All God's Children: Songs From The British Jesus Rock Revolution 1967-1974 / Various [Import]

• Track Listing

Three CD set. First-ever overview of the UK element of the late 60s/early 70s "Jesus movement". Incorporates the scene's gospel beat beginnings, the hippie-era Christian rock/folk groups and the movement's influence on mainstream secular bands. During the late 60s and early 70s, the restless, questing nature of the Woodstock generation and the horrors of Vietnam saw the pop scene add a new spiritual element. Many young people embraced Christianity, viewing Jesus as the prototypal long-haired hippie, persecuted by the establishment of the day while dispensing peace and love to a troubled, cynical world. The American branch of the Jesus movement effectively started in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, but there was also a parallel development in the UK that slowly evolved from beat groups performing in church coffee-bars. By 1971, leading British Xian rock band Out Of Darkness were appearing at notorious countercultural gathering Phun City, while Glastonbury introduced a "Jesus tent" that offered Christian revellers mass and holy communion twice a day. 'All God's Children' assembles the best of the British Christian acts, including such respected names as Out Of Darkness (and their earlier incarnation, garage R&B act The Pilgrims), Parchment, Whispers Of Truth and Judy MacKenzie. It also features the secular alongside the sacred, including the likes of Strawbs, Moody Blues, Amazing Blondel, John Kongos and Medicine Head - bands who, though theologically shyer than their more overtly Christian contemporaries, all wrote songs with a strong spiritual message. A 3CD, four-hour set, 'All God's Children' - which takes it's name from the gorgeous Kinks' ballad, naturally included herein - is a fascinating look at an under-documented phenomenon and unexpected by-product of the hippie era.