The Larry Norman Blog

CHARM SCHOOL FOR "WORKING GIRLS".

1/26/2015

Larry had a pretty hectic schedule in the '70s, flying around the world with a full calendar. This is a ten day itinerary for a visit to New Zealand in 1977.

As you can see, his wife Pam wanted some attention too, so she started her own "ministry", a Charm School For Working Girls, which sounds really creepy, and which one would assume addressed such ecclesiastical concerns as applying mascara and sewing butterfly patches on one's pants. Ahh, the '70s...

8 Comments

carl

1/26/2015 09:59:32 pm

Charles, you're hilarious.

Eric Clapton

3/3/2015 01:17:21 pm

Bitter toward Pam? Because of the Fallen Angel. Snarky comments revealing...

Hans

8/26/2017 07:19:55 am

Eric, We should all probably start feeling sorry for that film maker. I just Googled fallen angel movie and it gets no mention in the top 10, instead a 2003 Hallmark Hall of Fame television film takes half the spots. That's gotta hurt!

Charles Norman

5/10/2015 07:12:42 pm

No Sabatino, not bitter at all. Pam and I are even Facebook pals and we frequently have a good laugh or two about the past. Now, go and do something constructive for once ;-)

Wayne Barnett link

10/30/2015 12:53:19 am

I missed him in NZ that year, but he was back in 1978 or 79 with a full band and I saw him in Christchurch, NZ. I'd never seen him perform and was a bit shocked at first...until I "got it". Great show!

Jason Kemp link

7/16/2017 08:33:41 pm

I went to that songwriting school and the musicians school in Auckland on the 23rd and 24th. I also got the organisers to arrange certificates and had a great time over the 2 days. I have a cassette tape of some of the songwriting session but I don't have a tape player of any kind so not sure if it is still good. But now I will have to find one:) (40year old cassette tape. )

I remember Larry talking extensively about Joni Mitchell as an example of a great songwriter. In particular "Hejira" was was at the time a new album. Larry had just released "In Another Land". The other things that I remember about the songwriting was the use of 'tension and resolve' to tell the story and use of personas.

For an 18 year old it was great to meet someone like him. He came here a few times in late 70's and early 80's. I organised a lunchtime concert for him at the university one year. Kind of a cheeky thing for a student to do but I sold hundreds of tickets to his shows and the promoter knew me very well.

I met Larry a few times during that period. I introduced him to some music from a guy from a punk band who was busking on the street by then. Larry arranged for that guy and his girlfriend to sit onstage at a performance behind the curtain. This was because B & J didn't really want to be in the main audience with a bunch of youth groups and church people. Anyway it was remarkable thing for Larry to do and B told me years later that was a pivotal moment for him.

It was at His Majesty's theatre and I like that only Larry and I knew there were extra special guests backstage for the concert. (Ok the crew would have seen them) but it was like an invisible gift for two almost random strangers he liked. A great thing to do & not known to the public.

A few months later Larry sent me a postcard from Hammersborg in Oslo, Norway asking me about a poster from B and generally saying hi. That was 1982. I think his last tour here was in 1984. He had a huge and inspiring impact on local musicians. His stagecraft at the live shows was incredible. Even better when Jon Linn and the band was with him.

Now I must find a cassette player because I'm sure there will be some great songwriting tips on that tape. I have some photos of the the workshops too.

Jason Kemp link

7/16/2017 10:31:27 pm

Now that I've thought about it some more - I'm pretty sure Larry first came to NZ in 1976 when he did a concert at the Auckland YMCA. The 1977 concert I remember especially because Elvis Presley died the same month just a few days before the NZ tour started. Anyway just wanted to say (again) that Larry had a huge impact on NZ over a nearly 10 year period.

Steve Murray link

3/29/2018 08:51:41 pm

Wow! This brings back memories. I was fortunate to attend one of these schools (songwriting, I think) and I’ll never forget how we recorded and produced a song in the studio with Larry. It was all pretty amazing for a tender 18 year old! Suffice to say, this was a pivotal stepping stone to a career in audio visual production that has now spanned nearly 40 years. Thanks so much for posting this Charles!

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CHARM SCHOOL FOR "WORKING GIRLS".

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