Joan Osborne - "One of Us" (Live-1996)

This is the hit song "One of Us" from Joan Osborne's 1995 album "Relish". I have always contended that if God were to walk amongst us today; or if Jesus Christ walked into a church; both would be carted away as lunatics. Ms. Osborne was in town a few nights ago, performing at the Visulite Theatre in Charlotte. A small venue, which holds about 600 people at the most, this would have been the ideal place to see and hear her.

I have always enjoyed this song. It poses questions, which we have all asked ourselves at one time or another, concerning religion, faith and what I like to term "the human condition." The lyrics were not meant to offend, but rather to make us examine our own faith in whatever we believe. It also pointedly asks how much effort we are willing to put into our beliefs, no matter what they are. This acoustic version may lack the bite of the lead guitar on the studio track, but the message is still clear. "I am he, as you are he, as you are me, and we are all together." That about sums it up.

One Of Us by Joan Osborne

If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets

And yeah yeah god is great yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
He's trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

Midnight Special - 1973

Remember Burt Sugarman's "Midnight Special" from the 1970's? Along with Don Kirschner's "Rock Concert", these iconic shows, both of which were the precursors of MTV, were viewed by millions during the years in which they aired. At the time of this video, I was living in Ohio, working in a factory. These shows were a staple of life for thousands of factory workers like me on Friday nights. Of course there was a little bit of hooch involved in watching the concerts, but with, or without it, these shows aired some pretty good music.

I wasn't sure of what I wanted to post today, so I turned to my old friend You Tube and typed in the word "specials", figuring that I would come up with some old footage from the variety shows which used to play on TV. But the first thing that came up was this hit by a group whose name I never forgot- simply because I never knew it in the first place. The record was one of my favorites at the time, and it really hasn't become "dated" over the years. The song is a cover version of "Brother Louie", originally recorded by Hot Chocolate, before being covered by this band named Stories.

Stories was primarily a "rock and pop" group, from New York during the early 1970s. It's members were keyboardist Michael Brown, bassist/vocalist Ian Lloyd, guitarist Steve Love, and drummer Bryan Madey. "Brother Louie" would be their only hit record, reaching #1 in 1973. Ian Lloyd would quietly go on to influence such bands as Foreigner, Peter Frampton, and Foghat. Also of note is that Michael Brown was a founding member of a group called the Left Banke, and wrote their 1965 hit single, "Walk Away Renee."

The introduction by Jose Feliciano is a great indication of the variety we were all exposed to in the days before satellite radio and all the other new technology which allows the viewer/listener to remain fixed on one particular genre, rather than being exposed to many different types of sounds. Although I have my own preferences in music, as most of us do, I really miss those days. But then again, I still listen to AM radio on occasion.

"It's Too Late" and "Matchbox" - Derek and the Dominoes on Johnny Cash -1971

This video needs no introduction, except to say that it's from The Johnny Cash Show in 1971. Watch the whole thing, after the Dominoes play "It's Too Late", Johnny Cash talks music with Eric Clapton before they bring out Carl Perkins for a little bit of "Matchbox" with Derek and the Dominoes. They don't have TV like this anymore....

Thanks to Dave for turning me on to this video!