This is the only known release of “Larry Norman and The Young Lions.” The Young Lions didn’t become anything else, but I believe that this was one of the records where he used his brother Charly as one of the creative musicians. Charly toured with him on the Stop This Flight Tour, and around this time was working on a career, although we never did seem much of him on his own.
The lead-out groove on side one says (in addition to the serial number ARF-864), “Larry & Charly” and the lead-out groove on side two says The Young Lions “Quiet Night.” For all I know this might mean they were the only two musicians on the album. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Most of the songs on this record are written by Tom Howard. Larry added 2 of his own tracks on each side. (Sigrid Jane, I Don’t Wanna Lose You, and two “L’etude”).
This is one of two records where Larry focused on recording Tom’s songs. The other one is “Letter of the Law” which appears in the bARCHAEOLOGY set. Larry was producing Tom and trying to promote him, unsuccessfully. He recorded some of his songs in attempt to generate some interest and popularity for Tom’s records. Tom did have a couple of moderately successful albums but then switched to doing recordings more focused on just playing piano.
Quiet Night is often referenced as “Jamaican Import” but it was available in the US direct from Phydeaux. Perhaps it was popular in Jamaica.
Tracklist
1 – Iron And Steel
2 – Shine Your Light
3 – I Found Love
4 – Let The Master Make It Right
5 – Piano L’etude
6 – Sigrid Jane
7 – Stronger Love
8 – Farther On
9 – Come On In
10 – Drum L’etude
11 – I Don’t Wanna Lose You
12 – Jesus Is The Song Inside Of Me
FYI
to fill in some blanks
i recorded and mixed this record
we had worked out of a studio in Hollywood called the Sound House.
The owner, Marlin Jones had sold it and bought another studio…dont remember the name. It didnt last long.
The musicians were Dan Cutrona on keys, Bob Somma on guitar, Dave Spurr on drums, and myself on bass from the control room, Tim (JellyBean) Jaquette.
There was a famous mixer at the time calling himself Jellybean, so Larry copped that.
Larry introduced us to Charley and had him play some parts and overdubs.
The only other thing I remember is asking Larry how the record was doing after we finished, he replied, “people didnt like it because it was too mainstream”
Best I can do after 30 some odd years.
Thanks
That’s really interesting. I remember getting this via Phydeaux mail order in the 80s and nobody had really heard of it. There were distribution problems with all his albums at the time and the only reliable way to get them was mail order. It was a different sound, but “too mainstream” doesn’t sound like an accurate description to me. Sigrid Jane always stuck in my head, and I don’t think it’s very radio friendly.
Having said all that, thanks Tim for filling us in here. And I think you did a great job on this album, fwiw.
There’s a whole part of the Larry Norman story I was indirectly involved with. In 1986 I met Bill Romansky who went by the band name Street Angel. He had toured with Larry as a Young Lion. As far as i can tell you, Larry used young musicians to breathe life into his career like a vampire. He left a trail of broke musicians behind as he disappeared off into the night with the money leaving the band stranded behind. I’m sure that was his modus operandi. I love Larry Norman’s music but he was a charlatan and a user. There is so much I can tell you about my experience with Street Angel as a band that might be of interest to some people who would read this. The one thing I want to make clear is I’m not out to trash anybody. But the kid who was supposed to be the drummer for Street Angel was Kenny Bam Boom. I’m not sure of his real last name but it might have been DeRouche or something along those lines. I saw him play one Street Angel gig and quit that night. He was young, same age as me about 19. Married and from Chicago trying to make a go of it in a South Jersey all original Christian themed band. I was just a hanger on looking to get into music any way. So I ended up as a “roadie” I hauled gear, tried to change strings.(I’m a guitar player) All attempts at getting a replacement drummer failed because nobody wanted to work in the band. Nobody wanted the unpaying job. I became the drummer for Street Angel. I was not a drummer, but Keith Moon was my idol so I did my best to have that type of presence on the drums. NOT trying to play like Moon because I wasn’t a drummer, but Romansky worked around my inadequate abilities and allowed me the gift of Rockstar Dreams Come True. But he was one of Larry Norman’s causualties. Not that he’d say that, but anyway… Bill definately taught us the back part of the music industry. The bass player Thom and I ended up breaking off to form our own Christian Rock underground band Absence Of Ceramics (our archive is free on Bandcamp and there is a Facebook archive of our photos and various news letters and reviews, etc. We lost our friend Kenny Warner to covid in the start of 2021. I myself now have stage 4 kidneys on dialysis as of last week after a near death sepsis infection and partial foot amputation last September. I’m just freestyling here and I hope to live long enough to write my memoir. Bill Romansky and I are still friends through You Tube comments on his channel. Thom and I tried to reunite Absence Of Ceramics but without Ken Warner it was not the full band. My health has been so bad these years practice and performing has been impossible. Along with the separation of where we live and time and money factoring in on the impossible part. I’ve been struggling just to get back into my own writing and recording after years of drought. This last 8 month life threatening trip to the hospital has cut down my ability and my time left. I’m sitting on unconverted 4 track cassette home demos of my songs unreleased dating back to 1986. I always hope to convert them to a digital archive but I don’t have the knowledge or connections nor do I know anybody I can trust the job to. My music is NOT Christian rock and it’s not saleable in the mainstream. It’s varied and it’s non commercial. But I’m sure under today’s conditions there’s a proper outlet and home for my music. I hope to at least release one vinyl 7″ 45 rpm single before I die. I plan to do this on my own label through my own private music publishing company. I will never sign a contract or release the songwriter rights to my songs. No matter what. It all started from my involvement with Street Angel. That connection came indirectly from Larry Norman having had Bill as a guitar player in The Young Lions.
(P.S.Kenny Bam Boom went on to form his own sucessfull funk/dance band and did really well. He wasn’t the drummer in his band though as I recall. Kind of a shame because the one gig I saw I was impressed with his drumming. Funny side note; I ended up playing his drums he left behind until I put them on a grayhound bus for $40 to Ohio. I always wished I had gotten to know Kenny more. I was always concerned about how his life turned out after that night when he quit Street Angel.)
OK THE END
Hey Garth,
I still have an Absence of Ceramics cassette, “Soft Drinks for Terrorists.” I haven’t heard it in years because I no longer own a working tape deck. But back when I did, I listened to it pretty regularly. I hang on to my old cassettes and vinyl hoping that I can digitize them someday, but I am in the same boat as you on that front. I will have to check out the Bandcamp archive. I hope that your health situation turns around for the better. Best wishes.