Any Major Heaven Vol. 1
For Easter, here’s a mix of random songs featuring the word “heaven” in the title. It’s a fairly eclectic bunch of tracks, so standard Any Major fare — and thus great fun, I hope.
In song, ”heaven” can mean all kinds of things: from Christian salvation to sweaty sex. And metaphor, Oh, don’t forget metaphor! All of those feature here, including a mini-sermon, US preacher-style (with the accent!), by the wonderful Paul Heaton of The Housemartins on their cover of Stevie Wonder’s Heaven Help Us All.
The showstopper here might be Dolly Parton giving Led Zep’s Stairway To Heaven the bluegrass treatment. It is marvellous.
The addendum Vol. 1 tips you off that I have more of the same on the subject of Heaven. Let me know whether you would like that.
With that, I wish you a great and, if you are so inclined, holy Easter weekend.
As always, CD-R length and home-saved covers. PW in comments.
1. The Skyliners – Pennies From Heaven (1959)
2. Dexys Midnight Runners – Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven) (1982)
3. The Cure – Just Like Heaven (1987)
4. The Presidents – The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven (1971)
5. The Elgins – Heaven Must Have Sent You (1966)
6. John Prine – He Was in Heaven Before He Died (1975)
7. Wilco – Airline To Heaven (2005)
8. Steve Earle & Allison Moorer – Heaven Or Hell (2011)
9. Talking Heads – Heaven (1979)
10. James Taylor – Anywhere Like Heaven (1970)
11. Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway – Only Heaven Can Wait (For Love) (1979)
12. Maxine Nightingale – If I Ever Lose This Heaven (1973)
13. Pacific Express – Heaven (I’ve Found In You) (1976)
14. Pieces – Heaven Must Have Made You (1979)
15. The Stylistics – You’ll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) (1972)
16. Peggy Lipton – Wear Your Love Like Heaven (1968)
17. Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Beams Of Heaven (1956)
18. Carl Smith – Air Mail To Heaven (1963)
19. Dolly Parton – Stairway To Heaven (2002)
20. Meat Loaf – Heaven Can Wait (1977)
21. The Housemartins – Heaven Help Us All (1986)
PW = amdwhah
Great list & very timely but . . . Rock n Roll Heaven seems like an obvious choice. I guess since it came out when I was a young teen it still has a place in my heart. When I hear it now tho I feel O-L-D! Thanks for your efforts and have a great day!
Happy belated Easter! And mark my name down for a volume two when you get around to it. Heaven can wait, as they say…
As an atheist, this is the best 2 hours of heavenly music I can think of.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fxO7mdM9TMwxzAF9oEBUd?si=cae7249636af4d5d
Let every creature praise the lord indeed.
The recent passing of David Thomas has put Pere Ubu’s “Heaven” in my head, on repeat.
The loss of David Lynch reminded me of The Lady In The Radiator’s “Heaven” (where everything is fine).
There’s a great Mavericks song (named after an old film) called “All That Heaven Will Allow”.
John Prine is already represented here, but how about “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore”?