Friday, September 13, 2024

African American Gospel Song "Jesus Is Just Alright" Recorded By The Art Reynolds Singers, And By Two Rock Bands:The Byrds & The Doobie Brothers



BlackMusicFr, October 17, 2014

Une jolie chanson gospel, dont les reprises auront beaucoup plus de succès que l'original !
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"A beautiful gospel song, whose covers will be much more successful than the original!"

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update- September 14, 2024

This pancocojams post showcases a sound file of and the lyrics for the original recording of the Gospel song "Jesus Is Just Alright" by The Art Reynolds Singers (1966).

This post also showcases covers of this Gospel song by two Rock bands: The Byrds and The Doobie Brothers.

Selected comments from the discussion threads for these YouTube sound file and videos are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Art Reynolds, the composer of this Gospel song. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Is_Just_Alright
" "Jesus Is Just Alright" is a gospel song written by American singer Art Reynolds and first recorded by Reynolds' group, The Art Reynolds Singers, for their 1966 album, Tellin' It Like It Is.[1][2]

 The song's title makes use of the American slang term "just alright", which during the 1960s was used to describe something that was considered cool or hip.[3][unreliable source?] The song has been covered by various bands and artists over the years, including the Byrds, Underground Sunshine, the Doobie Brothers, Alexis Korner, the Ventures, DC Talk, Stryper, Shelagh McDonald, and Robert Randolph (featuring Eric Clapton).[4]

The first cover version of the song was recorded by the Byrds on their 1969 album Ballad of Easy Rider.[5] The Doobie Brothers included their version on their 1972 album Toulouse Street.[6] Released as a single in November 1972, this version peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] In 1973, American rock band Exile released their self titled debut album, which included a cover of the song.[8] In 1992, the Christian rock and hip hop group DC Talk released a version of "Jesus Is Just Alright" on their Free at Last album.[9] The song has also been covered by Robert Randolph on his Colorblind album, with guest artist Eric Clapton[10] and Stryper's 2013 release, No More Hell to Pay.[11]

[…]

"Jesus Is Just Alright"

Song by The Art Reynolds Singers

from the album Tellin' It Like It Is

Released - 1966

Recorded - 1965

Genre - Gospel

Length- 1:55

Label - Capitol

Songwriter(s) -Arthur Reid Reynolds

Producer(s)- Gary Paxton

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LYRICS - JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT 

(Arthur Reid Reynolds)

Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do
Do-do-do-do-do, do, do, do
Do-do-do-do, do, do

Jesus is just alright with meJesus is just alright, oh yeahJesus is just alright with meJesus is just alright
I don't care what they may sayI don't care what they may doI don't care what they may sayJesus is just alright, oh yeahJesus is just alright
Whoa-oh-ohDo-do-do-do-do, do, do, doDo-do-do-do-do, do, do, doDo-do-do-do-do, do, do, doDo-do-do-do, do, do
A-hoping and a-loveJesus is just alright with meJesus is just alright, whoa, yeahJesus is just alright with meJesus is just alright
I don't care what they may knowI don't care where they may goI don't care what they may knowJesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus, He's my friendJesus, well, He's my friendHe took me by the handHe led me far from this landJesus, He's my friend
Jesus is just alright with meJesus is just alright, oh yeahJesus is just alright with meJesus is just alright
A-hopin' and a-lovin'I don't care what they may sayI don't care what they may doI don't care what they may sayJesus is just alright, oh yeah
Source: Musixmatch https://www.google.com/search?q=jesus+is+just+alright
Songwriters: Arthur Reynolds
Jesus Is Just Alright lyrics © Music Sales Corporation, Artists-music, Inc., Alexis Music Inc


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THE STANDARD MEANING OF "ALRIGHT" IN COLLOQUIAL AMERICAN ENGLISH COMPARED WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH MEANING OF "JUST ALRIGHT"

A. The standard colloquial American English meaning"
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/alright# 

1. adverb- in a satisfactory or adequate manner 

synonyms: O.K., all right, okay

2.adverb - an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence

synonyms: OK, all right, fine, very well

3.interjection - used to indicate acknowledgement or acceptance

4. adverb - without doubt (used to reinforce an assertion)

synonyms: all right

5. adjective nonstandard usage

synonyms:

satisfactory *

giving satisfaction
-snip-
* "alright" (adjective) means that something or someone isn't great or outstanding, but is just (only) adequate

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B. African American Vernacular English: "just alright with me"
In the context of this Gospel song, the phrase "just alright" is an adjectival phrase that surely doesn't mean that Jesus is just adequate (i.e. He isn't great or outstanding).

Instead, I believe that "Jesus is just alright with me" means one or both of these two thing
1. that the singer accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior because Jesus "exactly meets all of his criteria" for that position.
In the context of the slang term "just alright", the word "just" is an adjective with the meaning "exactly"/ "precisely" and the word "alright" means "satisfactorily" (meaning someone or something that satisfies all or enough of an established criteria).
Notice that the other lyrics in the song indicate that this conclusion that "Jesus is just alright with me" was made regardless of the conclusions that other people have made or regardless of what other people may think about that conclusion. The person also gives some reasons why he reached that conclusion (i.e. why he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior".

Click https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just for the multiple meanings of the word "just.

2. that the singer believes that Jesus is great/ the best (i.e. the slang meaning "alright" as used in Stevie Wonder's 1966 song "Uptight (Everything's Alright"
-snip-
Notice that 1966 is the same year that the Reynolds Singers Gospel song "Jesus Is Just Alright" was released.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Is_Just_Alright   indicates that "The song's title makes use of the American slang term "just alright", which during the 1960s was used to describe something that was considered cool or hip.[3][unreliable source?]" 
-snip-

Also, click https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?21918-The-Way-Stevie-Used-The-Word-quot-UPTIGHT-quot  The Way Stevie Used The Word "UPTIGHT"

-snip-
For what it's worth, I was a teenager in the 1960s and was 21 years old in 1969. While I was definitely familiar then and now with the words "cool" and "hip", I have no recollections of ever hearing, using, or reading the phrase "uptight" or the phrase "just alright".    

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SELECTED COMMENTS (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVe7kknLFNE

1. @heavyd777, 2021
"In 59 years this is the first time I've heard the original. Awesome!!!"
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Reply

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Reply
** Reply 4. @caracampbell4348, 2023
"Age 50 and same here! My dad loved The Doobie Brothers, and I grew up listening to their rendition. Who knew it was a copy?!"

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"Wow! I remember this version as a kid in the 60's. I didn't recognize the association with the Doobie Brothers' rendition. I remember the clear female voices playing over WUST 1120 AM! Take me back... Thank you for the blast from my Gospel music past!"
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -The Byrds - Jesus Is Just Alright - 9/23/1970 - Fillmore East (Official)
The Byrds on MV, September 17, 2014
The Byrds - Jesus Is Just Alright
Recorded Live: 9/23/1970 - Fillmore East - New York, NY More The Byrds at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com -snip- Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).
"This late-era Byrds lineup should get more recognition as a great live band. Between 68-72, just smokin!" **
"An all-American Christian rock ANTHEM. Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Thank you, Jesus!!!!!!"
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Doobie Brothers | Jesus Is Just Alright
 The PrimeChannel, April 18, 2011 -snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only). 1. @paloduro6270, 2024
"A fantastic song!!!
Notice classic rock stations don't play it anymore...
Sign of the times." 2. @nyterpfan, 2024
"As a teenager growing up in the 70's you heard this FREQUENTLY--it got a lot of airplay and was in the steady rotation for most major rock stations. (As it should have been--WHAT a classic!!)"
** Reply 3. @Mrkgbpckrfn, 2024
"LOVE IT! It really was a different time in our country...hundreds of years of our country

being a Christian nation.  Everyone including classic rock bands still acknowledged Jesus, many artists talked about him and/or other Biblical things from the Word in their songs and some even proclaimed it!!" "

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