God Is For Real, Man
It’s taken me a good couple years to fully digest this lp, but I think I can now say with some degree of certainty that this is hands down one of the heaviest “non-music” lp’s I’ve heard. I mean, how could a 60’s record of ghetto kids interpreting the bible in jive talk be anything more than some kind of ironic novelty (at best)? Well, apparently the lord really does work in mysterious ways because it is a genuinely moving and totally fascinating listen. I could go on but feel that any analysis I could dredge up would ultimately pale in comparison to an actual listen, so here ‘ya go…
SO THEY GIVETH UNTO HIM SOME FISH FRY
[audio:god_is_for_real.mp3]
11 Comments
Wow. I totally concur with everything you say about it. Thanks for sharing this!
I have this album, and love it! I especially like the glossary of terms on the back of the LP, so you can find out what terms like “hood”, “mugger” and “knock it off” mean.
What’s the speaker’s name?
Very cool excerpt. I’ve used the Doubting Thomas scene in arguments with biblical literalists to ask them what they really think is going on there – the resurrected Jesus still has wounds big enough for Thomas to stick his fingers into. This stuff was written in an age when normal people had an everyday acquaintance with death (and its uglier aspects) than almost all of us do now.
For me this excerpt takes us back to a folkloric take on the story. Great post.
They don’t identify anyone who is on the LP. The notes just refer to them as kids from city streets.
The narrator on the LP sounds like legendary WNEW-FM “radio personality” Scott Muni.
Best cut is Moses’ Big War Plan
“Moses’ people were PW’s in Egypt…”
holy mother of god this cracks me up so bad
but it’s so awesome!
(i ain’t no ghost either, brotha.)
……did he just say “and they gave him some french fries”? i think i just pissed myself.
I just found the book (author-carl burke)can’t wait to find the record!!!!!!
thanks guys
God’s bad tempered angels with busted halos.
fucking a.
i think this book is quite good i would like to get my hands on it
Bought this record today in a charity shop for 3 euro. One hour later it’s already my favourite spoken word album in my collection, and I’m an atheist. Great voices, interesting stories.
Ooooh. Surely this rates a full download? BTW, thanks for the Linda Rich.