Living Sacrifice Band Click here to watch videos.
A Brief Musical
Ministry History
Pastor John Murray has an interesting musical history
with the Jesus People Movement. He was a founding member of the Last Call of
Shiloh one of the earliest musical ministries of the Jesus People Movement. On
April 12th 1971 the Last Call of Shiloh played its first concert in
the Sandpoint Community Center in Sandpoint Idaho. At that concert seven young people were saved and that began a
revival that saw many young people come to the Lord. The local marijuana
salesman was put out of business because his many clients were either saved or
unable to smoke pot because of the fear of God. He eventually tossed over 4
pounds of marijuana into Lake Pondereille and gave his life to the Lord. From
Idaho the Last Call of Shiloh would travel to the east coast where concerts
would see altars fill with repentant young people. Only eternity knows how many
passed from death unto life by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. In 1972
the band recorded an album that is still sought out by those with a love of
music from that early revival.
I am including a critique as well as comments from those who
have listened to the Last Call of Shiloh album, On Heavenly Grooves blog.
The Last Call of Shiloh
The unusual song composiion didn’t hit me over the head
at first, but multiple listening revealed the layers of interesting guitar work
going on in the background. ‘New Jerusalem’ has some nice slow dreamy charm at
work while ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ and ‘Great Day of the Lord’ both
approach seven minutes in length, allowing the guitarist opportunity to try out
some tremoloed Quicksilver flourishes. Closes with ‘Call To Brokenness’, a
beautiful piece of ethereal femme folk psych. Black and white cover features a
pencil drawing of the face of Christ overtop a photo montage of the multitudes.
A couple members went on to form the band Living Sacrifice, re-interpreting a
few of these songs over the course of their three albums. Be aware that some
copies without sleeves were obtained from the band a few years ago – these are
now being circulated with reproduced covers. (Ken Scott – Archivist)
Anonymous said...
This one is REQUIRED listening--no questions asked!
Hippi said...
Thx for this masterpiece (320 @)
Anonymous said...
This is the album that got me into the whole Jesus Music scene
and it is still probably one of my two or three favorites. Genuinely beautiful
songs ("The Rapture"!!) with unusual twists and turns and great,
loose playing. The little breakdown at the center of "Taste of the
Lord" was always one of the greatest moments to me personally ... such an
awesome little groove to that one! But the whole album is great to listen to as
a piece and really put a fire into me to find more spiritually edifying music
that was inventive, sincere and rocking! These guys (and gals) did it so well
it was really a revelation! This album will always have a special place with
me. And this new download is much clearer quality than my previous version!
Thanks for all you're doing John!
Anonymous said...
Thank you so much for this great album, a complete masterpiece. Love
from starcaptain.
Mark-oz said...
YES, this one is required listening - no questions asked (as per
first comment). The melody lines do not tire even
after repeated listening.
The Living Sacrifice Band
In
1975 pastor Murray founded the Living Sacrifice Band with John Rosenberry, a
member of the Last Call of Shiloh. The band headquartered in Spokane
Washington. The band would play out of the Sonshine Inn, a coffeehouse that
would pack out hundreds of young people.
Often people were turned away in great number for there was no room to
enter. A more detailed account of this time can be found in Pastor Murray’s
book of his life story, Chosen to Honour Thee which is available at the
bookstore link. From 1975 to 1982 the Living
Sacrifice Band would play literally hundreds of concerts from the west coast to
the east coast. The concerts were for the glory of Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit would bring many to salvation.
From that harvest came called ministers and the planting of churches.
The band would play on the roughest streets of Brooklyn to Presidential suites
in Washington D.C. for the Kraft family. (Owners of the New England Patriots)
Other audiences would include Gypsy trailer parks, college campuses, street
venues, churches, and anywhere that an invitation was given to play to the
glory of Jesus Christ
In
1978 Louis Smyth would become the drummer of the Living Sacrifice band. A long
time friendship and calling has brought John Murray and Louis Smyth to today pastor
the Tree of Life Christian Fellowship. Today Living Sacrifice still makes music
to the Glory of God. The 21st century is a time when what much of
the music that Living Sacrificed played in former decades prophetically is now
coming to pass. Please listen to ‘These
Are the Times before the End’ that was written in 1975 as evidence.
Living
Sacrifice made three albums. The first is entitled The Living Sacrifice Band,
was recorded in 1977 in Spokane, Washington. In 1978 the second album Beauty
for Ashes was recorded in New Jersey. The last album that was recorded in
New Jersey in 1980 was entitled A Call to Brokenness. Included is a critique of this album as
well as comments from listeners from Heavenly Grooves Blog:
Mellow
folk praise dominates side one, a more or less pleasant and peaceful sound
highlighting acoustic guitar, a pair of flutes and female lead vocals. The title track
especially has a lovely minor-key beauty. The three extended
tracks that make up side two, however, are where the real edge kicks in. ‘Conquered Death’ has
a mid-tempo classic rock feel with harmonica, hard rock guitar, flute and
electric piano each getting a solo turn. More tasty guitar
leads follow on ‘The Catching Away’ and ‘The Great Day’, both excellent lengthy
progressive tracks re-interpreted from Last Call with positive results (a touch
jazzier, with the addition of lead flute and keyboard passages).Two cover
variations exist: one featuring simple black lettering over a white background,
the other an old-fashioned photograph of a girl holding flowers, again both
pressed in micro quantities. (Ken Scott -Archivist)
Andreas said...
Didn't seem special when I first got into it. But then I had it
on in the background, and I must say "Conquered Death" is a great
song. Love the flute and rhodes solo at the end.
Anonymous said...
Initially
it just sounds very soft and bland, like how you'd expect a cutey pie English
Christian girl singing in the late 70s....but further listens reveal a definite
edge. I wouldn't be surprised if God kind of likes this one! It's fairly good
stuff {grimtraveller}.
The
Living Sacrifice Band - A Call to Brokenness
The group’s fusion of
progressive and hard rock became fully realized with the stunning A Call To Brokenness. You’ll be tempted to blow out your
speakers on this one – the production is A-1, the gals’ vocals are especially
dynamic, and the stinging loud guitar leads are all over the place. I find this an exceptional album,
similar in some respects to the best of the early Tunesmith recordings, yet at
the same time blowing them all away. Synthesizer
and flute play a bigger role here, the latter sounding rather Tull-ish at one
point. The eschatological
emphasis continues on long tracks like ‘Ezekiel 38 & 39’ (5:28),
‘Armageddon’ (7:42) and a powerful climactic remake of Last Call’s ‘Marriage
Supper Of The Lamb’ (8:24). Closes
on a softer note with ‘Raging Sea’
and the dreamy title track (which also closes out the Last Call album). We’re talkin’ three essential classic
slabs of vintage vinyl Jesus music here. (Ken Scott - Archivist)
Anonymous said...
The last LP showed that there was something just dying to come
out of this band and on this album, it leaps out with menaces ! I think it is
an excellent offering, at once progressive, savage, explosive, impassioned,
beautiful and a grand listen {grimtraveller}.
Evert said...
I can recommend this album to everybody the song 'Marriage
Supper of the Lamb' stands out.
Thanks for uploading!
Anonymous said...
Even the songs on here that appear to
start in ordinary fashion sport a kind of edge that one can happily slice one's fingers on! Brilliant progressive,
melodic, hard nosed rock all the way
through with pretty good lyrics in parts, the future for Jesus rock must've
felt good at this point. I don't think
it really grew from here though, for the most part.
As
I listen to this album, I wonder if the band knew they had a great LP in the
can when they finished it and if they
were unanimously pleased with it. They should've been {grimtraveller}.
It is my hope that you have enjoyed the introduction to
the Living Sacrifice band ministry.
From this website there will be an on-going presentation to the glory of
Jesus Christ of the music that has been given of the Lord. There are new songs by the Living Sacrifice
band that have never been recorded, but will now be presented on this website.
Please enjoy the musical selections, which include a live
concert with some new music never recorded. Visit the bookstore if you would
like any of the three Living Sacrifice CD’s. Please remember, Living Sacrifice band is not just music. The
reality of why God called us is found in Romans Chapter 12 verses 1 and 2.
Enjoy the music and love Jesus as your great first love.