Nadia McAnuff & The SOA Peace Begins Within (2019)
Christian rock emerged during the Jesus Movement, a Christian revival that began on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s. Artists in the genre blended rock music with Christian themes, messages and values, often garnering as much rejection from the church as ridicule from non-believers.
One of the genre’s key figures was Mylon LeFevre. Born into the Southern gospel family The LeFevres, Mylon began performing at a young age. Among one of his many later projects he fronted a band simply named Mylon.
The band’s self-titled debut LP, released in 1970, marked a significant shift in LeFevre's career, moving away from his Southern gospel roots toward a more rock-oriented sound that fused blues, gospel and Southern rock. (His foray into secular music—including collaborations with George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Elton John—came to an abrupt end after a near-fatal heroin overdose in 1973, leading him to recommit to his faith and return to Christian music.)
"Peace Begins Within", a track from Mylon’s debut LP (see here for a brilliant live recording from 1971), was recently reimagined by Nadia McAnuff & The SOA as a top-notch reggae ditty. With its vintage vibe and a horn section reminiscent of Mulatu Astatke’s music, it’s hard to believe it was recorded only five years ago. McAnuff’s cover is our song of the day:
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