Sometimes I listen to the local (SF) P&W station, and it almost always bums me out. Shit mouths the name, but don't breathe.
So name me some songs that are NOT P&W that get at what it's all about. Songs like e.g....
100. Spiritualized, "Lord, Let It Rain On Me" 99. The Rolling Stones, "I Just Want To See His Face" 98. Sufjan Stevens, "Casimir Pulaski Day"* 97. Roy Acuff, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?"** 96. Leonard Cohen, "If It Be Your Will"***
* This list is obv. in no particular order, since this song is top ten by rights. ** Okay I'm giving Acuff his props but with all due respect it's the Neville Brothers version that kills me. *** I'll let one of the Buckley fanboys post the obvious one. btw the Jann Arden cut of "If It Be Your Will" is a little polished but will break your heart wide open. srsly.
― rogermexico., Thursday, 21 August 2008 22:18 (fifteen years ago) link
95. hank williams sr - the angel of death
― 6335, Thursday, 21 August 2008 22:27 (fifteen years ago) link
94. Marcy - Join The Gospel Express 93. Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word
― blueski, Thursday, 21 August 2008 22:31 (fifteen years ago) link
By "P&W", you mean "intended for a worship setting", right? They can be pop songs by self-identified CCM people, yes? Because believe it or not, those people occasionally hit it out of the park. If not, someone else just start where I'm starting.
92. Steve Taylor--Jesus Is For Losers 91. Cleve Chaffin and the McClung Brothers--Babylon is Fallen Down 90. Mark Schultz--He's My Son 89. King's X--I'll Never Get Tired Of You 88. Amy Grant--Sing Your Praise to the Lord 87. Steven Curtis Chapman--Dive 86. Kirk Franklin--Stomp 85. Avalon--Testify to Love 84. 4Him--I Know You Now 83. Rebecca St. James--Me Without You 82. DC Talk--Jesus Freak 81. Keith Green--Easter Song 80. Kanye--Jesus Walks
― dr. phil, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:01 (fifteen years ago) link
79. DMX--Lord, Give Me A Sign 78. Boney M--By the Rivers of Babylon 77. 77s--For Crying Out Loud 76. Sister Janet Mead--The Lord's Prayer 75. Michelle Branch--Everywhere 74. Big & Rich--Holy Water 73. U2--Acrobat 72. R Kelly--3 Way Phone Call 71. Tye Tribbett & GA--No Way
(I'm limiting this to one song per act, but most of 'em have several. You may prefer "Never Let Me Down" by Kanye, as I just realized I do.)
― dr. phil, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:12 (fifteen years ago) link
70. "God's Song," Randy Newman, Etta James
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:23 (fifteen years ago) link
69. "God Damn Job," The Replacements
68. "God," John Lennon
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:24 (fifteen years ago) link
67. "The Seeker," The Who
666. "If I Ever Needed Someone," Van Morrison
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:25 (fifteen years ago) link
65. "Reason to Believe," Bruce Springsteen
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:26 (fifteen years ago) link
64. "Heaven Help Us All," Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:27 (fifteen years ago) link
63-58. Prince--God Prince--The Ladder Roxy Music--Psalm David Bowie--Word on a Wing VU--Jesus Bob Dylan--Gotta Serve Somebody
― iago g., Friday, 22 August 2008 01:28 (fifteen years ago) link
57. Mariah Carey--Make It Happen 56. Garth Brooks--The Dance
NOTE: This gets into some dicey area around the nexus of "chance," "fate," and "providence," and could lead into stuff like Taylor Dayne's "Can't Fight Fate," where she's effectively IMPERSONATING god, specifically a jealous vengeful (also puckish) god, to force the guy into loving her. Before long I'll be arguing that ALL songs express "faith," especially those that specifically decry it, because they're still expressive of an ultimate concern. As I drink more and more vodka, I will start mentioning Dimmu Borgir or some shit. A slippery slope!
― dr. phil, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:29 (fifteen years ago) link
So maybe I should say,
56. Garth Brooks--Unanswered Prayers
except I don't like it as much.
― dr. phil, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:30 (fifteen years ago) link
55. "After Forever," Black Sabbath
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:31 (fifteen years ago) link
54. Soulfly--"Living Sacrifice"
― dr. phil, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:31 (fifteen years ago) link
53. "I'll Take You There," The Staple Singers
52. "(Don't Need) Religion," Motorhead
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:32 (fifteen years ago) link
51. "Jesus," The Velvet Underground, Glen Campbell
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:34 (fifteen years ago) link
50. "That Lucky Old Sun", by Ray Charles etc.
― Euler, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:38 (fifteen years ago) link
49. "Hard Times," Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band 48. "There But for the Grace of God Go I," Machine, Kid Creole and the Coconuts
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:39 (fifteen years ago) link
47. "The Christian Life," The Louvin Brothers, The Byrds
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:47 (fifteen years ago) link
46. "To Beat the Devil" - Johnny Cash's version (my favorite JC song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GZaaYKhRaA
― tremendoid, Friday, 22 August 2008 01:50 (fifteen years ago) link
97. Roy Acuff, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?"**
My favorite's the Staples Singers version.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Friday, 22 August 2008 02:02 (fifteen years ago) link
By "P&W", you mean "intended for a worship setting", right?
Yah... and by default I probably kinda mean dire U2 knockoffs, though there's plenty of non-Hillsong ugh to be found on the P&W station. Shit seriously makes me gag.
timi - great call on "Reason To Believe," and yeah the Glen Campbell take on "Jesus" is beautiful. I may like it better than the original!
― rogermexico., Friday, 22 August 2008 02:12 (fifteen years ago) link
45. Al Green - Belle
― that's not my post, Friday, 22 August 2008 03:58 (fifteen years ago) link
44. Al Green - Jesus Is Waiting
― strgn, Friday, 22 August 2008 04:11 (fifteen years ago) link
43. Chris Bell - Look Up
― strgn, Friday, 22 August 2008 04:12 (fifteen years ago) link
42. Depeche Mode .: Personal Jesus
― myndbloom, Friday, 22 August 2008 06:06 (fifteen years ago) link
41. Saccharine Trust - Lot's Seed
― MacDara, Friday, 22 August 2008 08:17 (fifteen years ago) link
40. Sixteen Horsepower - Splinters 39. Danielson Famile - The Lord's Rest 38. Woven Hand - To Make A Ring 37. Low - If You Were Born Today
― aldo, Friday, 22 August 2008 09:00 (fifteen years ago) link
"Gentle Arms of Eden" by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
― banjoboy, Friday, 22 August 2008 11:15 (fifteen years ago) link
35. the Who - "Faith In Something Bigger"
― Sara Sara Sara, Friday, 22 August 2008 12:48 (fifteen years ago) link
34. XTC - Dear God
― zeus, Friday, 22 August 2008 12:51 (fifteen years ago) link
33. Dead Kennedys - Religious Vomit
― m the g, Friday, 22 August 2008 13:09 (fifteen years ago) link
32. I Chase the Devil - Max Romeo
― chap, Friday, 22 August 2008 13:12 (fifteen years ago) link
31. "Save Me Jesus" - Bobby Charles
― Euler, Friday, 22 August 2008 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link
30. If I Was The Priest - Bruce Springsteen
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 22 August 2008 14:43 (fifteen years ago) link
29. the Who - "Man In A Purple Dress"
28. Big Star - "The Ballad Of El Goodo"
― Sara Sara Sara, Friday, 22 August 2008 14:58 (fifteen years ago) link
27. God Hates Us All - Slayer
― Fer Ark, Friday, 22 August 2008 15:57 (fifteen years ago) link
26. Black Sabbath-"Disturbing the Priest"
― Bill Magill, Friday, 22 August 2008 17:01 (fifteen years ago) link
25. Hank Williams: I Saw the Light
24. The Soul Stirrers: Jesus Done Just What He Said (actually vintage gospel as opposed to P&W is a WHOLE BARREL OF BRILLIANCE but if I had to pick just one track right now, as opposed to like an hour from now, it might be this)
― Douglas, Friday, 22 August 2008 18:08 (fifteen years ago) link
...I scanned this thread twice just to make sure and I (remarkably) don't see this:
23: PIL-Religion
― kwhitehead, Friday, 22 August 2008 18:15 (fifteen years ago) link
22. Elder Curry & His Congregation - Memphis Flu
― Curt1s Stephens, Friday, 22 August 2008 18:20 (fifteen years ago) link
There's gotta be, like, some Solomon Burke or something, right?
― rogermexico., Friday, 22 August 2008 18:31 (fifteen years ago) link
21. A Love Supreme -- Coltrane
― Future_Perfect, Friday, 22 August 2008 18:40 (fifteen years ago) link
20. I'm Going To Live the Life I Sing About In My Song - Mahalia Jackson
― Turangalila, Friday, 22 August 2008 18:51 (fifteen years ago) link
Ha - I was waiting to dive in with that once we got closer to 1.
― rogermexico., Friday, 22 August 2008 18:59 (fifteen years ago) link
19. Faithless .: God is A DJ
― myndbloom, Friday, 22 August 2008 20:03 (fifteen years ago) link
18. "The Kiss" (demo version preferably) - Judee Sill
― Turangalila, Friday, 22 August 2008 20:27 (fifteen years ago) link
17 Crass - Reality Asylum 16 Kinks - God's Children
― sleeve, Friday, 22 August 2008 20:32 (fifteen years ago) link
15. "The Cross" - Prince
― Formerly Painful Dentistry, Friday, 22 August 2008 20:40 (fifteen years ago) link
14. "The Angels Rejoiced in Heaven Last Night" -- Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris (or the Louvin Brothers) 13. "Let the Mystery Be" -- Iris DeMent
― banjoboy, Friday, 22 August 2008 20:42 (fifteen years ago) link
12: "Fill Me Jesus"
Fill me Jesus Fill me now Fill me Jesus With thy precious Holy Power I am Yours, my Lord To do with as You will So fill me Jesus right now (break, cleanse, mold, use...)
― contenderizer, Friday, 22 August 2008 20:50 (fifteen years ago) link
11. "Soap, Soup and Salvation," Lone Justice
― Pancakes Hackman, Friday, 22 August 2008 21:30 (fifteen years ago) link
10. "Woke Up This Morning (with My Mind on Jesus)" - Blind Roosevelt Graves
― contenderizer, Friday, 22 August 2008 21:34 (fifteen years ago) link
09. "Fix It Jesus" - The Reverend Charlie Jackson
― contenderizer, Friday, 22 August 2008 21:36 (fifteen years ago) link
8. ZZ Top - "Jesus Just Left Chicago"
― Dominique, Friday, 22 August 2008 21:44 (fifteen years ago) link
7. King Missile, Jesus Was Way Cool
― Jake Brown, Friday, 22 August 2008 22:06 (fifteen years ago) link
6. Woody Guthrie, Jesus Christ
― Jake Brown, Friday, 22 August 2008 22:08 (fifteen years ago) link
I've counted three repeats above, so let's make it one hundred and three
― iago g., Saturday, 23 August 2008 02:10 (fifteen years ago) link
8. Jesus Christ Superstar
5. "Satan is Real" - The Louvin Brothers
― St3ve Go1db3rg, Saturday, 23 August 2008 02:34 (fifteen years ago) link
Er, 4.
3. Vaselines - "Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam"
― henry s, Saturday, 23 August 2008 03:16 (fifteen years ago) link
2. Alice Cooper - "My God"
1. Big Star - Jesus Christ
― strgn, Saturday, 23 August 2008 03:18 (fifteen years ago) link
0. Mojo Nixon - Jesus at McDonalds
― that's not my post, Saturday, 23 August 2008 03:57 (fifteen years ago) link
-1. Evening Service - The Bible Says
― Owen Pallett, Saturday, 23 August 2008 06:03 (fifteen years ago) link
Wanted to nominate Jesus Christ a while back, circa #8 and #9, but it felt presumptuous, as though I'd already said too much, and the time wasn't right, anway. Glad I held off. Best fucking god song ever.
― contenderizer, Saturday, 23 August 2008 06:23 (fifteen years ago) link
which is to say: thnx, strgn
― contenderizer, Saturday, 23 August 2008 06:28 (fifteen years ago) link
can't believe I forgot...
-2. Bob Dylan, "I Believe in You"
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Wednesday, 20 May 2015 03:29 (eight years ago) link
No love for "God's Comic" by Elvis Costello?
― hardcore dilettante, Wednesday, 20 May 2015 03:34 (eight years ago) link
-3. John Maus - Tenebrae
I'm a believer and I honestly think this is an amazing P&W song. I don't think I'd convince many other people at my church by showing them the John Maus version though."Love is Real" is really solid in general as a God album
― H.P, Wednesday, 20 May 2015 08:34 (eight years ago) link
-4. Sufjan Stevens - The Transfiguration-5. Talk Talk - Wealth-6. Dearhunter - Calvary Scars
― H.P, Wednesday, 20 May 2015 08:35 (eight years ago) link