So Long Ago The Garden

The All Music Guide says: So Long Ago the Garden has plenty of highlights, including Christmas Time, with its footloose Rolling Stones swagger, and the incredible Meet Me at the Airport (Fly, Fly, Fly). Lyrically, this is one of Norman's more elliptical efforts in terms of its Christian references; however, the message is quite clear. Just underneath the '70s British rock dialect and shimmering songwriting is a defiant sermon that staunchly proclaims Norman's identity as a devout outsider.

Even though songs such as The Same Old Story, Lonely By Myself, Be Careful What You Sign, She's A Dancer and Nightmare #71 rank among Larry's best compositions and studio performances the songs have seldom featured in his concerts with the result that Garden has remained an overlooked masterpiece.

'He was a lone wolf. He looked different, sounded different and he presented his beliefs in a way that rang true. Larry Norman knows what he's doing and if you haven't noticed, you should.' - Frank Black (Pixies)

'The most significant artist in his field' - Time Magazine
'A maverick' - Entertainment Weekly
'Thematically controversial' - Paste Magazine
'A creative genius' - Huffington Post
'A huge inspiration' - Harp Magazine
'The most important writer since Paul Simon.' - Billboard Magazine
'Enormously influential' - USA Today
'A powerful lyricist and master of obliqueness.' - London Guardian