PLASTIC JESUS

Created on 21/03/2001
Latest update on 15/08/2017

Artist: Goldcoast Singers
Author: Ed Rush/George Cromarty
Label: World Pacific Records
Year: 1962

Ed Rush & George Cromarty were members of the Gold Coast Singers. Recorded during the San Francisco State College Folk Festival. Ended up on their first lp Here They Are. Ed traced the song back to an African-American camp meeting song with lyrics: "I don't care if it rain or freezes, leaning on the arms of my Jesus". Lyrics and sheet music first published in Sing Out!, later in Broadside Magazine. According to Broadside #41 it had been the themesong of a religious radio station in Baton Rouge in the forties, while the melody also reminds Jack Guthrie's Oklahoma Hills (see there).

Covers:

1964:

Ernie Marrs & The Marrs Family [reissued on The Best Of Broadside 1962-1988]

1967:

Paul Newman

1972:

King Earl Boogie Band [as Plastic Jeesus on lp Trouble At The Mill; Paul King and Colin Earl are two ex members of Mungo Jerry]

1975:

Mantanooska Thunderbuck [on lp Pipe, Spoon, Pot And Jug]

1989:

Naked Prey

1992:

Levellers

1993:

Flaming Lips

1994:

Jello Biafra

1998:

Roland [had a subscription on Broadside]

Considered blasphemous when first released, whereas its target is the purveyors of religious kitsch, not religion itself. Is also heard in film Cold Hand Luke with Paul Newman.

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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