Jorma Kaukonen covering Rev, Gary Davis, I Am The Light Of This World.
Hmmm… I actually listen to a lot of Christian music when I can find decent rock there.
The entire album On Fire, by Petra is still good listening thirty years later, if you still like the distinctly 80’s sound. Track 7 Somebody’s Gonna Praise His Name is probably the best, but it’s not the hardest-rocking; 2 or 3 are the best bets for that. This album is certainly my favorite thing to come out of “Christian contemporary music.”
If you like Stryper, have you heard Bloodgood? Anguish and Pain is a good example. Christian metal you can play D&D to!
[quote=“Prof.Pepperwinkle, post:2, topic:753178”]
I’m Presbyterian and collect hymnals. My tastes are probably not yours.
“My Song Is Love Unknown”
“Immortal, Invisible”
“Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us”
“Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?”[/QUOTE]
My favorite religious songs are also hymns. I do like “Immortal, Invisible” but if I had to pick ONLY ONE, I’d probably go for “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” What can I say? I’m Episcopalian now, but I was raised Lutheran. Of the four different wordings/translations of that hymn, I prefer the one with the first verse that ends *“Let goods and kindred go/This mortal life also/The body they may kill/God’s truth abideth still/And he shall win the battle.” * The version I was raised on may have been more literal but by today’s standards it is too sexist for my current tastes. *And take they our life/Goods, honor child or wife/Let these all be gone/They yet have nothing won/The kindgom’s ours forever." Even as a little girl that puzzled me, I knew I’d never have a wife.
*
While looking for certain hymns online I came on the work of Neil Barham. As many hymn writers have done he has taken familiar music and put new words to it. http://cyberhymnal.org/bio/b/a/r/barham_n.htm I like a lot of his work, particularly the hymn set to the Jupiter movement from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”
Venom - At War With Satan
Slayer - Haunting the Chapel
Deicide - Once Upon the Cross
Mercyful Fate - Burning the Cross
At the Gates - Raped by the Light of Christ
Bathory - Satan My Master
Sodom - Christ Passion
…nobody said they had to be *pro-*Christianity, right?
No love for Handel’s Messiah?
And some of Bach’s stuff.
And, in a different vein: The Twist.
Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalposts Of Life, Bobby Bare
Plastic Jesus, King Earl Boogie Band
Wishbone Ash: The King Will Come
Joan Osbourne’s One of Us
Drat. 49 minutes late…
Yeah, Chefguy is an answer stealer! He got me by a few minutes.
I’m lifelong-atheist but sang in an Episcopalian choir for many years: the classics previously mentioned as well as any hymn by Ralph Vaughan Williams are okay by me.
We also did some fine Jester Hairston spirituals; it’s hard to find a YouTube rendition of “Poor Man Laz’rus” that isn’t all white folks in formal dress (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course), but I dare you to listen to this without a bit of seat dancing.
(On the other hand, not to be a h8r, but pretty much all the schmaltzy power ballads listed by the OP really send me…screaming from the room. Just goes to show you what a rich tradition Christian music is, to have so much repertoire for such a huge variety of styles enjoyed by people of all faith complexions and all musical tastes.)
When They Ring Those Golden Bells – Natalie Merchant does a version, as does Emmylou Harris
Sky Pilot, Eric Burdon and The Animals
“King Herod’s Song” from Jesus Christ Superstar.
*Prove to me that you’re no fool; walk across my swimming pool. *
Better Than a Hallelujah by Amy Grant.
Untitled Hymn by Chris Rice.
Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, by William Williams. They changed the lyrics out from under me, so when we sing it I have to follow along in the hymnal to be sure I don’t automatically revert to “Guide me O thou great Jehovah” . But it is like Christ is Risen! Alleluia! - I pretend I can sing, and go for the high note. I can’t, but “when you sing in church, to God it sounds as good as you intend it to”.
Regards,
Shodan
Peace Train, Cat Stevens. It may not have started out as being about god, but got co-opted by many church bands.
My Sweet Lord, George Harrison
I have nothing to add other than to say thank you for posting this. I hadn’t heard this song in ages, and I had forgotten how great it is.
Neal Morse left Spock’s Beard after becoming a born-again Christian, and went off the deep end writing concept albums about Christianity for a while. The music is so awesome that I can forgive the lyrics being all about what a great dude God is.
I think my favorite song/album is ?, which consists of a single track. Here is a live version, pared down to a mere 29 minutes. 
(FF to about 16:00 for the really intense part.)
There’s also a Christian-Celtic-Progressive rock band called Iona that is freakin’ awesome. “Inside My Heart” is one of my favorites.
It is completely catchy and awesome isn’t it? Inspired by The Carter Family - Can the Circle Be Unbroken?
Another favorite: Alison Krauss - Down to the River to Pray
I am not religious but they have some good music!
Jesus Was Way Cool by King Missile.