Religious music for less than devout

I collect gospel and CCM from the 1960s through the 1980s. Most specifically everything released on Word Records and all their sub-labels. This casts a very wide genre net, perhaps outside the intention of the OP.

In the traditional sense of religious music I would suggest "Spirituals In Concert" featuring Kathleen Battle & Jesse Norman. This album is in my, "If I had to pick 10 CDs to take with me to be be stranded on a desert island" list.

The Gospel category is wide and deep, but for people unfamiliar and looking for variety I strongly suggest Shirley Cesar’s album "Rejoice", especially the track, "Satan You’re a Liar".

For 80’s mainstream contemporary christian music definitely listen to Jon Gibson, any album will do, his Hits compilation that came out in 1991 is a good entry point.

For artist cross over albums Dylan's is obvious, but I greatly prefer Mark Farner's christian album, "Some Kind of Wonderful".

@ Palasr

 

RE: The Fairfield Four, "Standing In The Safety Zone". And you thought you knew something about a capella gospel singing...

 

I needed to leave something else for other folks like you to contribute. You may want to look up also “Sweet Honey in the Rock” in particular 1988 “Live at Carnegie Hall”. The songs “Run, Run, Mourner Run” and “Wade in the Water” will kill ya.

 

I don’t own the entire Fairfield Four catalogue, but I own a decent sampling. Not to neglect the “the Dixie Hummingbirds”but technically they are not a capella.  Neither is “Mighty Clouds of Joy” but they get the job done.

 & Thank you Oregonpapa for recommending: Kathleen Battle "So Many Stars.", I have a few of her CDs but not that one. (add to my orders.)

 I was looking for Oh Happy Day, Edwin Hawkins Singers. But it slipped my ADD mind.

 Ladysmith Black Mambazo will sometimes include a Gospel tune.

 O Sifuni Mungu (All Creatures of Our God and King) is worth looking up. The original was done by “First Call”

 Hezekiah Walker had a run away hit with his danceable song “Every Praise” which drew many imitators from Korea and Japan some of which are rater funny.

 

I am pleased this topic is well received.

Mindy Smith's albums. Good country/alt-country but with a sometimes subtle Christian message woven in every now and then.

Mozart's "Requiem" - - just outstanding, feeling music.  That also serves a religious point.

Rock and roll arguably evolved from gospel. Without gospel music there wouldn’t be Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, or James Brown - for example. So many of the country blues guitarists (eg Mississippi John Hurt) were essentially playing their twists on gospels. This music was a point of reference for these genres to expand on - this is what people knew.

Released in time for Christmas 2019, I enjoy Andrew Bird's "Hark!"