One Way Records
Encyclopedia
One Way Records was a record label
established by Larry Norman
in 1970
to distribute his own work, and that of other Christian musicians including Randy Stonehill
, after he had been released by Capitol Records
in 1969.
" of songs he had recorded between 1966 and 1969, some of which were released on his One Way albums. Norman recorded, produced and released two independent albums of his own music through his One Way Records: Street Level (1970) and Bootleg (1971). Both albums "would feature grainy, underground looking black and white artwork. Both would also be ... mixing live concert recording, studio demos of previously unreleased songs and future classics. These albums would also reveal the smart and piercing humor Norman would always be noted for. Norman concerts were part rock and roll show, part revival meeting
and part stand up comedy. This facet of his life and ministry would be introduced on these two albums.
One Way "used secular sub-distributors or "rack jobbers" and "one stops" to disseminate its records". Additionally Creative Sound, owned by Bob Cotterell, released and distributed Street Level, as well as Stonehill's Born Twice. By 1971 One Way Records was headquartered at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard.
, which had on side one "a [1969] live concert recorded at Hollywood's First Presbyterian Church which ran a nightclub called the Salt Company". Norman recorded at night for discounted rates in Pat Boone
's 8-track room at SunWest Studios, and also "Sigrid Jane" at Ray Charles
' studio. Norman had messages inscribed on the inner groove of all One Way records. The first version of Street Level, which was only 400 copies, was "too confusing to the Christians", and as a result Norman recorded "a second version for the church kids" in 1971 that completely replaced side two with one recorded with a band called White Light. After its release in 1970, the Hollywood Free Paper described Norman as "a combination of lyricist, composer, performer, backwoods preacher [and] poet."
the debut album of Norman's friend and protegee Randy Stonehill
, who had been converted in August 1970 in Norman's kitchen, that was produced by Norman. The album, primarily a live performance, was recorded for a mere $US800, and according to Stonehill, it "sounds like every penny of it!" The album was released on CD in 2005. Born Twice was recorded at Fat Chance Studio, with Norman singing harmonies, playing piano and organ, as well as mouth claves
, Fred Bova playing lead guitar, Glenn Salwitz on bass guitar, and "Hilly" Hillman
on drums.
, a double album retrospective covering the previous four years of Norman's career compiled from demonstration recordings made while at Capitol, private recordings from his friends, and various interviews and live performances. Among the speeches included is "Let the Lions Come", which Norman addressed to Russia for Christ Ministries, which was founded by David V. Benson in 1958. It was deliberately recorded to sound like an unauthorized bootleg recording
to ensure reception by street people. In 1999 Norman explained the unpolished nature of Bootleg: "Many songs which ended up being released on Bootleg, ... weren't really finished but I had to release the album immediately so it wouldn't violate the terms of my MGM contract which was soon going to be in effect. ... I just didn't have time to finish it. ... I didn't have the budget to make it a real album, I just used songs laying around to fill it up, which I regretted".
(the "one way" sign) as their company logo. Norman had popularized the sign in his concerts, by habitually pointing an index finger toward heaven after each song, signifying to him that when he was applauded that God should get the applause instead. While it is claimed that Norman was the first to use the one way gesture in his early concerts in Hollywood, Norman said by 1972: "I wouldn't be surprised to find out the apostles did it". While some criticize Norman for copyrighting the One Way symbol, the linear notes to Norman's 1972 Bootleg album credit artist Lance Dennis Bowen (born 7 December 1944 in Los Angeles, California
), who designed the original One Way poster, based on Norman's gesture, who also coined the term "Jesus Freak", and who managed the Salt Company coffee shop in Hollywood for its first eighteen months, and reveal that in 1969 both Bowen and Norman published and copyrighted it together. In an interview with Dale Ahlquist for Gilbert Magazine in December 1995, Norman explained the origin of the One Way logo:
Soon the One Way signal was used by Christians to indicate that Jesus was only one way to salvation, and it became "the iconic insignia of the Jesus movement", the 20th-century equivalent of the first-century Ichthus
, as a counterpart to the secular "peace sign
".
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
established by Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
in 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
to distribute his own work, and that of other Christian musicians including Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, after he had been released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1969.
History
Seeking to make a "more earthy sounding album which I could hand out to the street people I talked to on Hollywood Boulevard", in 1970 Norman established One Way Records with his own money, which was described as "an underground experimental" label, which was headquartered initially at his rented home at 6007 Carlos Avenue, Hollywood. When Norman left Capitol he took with him "demosDemo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
" of songs he had recorded between 1966 and 1969, some of which were released on his One Way albums. Norman recorded, produced and released two independent albums of his own music through his One Way Records: Street Level (1970) and Bootleg (1971). Both albums "would feature grainy, underground looking black and white artwork. Both would also be ... mixing live concert recording, studio demos of previously unreleased songs and future classics. These albums would also reveal the smart and piercing humor Norman would always be noted for. Norman concerts were part rock and roll show, part revival meeting
Revival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
and part stand up comedy. This facet of his life and ministry would be introduced on these two albums.
One Way "used secular sub-distributors or "rack jobbers" and "one stops" to disseminate its records". Additionally Creative Sound, owned by Bob Cotterell, released and distributed Street Level, as well as Stonehill's Born Twice. By 1971 One Way Records was headquartered at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard.
Street Level (1970-1971)
In 1970 One Way Records released Street LevelStreet Level (album)
Street Level is the title of an live album recorded by Larry Norman in 1970. The 2005 CD re-issue has the same selection of tracks as the original 1970 LP release. The second LP version released in 1971 and 1972 under the same name has a different B-side. The 2001 CD issue combines the tracks...
, which had on side one "a [1969] live concert recorded at Hollywood's First Presbyterian Church which ran a nightclub called the Salt Company". Norman recorded at night for discounted rates in Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
's 8-track room at SunWest Studios, and also "Sigrid Jane" at Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' studio. Norman had messages inscribed on the inner groove of all One Way records. The first version of Street Level, which was only 400 copies, was "too confusing to the Christians", and as a result Norman recorded "a second version for the church kids" in 1971 that completely replaced side two with one recorded with a band called White Light. After its release in 1970, the Hollywood Free Paper described Norman as "a combination of lyricist, composer, performer, backwoods preacher [and] poet."
Born Twice (1971)
In 1971 One Way Records released Born TwiceBorn Twice
Born Twice is the title of an album by Randy Stonehill, which was released in 1971.-Track listing:All Songs Written by Randy Stonehill, except "Hand in the Hand" by Gene MacLellan, "I Need You" by Jimmy Owens, and "He's Got the Whole World" and "He is a Friend of Mine" are Public Domain-Words & Arr...
the debut album of Norman's friend and protegee Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, who had been converted in August 1970 in Norman's kitchen, that was produced by Norman. The album, primarily a live performance, was recorded for a mere $US800, and according to Stonehill, it "sounds like every penny of it!" The album was released on CD in 2005. Born Twice was recorded at Fat Chance Studio, with Norman singing harmonies, playing piano and organ, as well as mouth claves
Claves
Claves are a percussion instrument , consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone),...
, Fred Bova playing lead guitar, Glenn Salwitz on bass guitar, and "Hilly" Hillman
Hilly Michaels
Hilly Michaels, also known as Hilly Boy Michaels is an American drummer and musician, best known for playing drums with Sparks in the 70's and his two solo albums from the early 80's, Calling All Girls and Lumia .- History :His first music experience came with playing in a band called Joy,...
on drums.
Bootleg (1972)
In early 1972 One Way Records released BootlegBootleg (Larry Norman album)
Bootleg is an album created by Larry Norman, released in 1972. It was originally released as a double-LP.- History :In early 1972 One Way Records released Bootleg, a double album retrospective covering the previous four years of Norman's career compiled from demonstration recordings made while at...
, a double album retrospective covering the previous four years of Norman's career compiled from demonstration recordings made while at Capitol, private recordings from his friends, and various interviews and live performances. Among the speeches included is "Let the Lions Come", which Norman addressed to Russia for Christ Ministries, which was founded by David V. Benson in 1958. It was deliberately recorded to sound like an unauthorized bootleg recording
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
to ensure reception by street people. In 1999 Norman explained the unpolished nature of Bootleg: "Many songs which ended up being released on Bootleg, ... weren't really finished but I had to release the album immediately so it wouldn't violate the terms of my MGM contract which was soon going to be in effect. ... I just didn't have time to finish it. ... I didn't have the budget to make it a real album, I just used songs laying around to fill it up, which I regretted".
The Son Worshippers (1972)
In 1972 One Way released The Son Worshipers (JC4444), the soundtrack of the 1971 Christian documentary film of the same name that introduced the Jesus Movement, that includes Norman singing two shortened versions of his songs from Upon This Rock.One Way logo
By 1971 One Way Records began to use the famous extended index fingerIndex finger
The index finger, , is the first finger and the second digit of a human hand. It is located between the first and third digits, between the thumb and the middle finger...
(the "one way" sign) as their company logo. Norman had popularized the sign in his concerts, by habitually pointing an index finger toward heaven after each song, signifying to him that when he was applauded that God should get the applause instead. While it is claimed that Norman was the first to use the one way gesture in his early concerts in Hollywood, Norman said by 1972: "I wouldn't be surprised to find out the apostles did it". While some criticize Norman for copyrighting the One Way symbol, the linear notes to Norman's 1972 Bootleg album credit artist Lance Dennis Bowen (born 7 December 1944 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
), who designed the original One Way poster, based on Norman's gesture, who also coined the term "Jesus Freak", and who managed the Salt Company coffee shop in Hollywood for its first eighteen months, and reveal that in 1969 both Bowen and Norman published and copyrighted it together. In an interview with Dale Ahlquist for Gilbert Magazine in December 1995, Norman explained the origin of the One Way logo:
I had broken my index finger on stage one night. The Bible has a verse which says, “Lift up your body as a living sacrifice.” So I would hold up my fist and extend my finger after each song. Inside I was thinking, “Take the rest of me, Lord. Take whatever you want.” And I was telling people, “Rock and roll is not the way. Drugs is not the way. Free love is not the way. There’s only one way to find the truth of life. You must die to self and be born again in Christ.” The next thing I know Lance Bowen paints a big “one way” sign on butcher paper and it’s the backdrop for my concert appearance in Hollywood. And soon it was an auto parts distributor making “One Way” bumpers stickers, belt buckles, tie-tacs, lapel pins, t–shirts and lamp shades down in Mexico and spewing it all over America.
Soon the One Way signal was used by Christians to indicate that Jesus was only one way to salvation, and it became "the iconic insignia of the Jesus movement", the 20th-century equivalent of the first-century Ichthus
Ichthys
Ichthys, from Koine Greek: , is the Greek word for "fish"....
, as a counterpart to the secular "peace sign
V sign
The V sign is a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingers are raised and parted, while the other fingers are clenched. It has various meanings, depending on the cultural context and how it is presented...
".