with religion, the concept of Christian Rock is great. Like I said on other blogs, I can listen to Stryper and Mercyful Fate in the same sitting. There are some pretty amazing musicians who are Born Again Christians and I think that’s cool. However, like with everything else, people mess it up and make it look bad. The rise of Christian Rock gave rise to the arrogance in the attitudes of those who listened to it. Some would take this to extremes and if you’ve read “Rock And Roll Children,” (shameless plug), you’ll know what I mean.

Next post: Originally, I was going to put a song by the Daniel Band on this post but when I listened to their 1984 album, “Rush Out of the Darkness,” I was so impressed that I’m going to make it my next post.

To buy Rock and Roll Children,

Great Rock Albums of 1984: U2- The Unforgettable Fire

 

Unlike the Greg Kihn Band, after their successful 1983 album, "War," followed by a successful live album, U2 didn't vanish into obscurity. Maybe Greg Kihn should have released a live album. That's all hindsight anyway. What is history is the fact that U2 followed up their success with the really cool album, "The Unforgettable Fire."

I don't think I've said this in previous posts about U2 but the one thing their music definitely did was appeal to Metalhead and Duranie alike. For those who don't know, a Duranie is someone who was into Duran Duran and similar type music. Those people listened to U2 and did not feel that they were going too weird in their music tastes while Metalheads could do the same without any feeling of selling out and going mainstream. "The Unforgettable Fire" album continues this trend for the band as both of those groups bought this album up.

Reading the history behind the making of the album, the band has said that they were trying to steer a different direction with it as they didn't want to be labeled as another arena rock band. Let me be totally honest here, I have never heard anything different in the sound of "The Unforgettable Fire" than what they had accomplished with their previous three studio albums. What U2 had been able to do very well with all four of their albums to date was make different sounding songs without having to change their overall style. I have always believed it was a case of more of this with the fourth album.

With "The Unforgettable Fire" the hits come out straight away, probably because I heard the first single, "Pride in the Name of Love" on the radio before I bought the album. History states that the single was released first so that's probably why. Still, it ranks up their among my favourite U2 songs of all time. The second single, "Bad" is the second single released and that stands out as well while at the same time, you know it's a good U2 song. I could never fathom why the title track never charted in North America as it's a really cool track as well. If anything, I would rate it above "Bad." But if you know me by now, albums aren't about the singles on them and there has to be some hidden gem in the album. For me, that track is "Wire." If I had my way, that would have been released as a single. I like the little guitar lick The Edge uses at the beginning before it goes into a good rocking song. In fact, The Edge shows his guitar skills all through the song. Actually, "Indian Summer Sky" is a really good song and that's what you need for a good album.

The other thing which definitely appealed to me back in 1984 was U2's use of politics in their music. This continues with this album, especially as two songs are dedicated to the late Martin Luther King Jr, one of them being the first single. "Bad" was about heroin addiction and the idea for the title track came when the band was visiting the war museum in Hiroshima, Japan. Put these things in with the music on the album and it's no wonder why I liked it so much.

Track Listing:

1. A Sort of Homecoming
2. Pride in the Name of Love
3. Wire
4. The Unforgettable Fire
5. Promenade
6. 4th of July
7. Bad
8. Indian Summer Sky
9. Elvis Presley and America
10. MLK

U2

Bono- lead vocals,

The Edge- guitars, keyboards, backing vocals

Adam Clayton- bass

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

Heavy metal was going strong in 1984, so was U2. This album is clear evidence of that fact.

Next post: Steve Perry- Street Talk

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1984: U2- Under a Blood Red Sky

 

Maybe U2 were trying to follow in the lead of Blackfoot in the sense that after three albums, release a live album. The difference here is that the three Blackfoot albums are all considered classics while the same can't be said for the three U2 albums. Now don't get me wrong, I like all three of these albums, "Boy," "October" and "War." However, the first two didn't propel them to stardom the way "War" did. "Boy" turned my head in their direction but when I mentioned U2 to others, I mostly got blank stares. "October," on the other hand, is U2's best kept secret. Not a lot of people seem to know too much about the album but I've always liked it. "War" goes without saying, it made the band a worldwide name. It is on the back of "War" that the live "Under a Blood Red Sky" album was released.

When most people think of this live album, they automatically assume it's from the filmed concert "U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky," it's not. The songs are live but recorded separately from concerts in Colorado, Boston and Germany. Furthermore, the filmed concert is nearly and hour and a half long while the album consists of just eight songs and is just over thirty-five minutes.

Ironically, the album starts with the best known song from the "October" album, "Gloria." Probably a good opener as any for U2 at this stage of their career. What's more, the next two songs are off the "Boy" album but then, "I Will Follow" is my all time favourite U2 song and it's played very well. The crowd really get into it and if I had been there, I would have too. The fourth song, "Party Girl," doesn't appear on any of the albums but it's still okay. Remember, back in 1983, U2 were still hungry and making their mark on the music world and all of the songs reflect that on the album.

It's not until song five we get anything from the "War" album and that is the phenomenal "Sunday Bloody Sunday." My second favourite U2 song and the way it's played here is pure magic. Next is another good song from the debut album in the form of "The Electric Co." For me, it's played just as well live as when I hear it on the "Boy" album. Were there studio fixes here?  I can't say. The last two songs from "War" take the album out brilliantly. First is the fantastic "New Year's Day" and there is no better song for them to close a concert with than "40." When I saw them in 1985, they would close the show with that song and it was mind blowing. I have to say that "Under a Blood Red Sky" takes me back to another time and almost seemingly another U2 because they were actually good but it hadn't gone to their heads yet.

Track Listing:

1. Gloria
2. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
3. I Will Follow
4. Party Girl
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. The Electric Co
7. New Year's Day
8. 40

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="233"] U2[/caption]

Bono- lead vocals, guitar

The Edge- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, bass on "40"

Adam Clayton- bass, guitar on "40"

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

"Under a Blood Red Sky" may not go down as one of the greatest live albums in history but it's still a good album. Especially if you like U2 when they were more hungry and less with the ego.

Next post: Julian Lennon- Valotte

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1983: U2- War

 

My original intention was to post U2's breakthrough album "War" in succession with Todd Rundgren and Bryan Adams. However, with the death of David Bowie, I felt the need to abandon that intention in order to pay proper homage to a true rock icon. The idea for my original intention came about because back in 1983, there was a chance to see Todd Rundgren, U2 and Bryan Adams together. They were playing a concert in Charlotte, North Carolina and the local radio station in Jacksonville, where I was stationed, was running a bus to it. I would have loved to have gone but unfortunately, the Marine Corps stuck me on duty that day so I couldn't. It's no wonder why I didn't re-enlist.

Like I said a second ago, U2's third album, "War" was the album where they finally got the attention they deserved in the US. In 1983 and I've probably said this before, commercial radio didn't totally suck, so when the monster hits, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day," blew me away when they got played, I naturally had to get a hold of the album. Especially, having heard their first two albums, "Boy" and "October." U2 was one of those bands where I could tell the johnny come lately's that I was listening to them before they got famous.

What I have always liked about War is that, at least in my ears, it's not much different to their first two albums. They didn't have to change to get accepted, (something they would forget in the years to follow.) U2 brought a different sound to the table which many people liked when they got to hear it. The fascinating thing about "War" is that the album has been enjoyed by both metalheads and Duranies (people who worshiped Duran Duran) alike. In fact, they have often been labelled 'punk' mainly because there was no other category in which to put them.

So many great things have been said about the "War" album, I would just be repeating them and even now, I find it difficult to find my own words. I know I just really like this album. The two singles already mentioned are my joint second favourite U2 songs of all time, "I Will Follow" takes the top slot. However, I was more than slightly disappointed when they didn't play the third single from the album, "Two Hearts Beat as One" when I finally got to see them live in 1985. While all of the songs are good, I would have to pick "Surrender" as my favourite of the lesser known songs on "War."

Track Listing:

1. Sunday Bloody Sunday
2. Seconds
3. New Year's Day
4. Like a Song
5. Drowning Man
6. The Refugee
7. Two Hearts Beat as One
8. Red Light
9. Surrender
10. 40

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="233"] U2[/caption]

Bono- lead vocals, additional guitar

The Edge- guitars, piano, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Seconds"

Adam Clayton- bass

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

In 1983, U2 finally broke into the big time with a fantastic album "War." This album was a milestone for the band and fans like me in so many ways. In fact, often times I think that the band should go back and listen to this album and remember what got them to where they are.

Next post: Supertramp- Famous Last Words

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock Albums of 1982: U2- October

U2's second album "October actually came to my attention at the tail end of 1981 when I saw it at a record store. However, I was still listening to their debut album "Boy," so I wasn't quite ready for their new album. That all changed while I was early into my second deployment to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean when a fellow marine played the album opener "Gloria" that was on his self made cassette of punk tunes. Fact: believe it or not, back in 1981 and 2, U2 were considered punk by the mainstream. I've said this before and I know I'll say it again, back then, anything new or that mainstream commercial radio just didn't get was classed as punk.

Whether or not U2 were ever punk was not really an issue for me, all I know was that they were quickly growing on me. One reason why was that if I were to choose another name for "October," I would call it "Boy II" because to me, the second album sounds very much like the first. That's not a particularly bad thing by the way. Like "Boy," "October" begins with the best know single from that particular album. I won't make comparisons because "I Will Follow" will always be my favourite U2 song. Therefore I will not take anything away from the opener here. "I Fall Down" is a good follow on and I'm not sure what to make of "I Threw a Brick Through a Window" but it does stand out in the sense that I didn't hear anything like it on "Boy." For me, the album goes down the same road as its predecessor and you could argue "If it ain't broke then don't fix it." Even the end of the album slows down in the same way the closer on "Boy," "Shadows in Tall Trees" does. While I won't go as far as saying the two albums are completely identical, they are quite similar.

Track Listing:

1. Gloria

2. I Fall Down

3. I Threw a Brick Through a Window

4. Rejoice

5. Fire

6. Tomorrow

7. October

8. With a Shout (Jerusalem)

9. Stranger in a Strange Land

10. Scarlet

11. Is That All

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="233"] U2[/caption]

Bono- lead vocals

The Edge- guitar, piano, backing vocals

Adam Clayton- bass

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

As I said earlier, if it's not broke, don't fix it. What U2 did with "October" is take their first album as a blueprint and made another album along the same vein. However, it is done in a way that doesn't put the listener off. "October" would prove to be a small stepping stone towards the next album which would lead them to ultimate greatness in the golden decade. One thing I have always said about U2 was the fact that they were one band that metalheads and trendies both liked.

Next post: Loverboy- Get Lucky

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1981: U2- Boy

The debut album from the now legendary Northern Ireland band U2 came to my attention who gave me a copy on a cassette on which he recorded from the record. Since I had no clue on anything about the band, I had to go on the music that the tape was pumping out of the speakers on my car stereo. Listening to what some have labelled their post punk, new wave sound a picture of what I believed they looked like began forming in my mind. I saw them as the standard four piece two guitar, bass and drum type of band with hair styles similar to the boy on the album cover and wearing brown tweed jackets and ties. I guess the closest thing would be sort of a combination of The Jam meets The Knack. The image of them would remain with me for another two years until when I would see that that image was completely wrong.

Thankfully, I never cared too much about images but put my faith in the music. When I first listened to "Boy," I was convinced by its conclusion forty minutes later that this was a good album. Even though there was no track listing, I knew the opener was a fantastic song and "I Will Follow" is still my all time favourite U2 song. I didn't need a track listing to see how tight this band was as the songs were very good. One advantage of not knowing the track titles is that I was compelled to listen that much closer to get an idea of what a track might be called from the lyrics. So, the track "A Day Without Me" isn't really called "You started a landslide in my ego" but that doesn't stop it from being a great song nor did it stop it from sticking in my head for over thirty years. Other tracks that stick in my head turn out to be "An Cat Dubh," "Out of Control" and "Stories for Boys" and I have to say that "Shadows in Tall Trees" makes for an interesting closer.

Track Listing:

1. I Will Follow

2. Twilight

3. An Cat Dubh

4. Into the Heart

5. Out of Control

6. Stories for Boys

7. The Ocean

8. A Day Without Me

9. Another Time, Another Place

10. The Electric Company

11. Shadows in Tall Trees

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="233"] U2[/caption]

Bono- lead vocals

The Edge- guitar, backing vocals

Adam Clayton- bass

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

I said in my last post that I would be visiting something that was a triumph in 1981 but is now a tragedy, but it's not U2. Yes, in my view, they were great in the 1980s but would go weird in the 90s but it is albums like "Boy" that keep me listening. What I didn't know when I first listened to this album is how they would go onto greater things.

Next post: Eric Clapton- Another Ticket

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London