''Religious'' Songs Which Reached the Billboard Top 100 Pop charts 1955-1984

Following is a list of songs of a ''religious'' nature, generally in keeping with Judeo-Christian concepts. Each of the songs appeared on the Billboard Top 100 singles charts between 1955 through 1984. The recording artists listed are not all Christians. Obviously, songs such as ''Stairway to Heaven,'' ''Kiss an Angel Good Morning,'' or ''You'll Never Get to Heaven If You Break My Heart'' are omitted. Likewise, songs expressing other faiths, such as Seals' and Crofts' ''Hummingbird'' and George Harrison's ''My Sweet Lord,'' are not included. ''Superstar,'' from Jesus Christ Superstar, was included due to its historical significance

1955

Angels in the SkyCrew Cuts#13Mercury 70741

Bible Tells Me SoDon Cornell#17Coral 61467

Bible Tells Me SoNick Noble#22Wing 90003

HeAl Hibbler#7Decca 29660

He McGuire Sisters#12Coral 61494

1956

Every Time (I Feel His Spirit)Patti Page#87Mercury 70971

Give Us This DayJoni James#30MCM 12288

Mary's Boy ChildHarry Belafonte#15RCA Victor 47-6735

The Good BookKay Starr#89RCA Victor 47-6617

Sinner ManLes Baxter#82Capitol 3404

 1957

(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley Elvis Presley #39 RCA Victor EPA 4054

There's a Gold Mine in the Sky Pat Boone #28 Dot 15602

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 1958

He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands)Lauri London#2Capitol 3891

He's Got the Whole World in His HandsMahalia Jackson#69Columbia 41150

Wonderful Time Up TherePat Boone#10Dot 15690

1959

Battle Hymn of the RepublicMormon Tabernacle Choir#13Columbia 41459

Deck of CardsWink Martindale#7Dot 15968

When the Saints Go Marching In Fats Domino#50Imperial 5569

1960

Wings of DoveFerlin Husky#12Capitol 4406

1961

Child of GodBobby Darin#95Atco 6183

MichaelHighwaymen#1United Artists 258

1962

None

1963

DominiqueThe Singing Nun#1Philips 40152

MichaelSteve Alaimo#100Checker 1054

1964

All My TrialsDick & Deedee#89Warner Bros. 5411

Amen Impressions#7ABC-Paramount 10602

I BelieveBachelors#33London 9672

MichaelTrini Lopez#42Reprise 0300

Oh, Rock My SoulPeter, Paul & Mary#93Warner Bros. 5442

Tell It on the MountainPeter, Paul & Mary#33Warner Bros. 5418

You'll Never Walk AlonePatti LaBelle & Blue Belles#34Nicetown 5020 & Parkway 896

1965

Crying in the ChapelElvis Presley#3RCA Victor 47-0643

Crying in the ChapelAdam Wade#88Epic 9752

Let's Get TogetherWe Five#31A & M 784

MichaelC.O.D.'s#41Kellmac 1003

People Get ReadyImpressions#14ABC-Paramount 10622

Sinner ManTrini Lopez#54Reprise 0405

Turn! Turn! Turn!Byrds#1Columbia 43424

You'll Never Walk AloneGerry & The Peacemakers#48Laurie 3302

1966

HeRighteous Brothers#18Verve 10406

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1967

Get TogetherYoungbloods#62RCA 47-9264

1968

AmenOtis Redding#36Atco 6592

Battle Hymn of the RepublicAndy Williams#33Columbia 44650

Daddy Sang BassJohnny Cash#42Columbia 44689

You'll Never Walk AloneElvis Presley#90RCA Victor 47-9600

1969

Crystal Blue PersuasionTommy James & the Shondells#2Roulette 7050

Dammit Isn't God's Last NameFrankie Lane#86ABC 11224

Get TogetherYoungbloods#5RCA 47-9264

Jesus is a Soul ManLawrenze Reynolds#28Warner Bros. 7322

Kum Ba YaTommy Leonetti#54Decca 32421

Oh Happy DayEdwin Hawkins Singers#4Pavilion 20001

Sweet Cherry WineTommy James & the Shondells#7Roulette 7039

That's the Way God Planned ItBilly Preston#62Apple 1808

Turn! Turn! Turn!Judy Collins#69Elektra 45680

You'll Never Walk AloneBrooklyn Bridge#51Buddah 139

1970

Amazing GraceJudy Collins#15Elektra 45709

Are You ReadyPacific Gas & Electric#14Columbia 45158

Church Street Soul RevivalTommy James#62Roulette 7093

Everything Is BeautifulRay Stevens#1Barnaby 2011

Fire and RainJames Taylor#3Warner Bros. 7423

Fire and RainR.B. Greaves#82Atco 6745

Fire and RainJohnny Rivers#94Imperial 66453

Holy ManDiane Kolby#67Columbia 45169

I Heard the Voice of JesusTurley Richards#99Warner Bros. 7397

Jesus Is Just AlrightByrds#97Columbia 45071

Oh Happy DayGlen Campbell#40Capitol 787

Spirit in the SkyNorman Greenbaum#3Reprise 0885

Spirit in the SkyDorothy Morrison#99Buddah 196

Stealing in the Name of the LordPaul Kelly#49Happy Tiger 541

Stoned LoveSupremes#7Motown 1172

SuperstarMurray Head#74Decca 32603

1971

All My TrialsRay Stevens#70Barnaby 2039

Come Back HomeBobby Goldsboro#69United Artists 50807

Deep Enough For MeOcean#73Kama Sutra 525

Grandma's HandsBill Withers#42Sussex 227

LifeElvis Presley#53RCA 47-9985

Mighty Clouds of JoyB.J. Thomas#34Scepter 12320

My Sweet LordBilly Preston#90Apple 1826

Put Your Hand in the HandOcean#2Kama Sutra 519

SuperstarMurray Head#14Decca 32603

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Take My HandKenny Rogers & First Edition#91Reprise 1018

Think His NameJohnny Rivers#65United Artists 50822

Top 40 of the LordSha Na Na#84Kama Sutra 528

Turn Your Radio OnRay Stevens#63Barnaby 2048

Wedding Song (There Is Love)Paul Stookey#24Warner Bros. 7511

1972

Amazing GraceRoyal Scots Dragon Guards#11RCA 74-0709

Day By DayGodspell#13Bell 45, 210

I'll Take You ThereStaple Singers#1Stax 0125

Jesus Is Just AlrightDoobie Bros.#35Warner Bros. 7619

JoyApollo 100#6Mega 615-0050

JubilationPaul Anka#65Buddah 294

Me and JesusTom T. Hall#98Mercury 73278

Morning Has BrokenCat Stevens#6A & M 1335

Speak to the SkyRick Springfield#14Capitol 3340

That's the Way God Planned ItBilly Preston#65Apple 1808

Wedding Song (There Is Love)Petula Clark#61MGM 14431

Wholly HolyAretha Franklin#81Atlantic 2901

1973

HeToday's People#9020th Cent. 2032

I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Star)Glen Campbell #45Capitol 3548

Jesus is Just AlrightDoobie Bros.#35Warner Bros. 7661

Put Your Hands TogetherO'Jays#10Philadelphia International 3535

Why MeKris Kristofferson#16Monument 8571

1974

City in the SkyStaple Singers#79Stax 0215

Lord's Prayer SisterJanet Mead#4 A & M 1491

There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)

   Chi-Lites#63Brunswick 55512

1975

L-O-V-E (Love)Al Green#13Hi 2282

OperatorManhattan Transfer#22Atlantic 3292

1976

None

1977

You Light Up My LifeDebby Boone#1Warner/Curb 8455

1978

BelleAl Green#83Hi 77505

Rivers of BabylonBoney M.#30Sire Hansa 1027

1979

All Things Are PossibleDan Peek#78Lamb & Lion 817

Gotta Serve SomebodyBob Dylan#24Columbia 1-11072

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1980

Do RightPaul Davis#23Bang 4808

Hold OnKansas#40Kirshner 4291

The Good Lord Loves YouNeil Diamond#67Columbia 11232

Wondering Where The Lions AreBruce Cockburn#21Millennium 11786

1981

None

1982

None

1983

Yah Mo B There James Ingram & Michael McDonaldQ-West QWT 7-29394

Your Unconditional LoveDonna SummerMercury 814088-7

1984

(Pride) In the Name of LoveU2Island 7-99704

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Chart information taken from Joel Whitburn's Record Research, compiled from Billboard's ''Pop'' charts.

Appendix B  ||  Table of Contents