line up 1 (1970-72)

- Dean Clemmer -- vocals, lead guitar, bass

- Bob Eby -- vocals, bass

- Jim Krabill -- vocals, acoustic guitar

- Mel Lehman -- drums, percussion, organ, acoustic guitar

- Elaine Warfel (aka Elaine Warfel-Stauffer) -- vocals, keyboards
 
   

- The Rich and the Poor (Bob Eby)

Genre: Christian psych

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Rebirth

Company: LeFevre Sound

Catalog: MLSP-3100

Year: 1972

Country/State: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4231a

Price: $50.00

Here's another one that some dealers have tried to pawn off as folk-based- psych.  Read on.  That description is not even close, which is not intended to imply the set doesn't have its own unique charm.  

Singer/guitarist Dean Clemmer, bassist Bob Eby, guitarist Jim Krabill, drummer Mel Lehman and  singer/keyboardist Elaine Warfel met while attending Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Sharing a common interest in religion and popular music the five began performing as 'Rebirth'.  Over their two year existence they performed locally and undertook a couple of tours focused on youth groups including West Coast dates and a tour of the mid-West.  They also recording a series of three studio albums.   

So what does 1971's "Rebirth" sound  like?  Well here's a quote from the liner notes: 

"Many people have repeatedly asked us for a record which they can give to their teenagers to play along with regular pop artist albums.  We feel that what is needed is music with a good rock sound, that stimulates thought, and has a Christian message which is palatable for the young person of today."    

The liner notes paint a picture that's actually a pretty good description of the album, making for one of the  better Christian rock albums I've heard.  Technically I guess you could argue whether it's really a Christian rock collection.  Unlike their 1970 debut "Into the Light" (RCR catalog number RCR 1017S), for their second release the band apparently felt the creative freedom to include non-secular material in their repertoire.  Eby was apparently responsible for the rock and roll element which included non-secular covers of The Rascals 'People Gotta Be Free', Fred Neil's 'Everybody's Taking' and CCR's 'Proud Mary'.   Elsewhere the five originals were written together and apart by Clemmer, Lehman and Krabill.  The overall sound was conventional folk-rock with Neil's 'Everybody's Talking', 'Laughin' On the Corner' and '' highlighting their nice group harmonies and pretty melodies.  For my tastes the results were occasionally a little too Up with People-ish ('Lancaster County'), but with the exception of 'Jesus Life' the group's religious beliefs were understated, making for a set that managed to avoid the usual in-your-face-sinner bombast one associates with so much of Christian rock.  Highlights include Warfel's bluesy cover of the Gershwin classic 'Summertime' and an interesting contemporary update of the traditional hymn 'They'll Know We Are Christians'.  Clearly not for everyone, but for the right crowd this will be a wonderful find ....

"Rebirth - The Way It Could Be" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) People Gotta Be Free/I Wanna Be Free   (Eddie Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati - Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 4:05

2.) Jesus Life   (Dean Clemmer) - 3:51  rating: ** stars

Hum, easy-listening Jesus music for folks with MOR musical tastes.

3.) They'll Know We Are Christians   (Porter - Schotes) - 4:21   rating: **** stars

The band repackage the traditional hymn 'They'll Know We Are Christians' with an interesting arrangement that somehow managed to mix Clemmer's West Coast guitar moves with The Free Design quasi-jazzy vibes.  This may have been Warfel's best performance.

4.) Laughin' On the Corner   (Jim Krabill) - 2:11   rating: **** stars

Perhaps the album's prettiest melody and a nice showcase for their sweet harmonies. Shame the song was so short.

5.) Summertime   (George Gershwin) - 7:00   rating: **** stars

Their cover of Gershwin's 'Summertime' was one of the album's biggest surprises. Slowed down to a crawl, Warfel's performance showcased a deep, soulful growl unlike any of her other performances.  Clemmer was also notable for turning in a pretty and understated lead guitar solo.

(side 2)

1.) Everybody's Talking   (Fred Neil) - 2:53   rating: *** stars

Their Fred Neil cover took the well known song and slapped a smooth, slightly too smooth and  MOR-ish jangle-rock sound on it.  Dean Clemmer's extended guitar solo seemed to get lost a couple of times.

2.) Heaven Knows   (Mel Lehman - Dean Clemmer) - 3:16

3.) Lancaster County   (Mel Lehman) - 3:42   rating: *** stars

Showcasing Warfel's voice, ' Lancaster County' was a start acoustic ballad.  While Warfel had a pretty voice, here she sounded a little stiff and stiled.

4.) Proud Mary   (John Fogerty) - 3:20

5.) The Way That I Feel    (Dean Clemmer) - 2:29

Genre: Christian psych

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Rebirth

Company: Avant Garde

Catalog: AVS 135

Year: 1972

Country/State: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring and edge wear

Available: SOLD

Catalog ID: SOLD 4231

Price: SOLD $150.00

Cost: $59.55

Having graduated from Eastern Mennonite College, in 1972 the four band members (singer/guitarist Dean Clemmer, bassist Bob Eby, guitarist Jim Krabill, drummer Mel Lehman and singer/keyboardist Elaine Warfel),  jumped in a Volkswagen bug, leaving Harrisonburg Virginia for Atlanta where they recorded their third and final album. Even though it shared the same cover and title as their sophomore album, 1972's "Rebirth" was a new collection, featuring re-recorded versions of songs from their two hideously rare vanity press studio sets (1970's "Into the Light" (RCR Records catalog number RCR 1017S) and the follow-up "Rebirth" (LeFevre catalog number MLSP-3100). 

In case you were curious, the album featured four tracks from the first album and eight from the second.  Missing in action were most of the non-secular performances from the second album.  All of the songs were rerecorded or had post-production work done to improve the overall sound.  

So what's this baby sound like?  Well here's a quote from the liner notes: 

"Many people have repeatedly asked us for a record which they can give to their teenagers to play along with regular pop artist albums.  We feel that what is needed is music with a good rock sound, that stimulates thought, and has a Christian message which is palatable for the young person of today."  

One of the better Christian rock albums we've heard, that's actually a pretty good description of the album.  Featuring largely original songs (most of the band contributing material), most of the collection featured a rather conventional folk-rock sound.  Material such as their cover of Fred Neil's 'Everybody's Talking' (one of two covers), 'Laughin' On the Corner' and 'The Way That I Feel' sported some nice group harmonies and pretty, if lightweight melodies.  The results were occasionally a little too Up with People-ish for my tastes ('Lancaster County'), but with the exception of 'Jesus Life' and 'Into the Light' the group's religious beliefs were understated, making for a set that managed to avoid the usual in-your-face-sinner bombast one associates with so much of Christian rock.  Highlights include Krabill's unexpected and totally atypical rocker 'Into the Light' (which actually sported one of the more album's most blatantly religious lyric) and an interesting contemporary update of the traditional hymn 'They'll Know We Are Christians'.   Clearly not for everyone, but for the right crowd this will be a wonderful find ....

"Rebirth" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Everybody's Talking   (Fred Neil) - 2:53   rating: *** stars

Their Fred Neil cover took the well known song and slapped a smooth, slightly too smooth and  MOR-ish jangle-rock sound on it.  Dean Clemmer's extended guitar solo seemed to get lost a couple of times.

2.) The Way That I Feel    (Dean Clemmer) - 2:29

3.) Daily Bread    (Dean Clemmer) - 0:36  rating: ** stars

Clocking in at less than a minute, 'Daily Bread' was a song fragment with a forgettable good timey feel.

4.) Laughin' On the Corner   (Jim Krabill) - 2:11   rating: **** stars

Perhaps the album's prettiest melody and a nice showcase for their sweet harmonies. Shame the song was so short.

5.) Lancaster County   (Mel Lehman) - 3:42   rating: *** stars

Showcasing Warfel's voice, ' Lancaster County' was a start acoustic ballad.  While Warfel had a pretty voice, here she sounded a little stiff and stilted.

6.) Into the Light  (Jim Krabill) - 4:02   rating: *** stars

Driven by Clemmer and Krabill's guitar, 'Into the Light' opened up with a totally unexpected West Coast vibe.  It was enough to salvage the heavy handed lyrics.

(side 2)

1.) They'll Know We Are Christians   (Porter - Schotes) - 4:21   rating: **** stars

The band repackage the traditional hymn 'They'll Know We Are Christians' with an interesting arrangement that somehow managed to mix Clemmer's West Coast guitar moves with The Free Design quasi-jazzy vibes.  This may have been Warfel's best performance.

2.) Life   (Jim Krabill) - 2:08  rating: ** stars

Krabill and acoustic guitar - pretty, but kind of dull.

3.) Heaven Knows   (Mel Lehman - Dean Clemmer) - 3:16

4.) I Know Where I'm Going   (traditional arranged by Dean Clemmer) - 2:47   rating: *** stars

I was an alter boy in my teens and attended more than my share of folk masses - 'I Know Where I'm Going' cast me back to that time.  Very pretty and calming tune with some nice bass for Eby.

5.) Jesus Life   (Dean Clemmer) - 3:51  rating: ** stars

Hum, easy-listening Jesus music for folks with MOR musical tastes.

6.) Quiet Place (and Reprise)   (Ralph Carmichael) - 3:26   rating: *** stars

Strange collage that almost sounded like it was included to fill up some space.  The a capella sections were unexpected and quite pretty.

In 2016 the band cooperated in seeing their third album reissued in CD format with benefits going to the Eastern Mennonite University's Sadie A. Hartzler Library.   EMU published a nice article on the band in conjunction with release of the CD:  https://emu.edu/now/news/2016/musical-legend-rebirth-re-releases-

their-third-and-final-self-titled-album-to-benefit-emus-library/