Easter/Passover/April Fools’ Day seems like the right time to post about religion on records.
I prefer the humorous songs:
“He Calls That Religion”: The Mississippi Sheiks 1930s take on an evil preacher
“Everybody”: John Prine’s 1972 take on meeting Jesus with Steve Goodman on acoustic guitar and David Bromberg on electric guitar
“God’s Song”: Randy Newman (1972)
“O Holy Night Cha Cha Cha” by Brave Combo if you really want to get blasphemous
Even though I don’t believe in any of it, I do respect some serious gospel music
The small label Dust to Digital issued a terrific 6 CD set called Goodbye Babylon in 2004. It includes gospel recordings from the 1920s-1950s including African-American sermons. Here’s an example: “Sow Good Seeds” by Lil McClintock.
The Holmes Brothers released Jubilation in 1993. It has gospel music as R&B flavored by a steel guitar. I don’t think we needed another version of “Amazing Grace” or “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” but “I Had My Chance” and “I’ll Fly Away” are terrific.
Sad! 