You know, songs like “Put Your Hand in the Hand” by Ocean, “Are You Ready?” by PG&E, etc. thanks.
A couple from '69:
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum
Jesus Is a Soul Man - Lawrence Reynolds
I Knew Jesus Before He was a Superstar.
Can’t remember who did it, though.
Jesus is Just Alright – The Byrds, 1969. The Doobie Brothers did a version in 1972.
“Soul Survivor” by the Stones. (“Don’t wanna talk, talk about Jesus, just wanna see his face.”)
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
“Give Us a Song (to sing, sweet Jesus…)” by Jonathan Edwards, off this album.
Not technically about the Christian Yahweh, though.
The entire sound tracks to Godspell and JCS.
Abbey Road
“Oh Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers
“Hats Off (To The Stranger)” by Lighthouse
“Everything Is Beautiful” by Ray Stevens
Oh, sorry, I read “good”.
Velvet underground - Jesus
The cast recordings and soundtracvks to “Godspell” and “Jesus Christ Superstar”
“One Toke Over the Line” - Brewer and Shipley
“Turn, Turn, Turn” - The Byrds (words were adapted from the bible)
Good God, y’awl!
“the (Bastard) Son of Jesus” - Jefferson Airplane, 1972:
“Jesus had a son by Mary Magdalene
And he rode the land that his father did before him.
Jesus raised him loud,
But Mary raised him proud.
And he tracked the man that nailed his father down.”
Inexplicably excised from my last post was “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin:
“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedez Benz?” (Lord, being y’know who?)
Can You See Me- Glass Harp
“Good Shepherd,” off the 1969 Jefferson Airplane album “Volunteers.”
Higher Ground and Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away - Stevie Wonder
Benedictus - The Strawbs
This Train - Peter, Paul & Mary (and countless others)
Gaudete - Steeleye Span
Travelin’ Prayer - Billy Joel
I Shall be Released - Bob Dylan
Most of these are more folk(ish) than rock, though.
Jesus-Queen from the album Queen