Christian "Rock Operas"
Dave Montroy
My roommate asked me last night if I knew of any Christian groups who
have done "Rock Operas" similar to "Tommy" by the Who (I think). From
what he told me, these are simply rock albums which tell a story in rock
music. He talked about a couple ones, like "Tommy", that he had heard
before, but the story line was really weird and just didn't have a good
message. I don't know much about these myself, but, being a fan of some
rock music, the idea sounds really neat. If anyone knows of any, could
you please send E-mail, or post, whichever you think is appropriate.
There may be other people who are interested in this also. Thanks a
bunch!
Dave
dmon...@reepicheep.gcn.uoknor.edu
mon...@nsslc.nssl.uoknor.edu
(P.S. He mentioned hearing "Jesus Christ Superstar", but felt it was
of a disco style. He's looking for something more on the lines
of rock. Thanks!)
Claude W. Anderson
Dave Montroy writes
> Hello all,
>
> My roommate asked me last night if I knew of any Christian groups who
> have done "Rock Operas" similar to "Tommy" by the Who (I think). From
> what he told me, these are simply rock albums which tell a story in rock
> music. He talked about a couple ones, like "Tommy", that he had heard
> before, but the story line was really weird and just didn't have a good
> message. I don't know much about these myself, but, being a fan of some
> rock music, the idea sounds really neat. If anyone knows of any, could
> you please send E-mail, or post, whichever you think is appropriate.
> There may be other people who are interested in this also. Thanks a
> bunch!
>
> Dave
> dmon...@reepicheep.gcn.uoknor.edu
> mon...@nsslc.nssl.uoknor.edu
It isn't exactly a rock opera, but Larry Norman's "Something New
Under the Sun" certainly tells a story through (very bluesy)
rock music. It's one of my all-time favorite wierd albums.
I don't know if it is still available at all
(maybe from Phydeaux --
BTW, does anyone have Phydeaux's address?).
Another great "story" album (but not really rock)
was "The Misfit" by Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar,
done in the late 1970's. If you ever find
it and they have two, get one for me -- I'll pay
a premium price for it!
Side 2 of Daniel Amos' "Shotgun Angel" fits the
category, telling the story of the end times in
some fascinating songs. It's available on CD;
Christian Book and Supply has it for $6.98.
The musical flavor is country-alternative-rock-folk
or something like that.
Thomas R. Blake
>(P.S. He mentioned hearing "Jesus Christ Superstar", but felt it was
> of a disco style. He's looking for something more on the lines
> of rock. Thanks!)
Wow! Superstar sounding like Disco!? Ask him what Superstar he was
listening to. Most of the people I know prefer the original studio
recording. (Brown label, with gold titles, designs.) If he likes Tommy
era rock, I'd say this recording is definately the one for him.
The Movie Soundtrack recording I feel is very well enunciated, but not
nearly as good musically. I've only heard the recording of the stage
show once, but I wasn't impressed.
Tom Blake
Binghamton University
Ronald Oakes
I can think of two that may fit what you are looking for -- sort of. Both of
these are works by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. One is the aforementioned
"Jesus Christ Superstar." The original concept album recording (Brown cover
with Murry Head singing Judus) is the better recording. It was made sometime
in the early 70 (1972??). The movie version is not as good. Also their eariler
work "Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is good. However, it is more
of a pop style -- with many other styles thrown in. There are several cast
recordings available for this.
Both of these were written, more or less, for the stage and are "cast" recordings,
not rock group recordings.
Andrew Lloyd Webber also composed a Requium after is father's death. It however,
is more towards his recent clasical compositions (Phantom of the Opera, Aspects
of Love).
If you want to strech your search really far, I am sure you can find several
"musicals" that are created using CCM music for Junior High and High School
church groups. But I don't know of any other Rock Operas or Concept Albums
by CCM artists.
Ronald B. Oakes
Stacey C. O'Brien
Does anyone remember "The Roar of Love" by Second Chapter of Acts? While
it's not a rock opera, it is a musical telling of the story of Narnia,
and isn't rock (as in heavy metal ;-) ), so much as it is pop-rock, more
like abba meets Queen. I found it quite entertaining though.
--Stacey
jason steiner
> Hello all,
>
> My roommate asked me last night if I knew of any Christian groups who
> have done "Rock Operas" similar to "Tommy" by the Who (I think).
Sacred Warrior did an album that tells a story. i've got it at home but
haven't listened to it more than 2-3 times. (won it in a radio contest
before i knew they were just another glitter metal band.)
aside: read Who's Afraid of Classical Music for an interesting (and
accurate) definition of "opera". if the term "rock opera" is as accurate
i doubt you'll be seeing too many of the Christian variety.
jason
--
,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,
,` "Get off the cross. We need the wood." ste...@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu `,
,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,
Alison J Wyld
Since its not rock it won't suit your friend, but others might be
interested in Adrian Snell's work. "The Passion" has the obvious
theme. "Alpha and Omega" is superb - its basically about God's
dealings with mankind. "Father" is on the theme of Fatherhood - God's
and ordinary human fatherhood too.
Hope this is of interest
Alison Wyld
Brody H. Finney
>dmon...@reepicheep.gcn.uoknor.edu (Dave Montroy) writes:
>> Hello all,
>>
>> My roommate asked me last night if I knew of any Christian groups who
>> have done "Rock Operas" similar to "Tommy" by the Who (I think).
>Sacred Warrior did an album that tells a story. i've got it at home but
>haven't listened to it more than 2-3 times. (won it in a radio contest
>before i knew they were just another glitter metal band.)
Sacred Warrior..."glitter metal" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah! good one!
But seriously, this bad sounds nothing like glam metal...more like Iron Maiden
or the harder Queensryche stuff. They're still a good sight away from the
heaviness of Vengeance, Believer, ect., but their music is much more akin to
"classic" metal than it is to pop/glam. Besides they don't have big hair and
don't wear makeup! Actually "Wicked Generation" is a first rate metal rectord,
only held back by sligtly weak production.
Deliverance's "Weapons of our Warfare" was a semi-concept album centering on
spiritual warfare.
R.L.Taylor KB2OOA
>Anybody out there ever see Toymaker's Dream? (I think that's the right
>name) Its not really opera in that the stage peformers do dance only,
>but it tells a story in song (pre-recorded) and dance. I've seen the
>video and hope to see it when it comes to town this fall.
Would that be "Toymaker & Son"? If so, it's a dramatic dance allegory
of the Gospel used as a ministry tool by Youth With A Mission. It's a
pretty obvious parable (Toymaker creates sentient toys; the evil apprentice
leads the toys in a rebellion which creates a barrier between Toymaker and
the toys; the Son goes to live among the toys, and is eventually nailed
to the barrier, but of course rises from the dead and makes a way through...)
But definitely worth seeing! The original version used a lot of secular
music (an instrumental segment from the Moody Blues' _Nights in White
Satin album_; "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay" and others) but it has
since been rewritten with all original music. Personally, I liked the
original even better, but maybe that's just cause I was so used to it.
If anybody is interested, I'll see if I can find out where/when it will
be touring. There are usually several Toymaker teams at any given time,
and it's been translated into a number of languages. (For those who don't
know, YWAM is an international missionary organization with bases all
around the world. Toymaker is only one of the tools they use to convey
the gospel in many nations.)
----
Roberta Taylor KB2OOA | You let me sing a song for you every now and then,
AT&T Bell Laboratories | But I'm asking you, when are you gonna listen?
Whippany, NJ | You say I never sing about anyone but Jesus
r...@gummo.att.com <>< | Well, that's because Jesus is my song. ---Anne Herring
jason steiner
>
> Anybody out there ever see Toymaker's Dream? (I think that's the right
> name) Its not really opera in that the stage peformers do dance only,
> but it tells a story in song (pre-recorded) and dance. I've seen the
> video and hope to see it when it comes to town this fall.
yes! Toymaker's Dream is amazing! i haven't seen it in about 3-4 years,
but i understand they keep updating it. besides dance they have a
very good laser/pyrotechnics/light show. if you get a chance make sure
to go see this. it's breathtaking. the video doesn't begin to do it
justice.
> A vote for Perot is a vote to repeal of the Constitution.
> Just say NO to Perot.
--
Democrat: Give us your money. We'll solve your problems.
Republican: Give us your money. We'll pretend your problems don't exist.
Perot: Give me your money. I'll, uh, well...
Libertarian: Here's your money. Solve your own problems.
-- Vote Libertarian '92 -- jason ste...@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu --
Troy Carpenter
>ste...@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu (jason steiner) writes:
>
>Sacred Warrior..."glitter metal" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah! good one!
>But seriously, this bad sounds nothing like glam metal...more like Iron Maiden
>or the harder Queensryche stuff. They're still a good sight away from the
>heaviness of Vengeance, Believer, ect., but their music is much more akin to
>"classic" metal than it is to pop/glam. Besides they don't have big hair and
>don't wear makeup! Actually "Wicked Generation" is a first rate metal rectord,
>only held back by sligtly weak production.
>
the statement of "Wicked Generation." While I like songs like "Miss Linda" and
the music and message of "wicked generation" (the song), WG cannot hold a
candle to "Master's Command" and I frankly like "Rebellion" better than both.
I guess the reason I did not like WG as much IS the weak production and semi
bad mixing, but IMHO the whole album lacked musically and lyrically (except in
a few cases) to their previous works.
I can also see why a person would get the IDEA that they are glam metal from
Wicked Generation, but I think that album is just a fluke and look forward to
their next album.
Troy Carpenter
Department of Computer Sciences
THE University of Texas, Austin
psu...@cs.utexas.edu
"You're so open minded that your brain leaked out" - Steve Taylor
*>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The best thing in life costs exactly that <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<*
Michael David Toth
>
> My roommate asked me last night if I knew of any Christian groups who
>have done "Rock Operas" similar to "Tommy" by the Who (I think). From
>what he told me, these are simply rock albums which tell a story in rock
>music. He talked about a couple ones, like "Tommy", that he had heard
>before, but the story line was really weird and just didn't have a good
>message. I don't know much about these myself, but, being a fan of some
>rock music, the idea sounds really neat. If anyone knows of any, could
>you please send E-mail, or post, whichever you think is appropriate.
>There may be other people who are interested in this also. Thanks a
>bunch!
>
Run, don't walk, and get that immediately. One of the classics of
Christian music that has withstood the test of time.
There was also Larry Norman's "The Epic" on Side 2 of the first People!
album in the mid 60's. It pre-dates "Tommy," and on Norman's less
humble and more storytelling days he may try to convince you that The
Who got their idea for a rock opera from hearing this record.
And coming out in a month or two on Blonde Vinyl, there's the new LSU
release, "Grape Prophet" which is specifically labelled in publicity
materials AS a rock opera. Originally entitled "Ellis & the Orchard,"
this features a REALLY strange-sounding allegory about Mike Knott's
not-so-pleasant experiences with the controversial "Kansas City
Prophets" who are now connected with John Wimber of the Vineyard
churches. Undoubtedly, this thing will probably raise as much
controversy as the Prophets themselves when it hits the shelves. The
man has guts, and if he didn't OWN the record label, I'd doubt if this
thing would ever see release. Being one who currently attends a very
admirable Vineyard church, I'm very interested in what he has to say. I
mean, lots of people have bad experiences at church, but who here has
felt compelled to write a rock opera about them?!? I'm keeping my ears
open for this one...
>Dave
>dmon...@reepicheep.gcn.uoknor.edu
>mon...@nsslc.nssl.uoknor.edu
>
Michael David Toth
tot...@ucunix.san.uc.edu
Jim McNicholas
> In article <1992Jun23.1...@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> dmontroy@ree
Jim McNicholas
<<<ALOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ROCK OPERAS DELETED FOR SPACE>>>
Jim McNicholas
Jeff Jackson
Anybody out there ever see Toymaker's Dream? (I think that's the right
name) Its not really opera in that the stage peformers do dance only,
but it tells a story in song (pre-recorded) and dance. I've seen the
video and hope to see it when it comes to town this fall.
============================================================================
Jeffrey Glen Jackson _|_Satan jeered, "You're dead meat Jesus, I'm gonna
j...@ssd.csd.harris.com | bust you up tonight."
x5120 | Jesus said, "Go ahead, make my day."
~~~~~~~~~ -- Carman, "The Champion"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
bethelb...@gmail.com
ka...@untamedgeneration.org
We actually produce the Untamed Rock Opera! The story of a young millennial man in search of significance, caught between his desires and destiny. It's a modern parable to creatively communicate the good news of Jesus. Would like to invite you to watch our rock opera trailer on our site: www.UntamedGeneration.org
-Kara
jojosenseisso...@gmail.com
But to answer the question,
This isn't exactly a rock opera (nor really rock) but the album The Jesus Record, written by Rich Mullins and recorded by his band, the Ragamuffin Band, after he died is a concept album about the life of Jesus and has some brilliant songs on it. Popular songs from it are My Deliverer and Man of No Reputation.