Top 40 Religious Themed Songs that would never make on the radio today :)

[firepoint525]

I still occasionally hear "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens.

[Jay F]

I still occasionally hear "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens.

I went to a YMCA camp in the 70s, they pushed religion hard and frequently played "Morning Has Broken". That's when I first realized it was a religious song.

[firepoint525]

I still occasionally hear "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens.

I went to a YMCA camp in the 70s, they pushed religion hard and frequently played "Morning Has Broken". That's when I first realized it was a religious song.

Somewhat ironic, considering that he later became a muslim (now known as Yusef Islam or something like that).  I only knew that it was considered a "religious" song from seeing it in church hymnals!  I don't recall ever actually hearing it sung in church, although I seem to remember hearing it sung in a church service that was broadcast over the radio.

[cyberdad]

"Morning Has Broken" is included in the most widely used Catholic hymnal. I've heard it sung in church a few times.  But based my own experience, I'd have to also say that it's not in "regular rotation" like some of the other hymns. 

Cat Stevens did not write the song, btw.  The lyrics were written by English poet Elanor Farjeon in 1931 as a Children's hymn and set to the tune of an older Scottish melody.  It wasn't published until 1957, however.

[Smittian]

7 pages into this thread and no one has mentioned The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn!" which is pretty much verbatim from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the King James version of the Bible.

Also, we can't forget Bobby Bare's "Drop Kick Me Jesus, Through the Goal Post of Life"

[jfrancispastirchak]

I still occasionally hear "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens.

I went to a YMCA camp in the 70s, they pushed religion hard and frequently played "Morning Has Broken". That's when I first realized it was a religious song.

Somewhat ironic, considering that he later became a muslim (now known as Yusef Islam or something like that).  I only knew that it was considered a "religious" song from seeing it in church hymnals!  I don't recall ever actually hearing it sung in church...

Charismatic Catholics were singing this song at mass in the early '70's.  They were also singing Simon & Garfunkle's Sounds of Silence.

[allenv]

Anybody mention Jesus Is a Soul Man-Lawrence Reynolds..1969 I think..

[melan8tr]

back in that day there were no christian stations per say, and cross-over was the norm, so all the previously mentioned charted pretty easily.... if justin beiber or lady gaga decided to cut a song with a religious theme, or cover one mentioned in the previous pages , it would chart..when your hot your hot....everyone else is relegated to the Christian charts and stations, which doesn't consistently cross-over anymore since Amy Grant...

[sshuffield70]

Love Is The Answer isn't an overtly Christian song.  Even John Ford Coley has referred to the song's "spiritual ambiguity" in various concerts.  Yet, the song has been covered by Sheila Walsh (1988) and sung on The 700 Club, Bryan Duncan and Bob Carlisle in 2000, and Cindy Morgan in 2004.

[manicdpressd]

Here are a couple more. One is a hit, one is a album cut.  Pacific Gas & Electric's " Are You Ready"  and Toto's " Spiritual Man "  We have a local religious program in Clarksville, Tn. ( music/religious talk) that has played both of those on the air.  I just mentioned the Toto tune, because I thought my ears were playing tricks on me, when I heard Spiritual Man on the radio. I called to make sure that is who it was.  " Are You Ready"  was a Top 40 hit.  I can't remember if it was Top 10 or not.  Also they play " A Change Is Gonna Come' by Sam Cooke.  I just remembered that one, " CRS" is sitting in.