"Jesus Is Just Aright"

[Jon Hall]

Our group tried this song last week and it rocked on a OBM.
I'm familiar with versions by Steely Dan, The Byrds and DC Talk but I don't who first recorded it.

[H.P.]

The first version I remember hearing was by the Doobie Brothers, but I always liked the way the Byrds did it.

[Denny Gies]

I think it was the Byrds who did it first.

[Miked]

Great song! The Doobies version is so ingrained in my memory that it's hard to imagine an acoustic version.

Here's a little history from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Is_Just_Alright

[Jason Kessler]

I'm unaware of any version of the song done by Steely Dan. With the exception of a Duke Ellington tune, they don't do any covers and, if they did, this would be an odd choice for them.

[Jon Hall]

My mistake... I confused Steely Dan with The Doobie Brothers.

Miked,

Before we tried playing the song I voiced a disclaimer saying I wasn't sure it would work but it did. We were playing harmonica, dulcimer and an OBM. The OBM is an arched t & b with a lot of volume and sustain. An acoustic substitute for an electric guitar. I read that the Robert Randolph Family Band recorded it. I'm sure they rocked it with their gospel peddle steel.

[acruzn]

Jon,

i am a newbie so could you translate the acronyms, pls.

OBM
t & B

thx,

[MikeEdgerton]

I think you'll find it was done by the Byrds first. I saw Roger McGuinn do that song live in about 1969.

[Jon Hall]

Angel

Sure.. OBM is a Octave/Bouzouki Mandolin (pretty much an authentic acronym) and t&b ( something I made up as I typed) refers to an arched or carved top and back. A carved top or back produces a much different tone from a flat top and back.

[Mike Bromley]

I'm unaware of any version of the song done by Steely Dan. With the exception of a Duke Ellington tune, they don't do any covers and, if they did, this would be an odd choice for them.

No Tchit, Tcherlock....! Donald Fagan & Walter Becker, masters of jaded sophistication, singing a Doob song. Er, yup.

My mistake... I confused Steely Dan with The Doobie Brothers.

A perfectly acceptable thing to do, as both groups were popular at the same time, where many people had difficulty remembering lots of things!

I think you'll find it was done by the Byrds first. I saw Roger McGuinn do that song live in about 1969.

Well, not everyone, I guess.

[barney 59]

The song --"Jesus is Just Alright" was written by Art Reynolds and recorded by the Art Reynolds Singers-- a Southern California early gospel rock group prior to the Byrds recording. The Art Reynolds Singers I think still exist.

[acruzn]

Jon,

thx for the education; still trying to catch on to the mandolin nuances.<g> gotta hear both types (arched and flattop) together some time soon...

angel 8^)>>

[Martin]

Mountain Heart in between sets...

[Miked]

I can now imagine an acoustic version.