The inspirational Elvis

I initially thought it might be good to get into the Holy Week mode by listening to Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace. The song’s lyrics by John Newton and melody based on the song New Britain never fails to arouse feelings of humility and gratitude over being alive and how much we have to be thankful for.

That live recording by Aretha is considered the quintessential version of the old, it dates back to the 1800s, and very famous inspirational that has crossed over religious boundaries all over the world. But then I got sidetracked and I must say, wonderfully so, because I discovered a cache of music treasures by Elvis Presley.

Isn’t the Internet great? Instead of having to take out a pile of LPs or CDs to listen to a particular song, all I have to do is click on the title on the web and there it is. So I clicked on Amazing Grace and found several versions, with Aretha’s, of course, on top.

But then I saw something that caught my interest, an Amazing Grace by Elvis Presley. So, the King of Rock and Roll, made his own version. Now knowing how something special happens to Presley when he sings inspirational songs, remember how moving his I Believe? I decided to listen. What I heard was simply beautiful.

Presley had a voice of incredible range that was also very versatile. He could rock very hard, Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock. He could be gentle and funny, Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear, Wooden Heart. He could be suave and romantic, Loving You, Can’t Help Falling In Love.

But it is when he sings a prayer that Presley gets to sound like an angel. His poweful vocals acquire a tenderness that just feels heavenly to get lost in. I then recalled that he also did very good takes on It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) and Take My Hand Precious Lord. I listened to those and was transported to a blissful place.

Presley recorded a lot of albums during his lifetime and made so many hit songs. I do like going back to my favorites, Suspicious Minds or You Were Always On My Mind, once in a while. But at this time, I would like to devote some time to his gospel songs and I am so glad that he recorded three of those albums, His Hand In Mine, How Great Thou Art and He Touched Me.

His Hand in Mine was a Platinum seller from 1960. This was Presley’s first album of gospel music and it presented a totally different side of the sensational rocker. It was in a way the fulfillment of a dream because Presley had always loved church music. It was said that he always used religious music to warm-up his vocals before concerts of recordings.

Image-wise, this album also introduced him and got him the approval of an older market, conservative market. Those were particularly parents who were concerned that their daughters were going nuts over somebody who was too sexy and with his swiveling hips seemed like an occasion of sin.

His Hand in Mine was the lead track. Also included are I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs, In My Father’s House, Milky White Way, Known Only To Him, I Believe In The Man In The Sky, Joshua Fit The Battle, He Knows Just What I Need, Swing Down Sweet Chariot, Mansion Over The Hilltop, If We Never Meet Again and Working On The Building.

How Great Thou Art came next. It is a triple Platinum seller and the title song won the Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance for Elvis. The rest of the songs are In The Garden, Somebody Bigger Than You And I, Farther Along, Stand By Me, Without Him, So High, Where Could I Go But To The Lord, By And By, If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side, Run On, Where No One Stands Alone and Crying In The Chapel.

He Touched Me was the last inspirational album Presley recorded. Another Platinum seller, it is his best and rightfully so, it won for him another Grammy trophy. It is also the one that includes his moving version of Amazing Grace.

The other songs included are I’ve Got Confidence, Seeing Is Believing, He Is My Everything, Bosom of Abraham, An Evening Prayer, Lead Me Guide Me, There Is No God But God, A Thing Called Love, I, John and Reach Out To Jesus.

 Having these songs on repeat is an affecting experience and how nice to rediscover this sacred part in the music of the great Elvis Presley.