Jesus Is Just Alright#The Doobie Brothers' version

{{Infobox song

| name = Jesus Is Just Alright

| cover = TheByrdsJesusIsJustAlright.jpg

| alt =

| caption = 1969 Dutch picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = The Byrds

| album = Ballad of Easy Rider

| B-side = It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

| released = December 15, 1969

| recorded = June 17, 1969

| studio = Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CA

| venue =

| genre = Rock, gospel

| length = 2:10

| label = Columbia

| writer = Arthur Reid Reynolds

| producer = Terry Melcher

| prev_title = Ballad of Easy Rider

| prev_year = 1969

| next_title = Chestnut Mare

| next_year = 1970

| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|wdKrHYUZCwM|Jesus Is Just Alright}}}}

}}

The Byrds' version of "Jesus Is Just Alright" was recorded on June 17, 1969, during the sessions for the band's eighth studio album, Ballad of Easy Rider.{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|pages=626–627|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|edition=2nd|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}} It was first released as part of that album but was subsequently issued as a single on December 15, 1969.{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|pages=544–547|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|edition=2nd|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}} The single stalled at No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 and failed to chart in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|title=The Byrds Billboard Singles|publisher=AllMusic|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3810|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=February 17, 2010}}{{cite book|author=Brown, Tony.|page=130|year=2000|title=The Complete Book of the British Charts|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=0-7119-7670-8}} Despite this lack of commercial success, the Doobie Brothers' later hit version of the song featured an arrangement that was heavily influenced by the Byrds' recording.

The song was introduced to the Byrds by the band's drummer, Gene Parsons, who had been present in the studio when the Art Reynolds Singers had recorded it. The Byrds had added the song to their live concert repertoire some months before the start of the Ballad of Easy Rider recording sessions, and it had quickly become an audience favorite.{{cite book|author=Hjort, Christopher.|page=214|year=2008|title=So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965–1973)|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=978-1-906002-15-2}} In concert, the Byrds rendition of "Jesus Is Just Alright" began with a wordless vocal introduction that built up and led into the first iteration of the song's chorus. This distinctive vocal arrangement had been devised by Parsons. Still, once the band was in the studio, record producer Terry Melcher dispensed with the extended intro, giving the song a more pop-oriented arrangement.

Cash Box said, "dropping a good deal of their country trappings and accenting some blazing instrumental arrangements, the Byrds take flight with a marvel in the material department."{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|page=18|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=January 10, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-01-10.pdf|accessdate=2023-04-29}} Record World called it an "out-of-sight driving rocker."{{cite magazine|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Record World|date=January 10, 1970|page=8|accessdate=2023-04-29|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-01-10.pdf}} Billboard said that "the Terry Melcher production work is first rate."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|page=48|title=Spotlight Singles|date=January 10, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1970/Billboard%201970-01-10.pdf|accessdate=2023-04-29}}

"Jesus Is Just Alright" became a staple of the Byrds' concert repertoire between 1969 and 1971, but appears to have been performed only rarely after that.{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|pages=591–615|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|edition=2nd|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}} Additionally, the band performed the song on the U.S. television programs Memphis Talent Party and The Midnight Special in 1970 and 1972 respectively.{{cite book|author=Rogan, Johnny.|page=617|year=1998|title=The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited|edition=2nd|publisher=Rogan House|isbn=0-9529540-1-X}}

Besides its appearance on the Ballad of Easy Rider album, "Jesus Is Just Alright" can also be found on several Byrds compilations, including The Best of The Byrds: Greatest Hits, Volume II, History of The Byrds, The Byrds, The Essential Byrds, and There Is a Season.{{cite web|title=Jesus Is Just Alright by The Byrds|publisher=AllMusic|url={{AllMusic|class=song|id=t5638872|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=February 17, 2010}} Live recordings of the song are included on the expanded edition of The Byrds' (Untitled) album as well as on Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971.

{{Infobox song

| name = Jesus Is Just Alright

| cover = Jesus is Just Alright.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = The Doobie Brothers

| album = Toulouse Street

| B-side = Rockin' Down the Highway

| released = November 15, 1972

| recorded = 1972, Warner Bros. Studios, Hollywood, CA

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop, rock, funk

| length = 4:36 (Album version)
3:50 (Single edit)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Arthur Reid Reynolds

| producer = Ted Templeman

| prev_title = Listen to the Music

| prev_year = 1972

| next_title = Long Train Runnin'

| next_year = 1973

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|OBwlr65TbJA|Jesus Is Just Alright with Me (2007 Remaster)}}}}

}}

The Doobie Brothers' version of "Jesus Is Just Alright" was first released on their second album, Toulouse Street, in 1972. It was subsequently released in November 1972 as the second single from the album (b/w "Rockin' Down the Highway") and went on to become a U.S. hit, peaking at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1973.{{cite book|author=Whitburn, Joel.|page=252|year=2008|title=Top Pop Singles 1955–2006|publisher=Record Research Inc|isbn=978-0-89820-172-7}} The single featured a shorter, edited version of the song compared to the one included on the album. The Doobie Brothers' version of "Jesus Is Just Alright" was one of several religiously themed songs to reach the U.S. charts between 1969 and 1973.{{efn|Other religiously-themed songs to reach the charts at this time included "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/fashion/24norman.html/partner/rssnyt/?_r=1&oref=slogin|work=The New York Times|title=A 'Spirit' From the '60s That Won't Die|first=Tom|last=McNichol|date=December 24, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2013}} "Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean,{{cite web|title=Ocean: Awards|publisher=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ocean-mn0000569064/awards|access-date=May 20, 2013}} "Superstar" by Murray Head,{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Top Pop Singles (1955–2002)|publisher=Record Research Inc|year=2003|location=Wisconsin|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/307 307]|isbn=0-89820-155-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/307}} "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens, "Jubilation" by Paul Anka, "Speak to the Sky" by Rick Springfield, "Jesus Was a Capricorn" and "Why Me" by Kris Kristofferson, "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison and "I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Star)" by Glen Campbell.{{cite book|author=Cusic, Don.|pages=241–242|year=2002|title=The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel and Christian Music|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=0-634-02938-X}}}} The song, along with its B-side, continues to be a staple of playlists on classic rock radio stations.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

The band first became aware of "Jesus Is Just Alright" after hearing the Byrds' version. Before long, the song had been added to the Doobie Brothers' live repertoire. As a result, the Doobies' musical arrangement is very similar to the one used by the Byrds. However, the Doobie Brothers' rendition includes an extra bridge that the band added themselves.{{cite web|title=Jesus Is Just Alright by The Doobie Brothers review|publisher=AllMusic|url={{AllMusic|class=song|id=t1000491|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=February 18, 2010}} In 2007, bassist Tiran Porter claimed that the idea of adding a slow bridge was his, including the lyrics "Jesus is my friend", but due to the high vocal range demanded, guitarist Patrick Simmons sang lead instead of him.Fox, Brian. {{cite web |url=http://www.bassplayer.com/article/tiran-porter-rollin/sep-07/31429 |title=Tiran Porter On Rollin' With The Doobie Brothers |access-date=2010-08-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427113114/http://www.bassplayer.com/article/tiran-porter-rollin/sep-07/31429 |archive-date=April 27, 2009 }} Bass Player Magazine; accessed December 31, 2015. Although none of the individual band members were religiously inclined, the song went on to become very popular among Christians during the early 1970s, particularly those within the hippie counterculture that were involved with the Jesus movement.{{cite book|author=Wilson, Jared C.|page=13|year=2009|title=Your Jesus Is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel-Good Savior|publisher=Kregel Publications|isbn=978-0-8254-3931-5}}

Record World said, "Vocally and musically, this is a strong record."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=December 2, 1972|accessdate=2023-03-27|title=Single Picks|page=10|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/RW-1972-12-02.pdf}}

In addition to its appearance on Toulouse Street, the song can also be found on several Doobie Brothers compilations, including Best of The Doobies, Listen to the Music: The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers, Long Train Runnin': 1970–2000, Greatest Hits, and The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers. Live recordings of the song appear on the Farewell Tour, Rockin' down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert, and Live at Wolf Trap albums.

• Patrick Simmons – lead vocals, guitars
• Tom Johnston – backing vocals, guitars
• Tiran Porter – backing vocals, bass
• John (Little John) Hartman – drums, percussion
• Michael Hossack – drums

• Bill Payne – organ
• Ted Templeman – percussion

{{Infobox song

| name = Jesus Is Just Alright

| cover = Jesus Is Just Alright (front cover).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = DC Talk

| album = Free at Last

| released = 1992

| recorded = 1992

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hip hop, Christian rock

| length = 4:41 (album version)

| label = ForeFront

| writer = Arthur Reid Reynolds

| producer = Toby McKeehan, Mark Heimermann

| prev_title = Can I Get a Witness

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Lean on Me

| next_year = 1993

}}

"Jesus Is Just Alright" is a Dove Award-winning single by Christian rock and hip hop band, DC Talk. It was the lead single for their 1992 platinum-selling and Grammy Award-winning album, Free at Last. The band's primary songwriter, TobyMac (Toby McKeehan), retained the song's chorus but added several new verses consisting of his lyrics. These lyrics were rapped, as was usual with DC Talk's songs of the period, with the lead vocal alternating between McKeehan's rapped verses and the sung chorus provided by Kevin Max (then known as Kevin Smith) and Michael Tait.

DC Talk's version also includes subtle lyric alterations by McKeehan, with the line "Jesus is just alright" being intermittently changed to "Jesus is still alright", which reflected the songwriter's feeling that Jesus was still alright with him, even if others did not share his beliefs. Thus, DC Talk's recording is an update on the previous version. The lyrics comment on the lack of acceptance and recognition faith-based music often receives from mainstream radio. In addition to being musically based upon the earlier Byrds and Doobie Brothers' recordings, DC Talk's version of the song also features samples of Madonna's hit single "Vogue" and the Snap! song "The Power".

In the audio commentary of the Free at Last – The Movie bonus DVD, Tait identified "Jesus Is Just Alright" as the song that DC Talk has performed most in their live shows.{{Cite video|people=Michael Tait|title=Free at Last — The Movie (audio commentary)|medium=DVD|publisher=ForeFront Records|date=2002}} It has been played at every concert since 1992 and is the only song to be played on each of their four major headlining tours: Free At Last (1994), Jesus Freak – The Tour (Spring 1996), The Supernatural Experience (Spring 1999), and An Evening with DC Talk (Spring 2001).

The song's music video was shot entirely in muted sepia-tone and featured DC Talk singing around three crosses in a desert, surrounded by musicians and dancers. It concludes with the band walking off into the desert sunset.

At the 24th GMA Dove Awards in 1994, "Jesus Is Just Alright" was awarded the Dove Award for Best Rock Recorded Song.{{cite web|title=Dove Awards History |publisher=GMA Dove Awards |url=http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist |access-date=February 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605031050/http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist |archive-date=June 5, 2012 }} DC Talk also became one of the first contemporary Christian acts to perform on late-night television when, on November 12, 1993, the band performed "Jesus Is Just Alright" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

"Jesus Is Just Alright" was also used in a Christian Television Association advertisement from 1994, which combined the music video with interview clips from their Rap, Rock, & Soul video. The ad ran for over a decade, and helped introduce DC Talk to Australian audiences.{{cite web|title=DC Talk: Jesus Is Still Alright - Advert|author=|via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX-9k_FIjUE|date=November 22, 2006|access-date=July 4, 2024}}

US radio promo

1. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (album version) – 4:41
2. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Funky, Wit Less Rap) – 4:08
3. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Still Funky, Wit No Rap) – 3:38
4. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (With Original Blues Bridge) – 4:51
5. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Reprise) – 1:03
6. "Yo! Ho Ho" – 4:14
7. "Two Honks and a Negro" – 0:19
8. "Free at Last Album Spot" – 1:01

Japanese radio promo

1. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (album version) – 4:41
2. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Funky, Wit Less Rap) – 4:08
3. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Still Funky, Wit No Rap) – 3:38
4. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (With Original Blues Bridge) – 4:51
5. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Reprise) – 1:03

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{The Byrds}}

{{The Doobie Brothers}}

{{Dc Talk}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1969 singles

Category:1972 singles

Category:1992 singles

Category:The Byrds songs

Category:The Doobie Brothers songs

Category:DC Talk songs

Category:1966 songs

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:ForeFront Records singles

Category:Songs about Jesus