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AUSTRALIAN IMPORT
Condition: Brand New Factory Sealed
In addition to being the king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley was also a devout Christian with a deep love for the gospel music with which he'd grown up. Throughout his career, he exercised his faith musically on an ongoing series of gospel recordings that showcased a lesser-known aspect of his immense talent. Indeed, Elvis never won a Grammy for his rock-'n'-roll work, but he won three for his gospel performances. Presley's gospel discs maintained a consistent level of integrity and commitment that generally stood apart from the artistic peaks and valleys of his secular career. Even during periods when he regularly sleepwalked through uninspired pop tunes and movie-soundtrack fodder, the artist invested his devotional recordings with the utmost passion. And, just as he brought rock 'n' roll into the modern age by R&B and country, Elvis applied a vibrant sense of fusion to his gospel work, drawing from both black and white gospel traditions to make music that's truly distinctive and consistently moving. This three-CD, 87-song collection does a fine job of collecting virtually all of Presley's gospel recordings, including some rare live versions and tracks from the fabled Million Dollar Quartet session (with Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins). The programming and sound quality are fine, and the packaging is simple but attractive. Peace in the Valley's only misstep is the lack of any sort of annotation or recording info. That omission is deeply unfortunate, since liner notes would have amplified the set's mission of shedding some much-needed light on this oft-neglected aspect of Presley's recording career. The music, however, is highly recommended, still resonating with a passion and honesty that will threaten to make a believer out of the most reprobate rock-'n'-roll heathen.
Track listing
DISC 1:
1. His Hand in Mine
2. I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
3. In My Father's House
4. Milky White Way
5. Known Only to Him
6. I Believe in the Man in the Sky
7. Joshua Fit the Battle
8. He Knows Just What I Need
9. Swing Down, Sweet Chariot
10. Mansion Over the Hilltop
11. If We Never Meet Again
12. Working on the Building
13. Crying in the Chapel
14. How Great Thou Art
15. In the Garden
16. Somebody Bigger Than You or I
17. Farther Along
18. Stand by Me
19. Without Him
20. So High
21. Where Could I Go But to the Lord
22. By and By
23. If the Lord Wasn't Walking by My Side
24. Run On
25. Where No One Stands Alone
26. We Call on Him
27. You'll Never Walk Alone
28. Who Am I?
29. Life
DISC 2:
1. Only Believe
2. He Touched Me
3. I've Got Confidence
4. Amazing Grace
5. Seeing Is Believing
6. He Is My Everything
7. Bosom of Abraham
8. Evening Prayer, An
9. Lead Me, Guide Me
10. There Is No God But God
11. Thing Called Love, A
12. I. John
13. Reach Out To Jesus
14. Miracle of the Rosary
15. Put Your Hand in the Hand
16. I Got a Feelin' in My Body
17. Help Me
18. If That Isn't Love
19. Help Me - (live)
20. Why Me Lord - (live)
21. How Great Thou Art - (live)
22. Farther Along
23. Oh Happy Day
24. I, John
25. Bosom of Abraham
26. You Better Run
27. Lead Me, Guide Me
28. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / Nearer My God To Thee
DISC 3:
1. When the Saints Go Marchin' In - (1956 home recording)
2. Just a Little Talk With Jesus
3. Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley
4. I Shall Not Be Moved
5. Peace in the Valley (For Me), (There'll Be)
6. Down by the Riverside
7. Farther Along
8. Blessed Jesus (Hold My Hand)
9. On the Jericho Road
10. I Just Can't Make It by Myself
11. I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling
12. When the Saints Go Marchin' In
13. Softly and Tenderly
14. Peace in the Valley (For Me), (There'll Be)
15. It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)
16. I Believe
17. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
18. I Asked the Lord - (alternate)
19. He
20. Oh How I Love Jesus
21. Show Me Thy Ways, O Lord
22. Hide Thou Me
23. Down By The Riverside / When The Saints Go Marchin' In
24. Sing You Children
25. Swing Down, Sweet Chariot
26. Let Us Pray
27. Gospel Medley: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child / Where Could I Go But To The Lord / Up Above My Head / Saved
28. Lord's Prayer, The - (informal performance)
29. How Great Thou Art - (live)
30. Peace in the Valley (For Me), (There'll Be) - (live, from "The Ed Sullivan Show")
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