Come For The Children

by Oden Fong

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jkoonce I used to host a Christian music show on Sunday nights at my college radio station back in 1981-1985 and this album was in my collection and a personal favorite. Several songs were requested frequently by listeners. Favorite Song: I loved them all, but Again and Again would be my favorite.

heffsmusic I bought the album when first released, still have it. Finally found a way to buy it again, great lyrics and great music that touches the soul. Thank you so much Oden,
Mark

Marla Hawks Love your music to infinity...and BEYOND!!! Favorite track: Come For The Children.

Eric Unright At one time this was the most expensive Christian Rock album ever produced. Of course that was in the 70's. Oden Fong's spiritual expression is sincere and at times heart breaking. But it all works out in the end....just like in the bible. Favorite track: White Eagle.

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1.	The Mask 03:11	buy track
2.	Natural Man 04:35	buy track
3.	Crazy Voices 03:40	buy track
4.	White Eagle 04:48	buy track
5.	Selfish Man 04:10	buy track
6.	Again and Again 04:33	buy track
7.	Ready To Fly 03:28	buy track
8.	Come For The Children 07:19	buy track
9.	She Begins To Sing 03:22	buy track

about

COME FOR THE CHILDREN (1979)

Oden Fong

Oden Fong was responsible for two of the most highly regarded classic Jesus Music albums. As a member of Mustard Seed Faith he played guitar and sang on their classic “Sail on Sailor” and then a few years later released his first solo album, Come for the Children. It is the latter under consideration here.

Taking his influences from late 60’s folk rock and psychedelic rock and infusing it with 70’s progressive rock, Fong created a true classic Christian rock album for the time. Many of his contemporaries were content with folk and country influences, but Fong was more rock and even found influences in eastern musical expressions. The production (except for what will be noted later) was far ahead of the curve for the time in Christian music and was a real standard setter.

The album starts with the haunting “The Mask,” which also describes in a beautiful lyrical context that struggle many have with attempting to present themselves as something other than who they are. The song fades into the following “Natural Man” with its initial Eastern influenced recorded intro before becoming a straight ahead 70’s progressive rock gem with just a touch of the Beatles. In fact, it has a little “Horrendous Disc” feel to it.

Crazy Voices sound way too much like Steely Dan’s “Back Jack” while “White Eagle” became the biggest radio hit (for the time) by including a more country rock influence than anything on the album and sounding the most like Mustard Seed Faith.

The line-up on the album must be recognized. The liner notes reads like a who’s who for the late Jesus Music era. John Mehler, John Wickham, Alex MacDougall, Hadley Hockensmith, Michelle Pillar, Bob Bennett and was produced by the legendary Jonathan David Brown. One of the engineers on this album, Thom Roy, would later go on to play an important part in the early 80’s Christian new wave and punk scene working with many of the bands already discussed on this list out of Southern California.

A review would not be complete without a review of the classic title track that clocks in at well over 7 minutes. Fusing progressive and 70’s rock into a great classic rock song. The song is not afraid to possess a lengthy instrumental break. I have always wanted to hear the album remixed with a better guitar mix as what is going on is wonderful, just a bit hidden as was the tradition for the time as an attempt to be not as controversial. A special note of commendation to Gabriel Katona’s impressive keyboard work on this song as it carried the tune.

There really isn’t a weak song on the whole album and a classic of this magnitude is clearly an AYSO.

credits

released July 12, 2016

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about

Oden Fong California

The son of an actor, gospel singer Oden Fong had spent his childhood amid the flamboyance of the Hollywood glitterati, and it was in these environs that the seeds of his faith were sewn.

poiemafellowship.com

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