Non-religious "gospel"

Cafe Society
1

I’ve been slowly collecting an odd little subgenre of music: stuff that is modeled after gospel in nearly every way, but is either areligious or completely non-sectarian.

My first two examples are Tom Waits’ “Come On Up to the House,” and Old Crow Medicine Show’s “I Hear Them All.” Both powerful, beautiful songs with a spiritual overtone but no god-ism.

Others?

2

Listen to any soul singer from the 1960s and '70s.

Aretha Franklin

Otis Redding

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Even the Fifth Dimension

Now, if you’re looking for a country gospel sound…

Here’s the exact moment the Oak Ridge Boys went from being a gospel group to country singers.

Or the Statler Brothers

And, of course, Willie.

3

I think a few of Paul Simon’s songs qualify, like Gone At Last and Loves Me Like a Rock.