Larry Norman - Dust On Rust

Published Saturday 30th June 2007
Larry Norman - Dust On Rust
Larry Norman - Dust On Rust

STYLE: Jesus Music
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 22553-12404
LABEL: Solid Rock SRD-112
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RRP: £15.99

Reviewed by Steve Norman

Larry Norman, a name synonymous with the creation of contemporary Christian music. Now just turned 60 and back on the road after a prolonged battle against illness, Norman releases a collection of his favourite songs which are said to be laid at the bottom of his treasure chest. Made specifically for the Solid Rock Army as a free album to go with the free Phanzine magazine, this album contains all new studio recordings in acoustic style. "The Thanksgiving Song" debuts here as one of the earliest songs written by Norman and revealing his sense of humour and ability to turn a phrase, recorded at a midnight session at Mark Lemhouse's studio with an ad-libbed melody. One of the surprising standout songs is one he wrote in the early '60s called "Forever And A Day". It deals with the future he imagined would come, as it does to some of us, by going back 200 years and telling the story of a husband and wife and a calamity. Every song on this album has great personal meaning to Larry. He even adds a Bob Dylan song, because Bob never recorded or released it. It reveals an early encounter with Christ in Bob's life, written right after his motorcycle accident. If you like Larry Norman, you will love this!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Chris Tozer in Gillingham, Kent @ 11:28 on Dec 12 2020

I have to agree with Dougie that this is an abysmal album. I appreciate that the reviewer was bearing in mind Larry's physical condition when it was recorded but 8/10 is midleading IMHO. Fine as a free gift for dedicated fans but definitely not for public consumption.




Posted by Jeremy in Sweden @ 12:26 on Nov 24 2008

Go home and do you homework insted of ripping SR promitional material! Bob Dylan & The Band recorded Sign On The Cross back in 1967, however it was never officially released. Listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJfm_s-6roI

If it´s about Bob Dylan meeting Jesus, or Bob Dylan just goofing around with The Band, Bob only knows! (I thing he was goofing... listen to the rest of The Basement Tapes!)



Posted by Dougie @ 15:05 on Jun 13 2008

This is not worth 8 out of 10. c'mon guys! Larry hadn't recovered from bronchitis when he was recording these tracks. The vocals are awful. His Eyesight was going too which meant even if he had lyric sheets in front of him he wouldn't be able to read them... in some cases he takes an all-time classic Dylan song like 'Visions of Johanna' and destroys it with sloppy guitar playing, singing it with a bronchitis-ruined voice, and forgetting the words then giving up on the song altogether. How on earth can you rank this album as an 8 out of 10 release... which used to mean 'very good indeed'? On song after song it is heartbreaking to hear how ill Larry is and how unable he was to perform at anything like his normal capability. This sounds worse than if an amateur with no amazing back catalogue was doing these songs. It is easily one of the worst ad most disappointing CDs i've ever heard - due entirely to the condition of Larry's health at the time. I can't believe you have placed this on a par with studio albums like Copper Wires which had new songs, great covers, a great band and good production! This is a 1 or 2 out of 10 quality release. If you like Larry Norman, you probably won't love this. It'll make you weep.



Posted by Bill Dawson in Greensboro, North Carolina @ 14:50 on Dec 24 2007

Well, I love Larry Norman. So you know up front I have a bias.
Larry is the genuine article, as anyone knows who knows his music at all.
That is probably one of the reasons I love the guy (though we've never met). This comes through in his music, his lyrics, and his insistance on being Larry,
whether or not record companies felt he was targeting a big enough, previously recognized and defined "market".
Just listening to some of these cuts takes me way back. I hope to make it to his Feb !, 2008 show in Oregon (see his site if you're interested).
Larry is no "cookie cutter" "fish show" artist.
He is real. Listen and see.



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