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Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?

Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock

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Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?

Written by: Gregory Alan Thornbury
Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne
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About this listen

In 1969, in Capitol Records' Hollywood studio, a blonde-haired troubadour named Larry Norman laid track for an album that would launch a new genre of music and one of the strangest, most interesting careers in modern rock. Having spent the bulk of the 1960s playing on bills with acts like The Who, Janis Joplin, and The Doors, Norman decided that he wanted to sing about the most countercultural subject of all: Jesus.

Billboard called Norman "the most important songwriter since Paul Simon", and his music would go on to inspire members of bands as diverse as U2, The Pixies, Guns N' Roses, and more. To a young generation of Christians who wanted a way to be different in the American cultural scene, Larry was a godsend - spinning songs about one's eternal soul as deftly as he did ones critiquing consumerism, middle-class values, and the Vietnam War. To the religious establishment, however, he was a thorn in the side; to secular music fans, he was an enigma.

In Why Should the Devil Have all the Good Music?, Gregory Alan Thornbury draws on unparalleled access to Norman's personal papers and archives to narrate the conflicts that defined the singer's life, as he crisscrossed the developing fault lines between Evangelicals and mainstream American culture - friction that continues to this day.

©2018 Gregory A. Thornbury (P)2018 Tantor
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An Incomplete Story

A very interesting and worth wile read, I enjoyed it very much! The only issues that were left inadequately discussed were some of Larry's alleged psychological issues and the alleged child in Australia- (I highly doubt that Charles is his son.)

In addition, he didn't seem to adequately wrestle with many of diSabbatino's criticisms. It may have been that the author wrote it with one hand behind his back. Being granted access to Larry's history may have certain conditions in keeping the family happy.)

In any event, this book was well researched and worth reading. Looking forward to reading more books from this author.

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