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In American popular music, there’s always been a fine line between the sacred and the secular. On this episode of the Dystopian Dance Party podcast, we talk about a few of the songs for which that line is finer than most: nominally “secular” songs with the lyrical and/or stylistic underpinnings of gospel music. Just in time for Easter weekend!

As always, show notes are below, along with a Spotify playlist for those of you who want to hear the songs without our standard jibber-jabber.

00:00:00   “Spirit in the Sky” (demo) by Norman Greenbaum (from Spirit in the Sky CD reissue, 2001)

00:05:00   “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum (from Spirit in the Sky, 1969)

00:07:32   Trailer for Michael (1996) Starring John Travolta, with Prominent Use of “Spirit in the Sky”

00:09:03   “Joy to the World” by Little Richard (from The King of Rock and Roll, 1971)

00:15:24   “I’ll Pray for You” by Love (from Out Here, 1969)

00:19:15   “Jesus” by the Velvet Underground (from The Velvet Underground, 1969)

00:20:41   “Hear Me Lord” by George Harrison (from All Things Must Pass, 1970)

00:24:05   “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison (from All Things Must Pass)

00:24:15   “My Sweet Lord” vs. “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons

00:27:00   “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go” by Curtis Mayfield (from Curtis, 1970)

00:32:50   “Hymn 43” by Jethro Tull (from Aqualung, 1971)

00:36:08   “Easy Livin’” by Uriah Heep (from Demons and Wizards, 1972)

00:40:50   “The Great Gig in the Sky” by Pink Floyd (from The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973)

00:43:28   Nick Mason Wants His Pie with No Crust (from Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, 1974)

00:44:40   “Jesus is Just Alright” by the Doobie Brothers (from Toulouse Street, 1972)

00:49:29   “Don’t Look  Back” by Boston (from Don’t Look Back, 1978)

00:55:45   “Word on a Wing” by David Bowie (from Station to Station, 1976)

01:02:08   “Gloria: In Excelsis Deo / Gloria (version)” by Patti Smith (from Horses, 1975)

01:03:33   “Gloria” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968 outtake)

01:03:43   “Gloria” by the Doors (1969 outtake)

01:07:45   Jesus? This is Iggy: The Dystopian Dance Party Guide to Iggy Pop

01:07:58   “Turn Blue” by Iggy Pop (from Lust for Life, 1977)

01:16:27   “Deanna” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (from Tender Prey, 1988)

01:18:00   “Deanna” (acoustic version) by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1990 single, available on B-Sides & Rarities)

01:19:31   “The Last in Line” by Dio (from The Last in Line, 1984)

01:25:30   “Love Ain’t No Stranger” by Whitesnake (from Slide It In, 1984)

01:26:24   “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake (from Whitesnake, 1987)

01:27:50   “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner (from Agent Provocateur, 1984)

01:29:09   Excerpt from Gene Simmons’ Sex Tape featuring “I Want to Know What Love Is” (WARNING: Not Safe for Work or Human Consumption)

01:32:55   “I Would Die 4 U” (12″ version) by Prince and the Revolution

01:38:02   “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood (from Back in the High Life, 1986)

01:41:50   “Trap Niggas” by Future (from DS2, 2015)

01:45:04   “Jesus Walks” by Kanye West (from The College Dropout, 2004)

01:45:25    Dystopian Listening Party Podcast: Je Suis Kanye

01:46:05   “I am a God” by Kanye West (from Yeezus, 2013)

01:52:09   “I Luh God” by Erica Campbell featuring Big Shizz (from Help 2.0, 2014)