Elvis Presley Peace In The Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings CD

Recorded between 1956 & 1977. Includes liner notes by Cheryl Thurber.

Elvis Presley was and is an American icon, a figure whose impact on the pop music world cannot be overestimated. Before he became a legend, Presley was just a singer, albeit one who got the goods by synthesizing the music of his youth: blues, country music, mainstream pop (Dean Martin was an early favorite of his) and gospel. Southern gospel is a intensely rhythmic devotional music, and that obviously left a powerful impression on the young Elvis (he often sang gospel tunes to warm-up for recording session and concerts).

This box set exclusively collects the gospel songs, old and (then) new, Presley recorded throughout his career, including the "Million Dollar Quartet" session (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash). This collection is wildly varied: the relaxed, party-like informality of the Quartet session (it was not originally intended for release) and the glossy orchestrated pop of "Only Believe" seem to be poles apart, yet the common ground is the conviction Presley brings to these performances. Other high points: the almost Baroque choral touches on a gently loping take of Johnny Cash's "A Thing Called Love," the spare, haunting "I Asked the Lord," and the near-operatic wail of "Reach Out to Jesus."

Digitally remastered by Dennis Ferrante & Lene Reidel.

Complete Gospel Recordings 3cd

Personnel includes: Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, The Jordanaires, The Imperials, The Nashville Edition, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, The Sweet Inspirations, Kathy Westmoreland, Sherrill Neilsen.

Compilation producers: Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, Roger Semon.

Q (12/00, pp.148,151) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Includes some classic performances - 'Crying In The Chapel' and '(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)'..."