In an article on Christian art at Ignitum Today, my colleague Anna Williams commends to her readers the band Scythian, a celtic-inflected group that treats religious themes.
Now, I have nothing against Scythian, but there’s a lot of music—even of music with religious themes—that I’d recommend first (and I bet the fellows at Scythian would, too).
So here below the fold are fifty essential religious songs—old spirituals, rap, gospel—listed in no particular order. Readers, what songs did I miss?
1. Million Dollar Quartet, “Down by the Riverside”
2. Aretha Franklin, “Are You Sure?”
3. Hank Williams, “I Saw the Light”
4. Staple Singers, “Uncloudy Day”
5. Carter Family, “God Gave Noah the Rainbow Sign”
6. Pilgrim Travellers, “Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb”
7. Staple Singers, “Swing Down Chariot”
8. Dorothy Love Coates & the Original Gospel Harmonettes, “99 1/2″
9. Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers, “Were You There?”
10. Rev. Louis Overstreet, “Soldier in the Army of the Lord”
11. Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers, “Nearer to Thee”
12. Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers, “Jesus Gave Me Water”
13. Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “Didn’t It Rain”
14. Skylarks, “Roll, Jordan, Roll”
15. Odetta & Larry, “Whole World in His Hands”
16. Impressions, “People Get Ready”
17. Loretta Lynn, “God Makes No Mistakes”
18. Joan Baez, ”Virgin Mary Had One Son”
19. Jones Brothers, “Amazing Grace”
20. Staple Singers, “My Main Man”
21. Staple Singers, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
22. Charioteers, “All God’s Chillun’ Got Shoes”
23. Woody Guthrie, “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel”
24. Marylin Scott, “The Lord’s Gospel Train”
25. Josh White, “Four and Twenty Elders”
26. Charioteers, “Wade in the Water”
27. Earl Scruggs Revue with Johnny Cash, “Gospel Ship”
28. Staple Singers, “Tellin’ Lies”
29. Carter Family, “On the Rock Where Moses Stood”
30. Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, “Antioch”
31. Hank Williams, “Angel of Death”
32. Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, “Calvary”
33. Byrds, “Turn, Turn, Turn”
34. Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, “Present Joys”
35. Pilgrim Travellers, “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”
36. Hank Williams, “House of Gold” (cover)
37. Otis Redding, “Amen”
38. Dorothy Love Coates & the Original Gospel Harmonettes, “That’s Enough”
39. R.L. Burnside, “Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down”
40. Sensational Nightingales, “At the Meeting”
41. Swan Silvertones, “Pass Me Not”
42. Angelic Gospel Singers & Dixie Humming Birds, “One Day”
43. Dixie Humming Birds, “I’ve Got So Much to Shout About”
44. Five Blind Boys of Alabama, “Too Close to Heaven”
45. Marvin Gaye, “God Is Love”
46. Charley Pride, “I’ll Fly Away”
47. Kanye West, “Jesus Walks”
48. Al Green, “Jesus is Waiting”
49. Trammps, “Pray All You Sinners”
50. Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers, “Touch the Hem of His Garment”
September 7th, 2012 | 12:07 pm
Well, I do seem to sense a certain inclination toward certain types of songs in this list–subtle, perhaps, but traceable. :)
How about:
(1) “When I Survey” by Iona
(2) “Peace in the Valley” and “Were You There” by Johnny Cash and June Carter
(3) “Love Broke Through” by Phil Keaggy
(4) “Over My Head” by King’s X
(5) “Gorgeous” and “The Song of the Harlot” by The Violet Burning
Just a smattering, of course; the list could extend for hundreds of songs.
September 7th, 2012 | 12:13 pm
The Rolling Stones Prodigal Son:
September 7th, 2012 | 12:54 pm
You need some Marian Anderson on this list!
Also, strike the Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn” from the list, from the record, from the historical memory entirely. If any son could ever ruin that astonishing passage from Ecclesiastes, it is that song. If you haven’t heard it before, don’t listen to it, lest you be unable to read that part of the Bible without its noxious chords ringing through your ears!
September 7th, 2012 | 1:03 pm
“Don’t it make you want to go home” by Joe South
http://youtu.be/8V1JJqNKjVU
Mr South passed away two days ago – may he rest in peace.
September 7th, 2012 | 1:32 pm
Thank you, gentlemen, for my afternoon playlist.
September 7th, 2012 | 1:34 pm
These are all good (and the others in the comments) but any list like this should probably include “How Great Thou Art”, “In the Garden” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” for older songs. I do enjoy some newer stuff too, Maybe “Days of Elijah” by Robin Mark? It has a wonderful mix of Hebrew Bible and New Testament references, much like the old spirituals.
This would be a fun activity to have ongoing on First Thoughts, a list with many nominations and votes/views tallied for the top 50 (or 100 or 500). You could make divisions by type, but I wouldn’t since I find the distinctions (Hymn, Spiritual, Worship, Contemporary, etc.) to be unclear at best. Usually, they’re just based on what kind of instrument is accompanying. So Amazing Grace with an electric guitar and a drum set is a “Worship” song and on the pipe organ it’s a “Hymn”.
I’d also be interested to see what our Catholic and Orthodox siblings in Christ would add to the list. Ave Maria? Probably. Something by U2? Probably not.
September 7th, 2012 | 1:46 pm
“I am a Rock” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”, Simon and Garfunkel
September 7th, 2012 | 2:37 pm
U2, of course. Thanks for the mention. Both “Gloria” and “40″ are much better on the live recording, “Under a Blood-Red Sky,” than on the original studio recording.
Bob Dylan, anyone?
September 7th, 2012 | 3:35 pm
Bach, “Wachet auf ruft uns die Stimme.”
September 7th, 2012 | 4:57 pm
1. Willie Nelson — “The Troublemaker,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” and “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.” His version of “Uncloudy Day” is my favorite, but I like the Staples, too.
2. The Statler Brothers — “Just a Little Talk With Jesus”
3. Allison Crouch and others — “I’ll Fly Away” [from the “O, Brother, Where Aren’t Thou?” soundtrack.
4. Graham Kendrick — “Shine, Jesus, Shine.”
5. Jo Stafford — “Whispering Hope.”
6. Edwin Hawkins Singers — “Oh Happy Day.”
7. Elvis Pressly — “Peace in the Valley” and “Swing Down Sweet Chariot.”
8. Blackwood Brothers “Bosom of Abraham.”
9. Ladysmith Black Mombazo — “Amazing Grace/ Nearer My God To Thee.”
This is by no means a complete list.
September 7th, 2012 | 5:00 pm
“The Preacher and the Bear” by the New Christy Minstrels.
September 7th, 2012 | 5:18 pm
For all you Christian hipsters and indie rock snobs out there I’d recommend four albums: Bill Fay’s “Time of the Last Persecution,” Sufjan Stevens’ “Seven Swans,” The Hold Steady’s “Separation Sunday,” and Danielson’s “Ships.”
(Of course any rock snob worth his salt will already be into old gospel and country.)
On a related note, we can’t forget the best pro-life pop song ever written, “Zion” by Lauryn Hill (with Carlos Santana for goodness sake).
September 7th, 2012 | 6:02 pm
any number of Mumford & Sons songs could make this list
September 7th, 2012 | 9:01 pm
Many of these are kinda entertaining, but really… Where’s Ave Maria? How Great Thou Art? etc. etc.
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