Elvis Presley Gospel Hymns: Ranking His 10 Best Spiritual Recordings

“My first [love] I would say would be spiritual music … I mean some of the old colored spirituals, you know, from years back.”

In that statement at a Vancouver, B.C., press conference in August 1957, Elvis Presley acknowledged the profound influence spirituals and gospel music had on his career from its earliest days. Even while rock ‘n’ roll stardom was at its peak, he had already begun recording what are often considered his first gospel songs. This passion for religious music continued intermittently throughout the remainder of his life and career, resulting in some of his most heartfelt and enduring performances. To truly appreciate the depth of his artistry, exploring his catalog of Elvis Presley Gospel Hymns and songs is essential.

Throughout Elvis Presley’s career, RCA Records released a significant number of his gospel recordings. This included 4 long play (LP) albums, 1 extended play (EP) album, and 6 single records, showcasing the sustained output of Elvis’s spiritual music. The Peace in the Valley EP, featuring four songs, was an early release in April 1957. His first dedicated gospel LP, His Hand in Mine, containing 12 tracks, followed in November 1960. The single “Crying in the Chapel” was released in April 1965 and proved to be a major success, prompting RCA to release two more gospel singles the following year around Easter. These singles, featuring songs like “Joshua Fit the Battle,” “Known Only to Him,” “Milky White Way,” and “Swing Down Sweet Chariot,” were drawn from the His Hand in Mine LP.

In March 1967, Elvis released his second gospel LP, How Great Thou Art, which included 12 new recordings. Another Easter single, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” / “We Call on Him,” was issued a year later, with both songs also appearing on Elvis’s third gospel LP, You’ll Never Walk Alone, a budget release from March 1971. Of the nine songs on this album, only two were previously unreleased – “Sing You Children” from the movie soundtrack Easy Come, Easy Go, and “Let Us Pray” from Change of Habit. Just one month after this LP, Elvis’s fifth gospel single, featuring “Life” and “Only Believe,” became available.

RCA released Elvis’s final gospel single, “He Touched Me” / “Bosom of Abraham,” during the Easter season of 1972. These tracks were also featured on Presley’s fourth and last gospel LP, He Touched Me, which was released in April 1972. However, these were not the last spiritual numbers Elvis recorded. Over the subsequent five years until his passing, gospel cuts such as “Help Me” and “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” were incorporated into his regular pop LP releases on RCA. Additionally, live versions of powerful songs like “How Great Thou Art” and “Why Me Lord?” appeared on concert LPs released in the mid-seventies. For fans looking for a comprehensive overview, a detailed elvis presley hymns list can provide further exploration.

In total, approximately 60 of Presley’s gospel recordings were released in various formats throughout his lifetime. Selecting the 10 “best” from this extensive collection is inherently subjective and open to personal preference. What resonates most deeply often depends on individual connection to the songs’ messages and Elvis’s unique vocal delivery. Here are my personal choices, presented in a countdown format, representing some of the most powerful and memorable spiritual performances by The King.

Ranking Elvis’s Best Gospel Recordings

10. “Peace in the Valley” (1957)

Recorded in Hollywood on January 13, 1957, “Peace in the Valley” was the title track of Elvis’s first gospel EP. He had famously performed this song just a week prior during his final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York. While his delivery here might not possess the polished quality of his later gospel sessions in the 1960s, his evident commitment to the song’s message was palpable. This early performance and recording helped to soften some of the public criticism he faced at the time, demonstrating a more spiritual side to the burgeoning rock and roll icon.

9. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1968)

Elvis recorded this poignant song during his studio sessions in Nashville in September 1967. As detailed by Mike Cimicata and Ernst Jorgensen in the sleeve notes for the 2009 compilation I Believe, the recording process was particularly intense. On the final night of sessions, Elvis reportedly sat at the piano with the lights dimmed, playing and singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” repeatedly without pausing between takes, fully immersing himself in the emotion of the song. Producer Felton Jarvis edited the best sections to create the master, released as a single. This recording earned Elvis a Grammy nomination in 1968 for “Best Sacred Performance,” highlighting its impact.

8. “Run On” (1967)

The primary goal of Elvis’s May 1966 Nashville sessions was to record material for a new gospel album, which would become How Great Thou Art. To ensure a wide range of sounds was possible, 14 musicians were present in the studio, including backing vocals from The Jordanaires, The Imperials, and a female trio. “Run On” was the first song tackled by this large ensemble. Described by Ernst Jorgensen as an “up-tempo number in the jubilee tradition,” it began with a distinctive piano intro by Floyd Cramer and a low vocal “hmmm.” The second take was particularly energetic, featuring the full electric band and eleven singers creating a powerful, joyful sound. Jorgensen noted it was a remarkable, almost “threatening” update of traditional gospel music, distinct from any religious music Elvis had recorded before.

7. “Joshua Fit the Battle” (1960)

This track has often been cited as a favorite from Presley’s 1960 gospel album, His Hand in Mine. According to Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires, in notes for the I Believe box set, Elvis was ready to record after just a few rehearsals, despite the challenging lyrics. The vocal blend with The Jordanaires on this up-tempo tune was seamless. Achieving the right timing and tone for the five individual voices at the song’s conclusion took several takes, but the final version ends with an inspiring flourish, showcasing the dynamic interaction between Elvis and his backing vocalists.

6. “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” (1974)

Elvis frequently warmed up for recording sessions by gathering his backing vocalists around a piano to sing spirituals. It was fitting, then, that he began his December 1973 sessions at Stax Studios in Memphis with “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body.” Ernst Jorgensen characterized it as a “funkily rhythmic contemporary religious number.” The song was written by Dennis Linde, the same composer behind Elvis’s hit “Burning Love.” Jorgensen recalled it as a “great kickoff for the sessions,” and the track became a highlight on Elvis’s 1974 album, Good Times. For more energetic tracks by Elvis, exploring elvis presley upbeat gospel songs is highly recommended.

5. “He Touched Me” (1972)

“He Touched Me,” the title track of Elvis’s fourth and final gospel LP, was recorded on May 15, 1971, amidst a week of Nashville sessions. Elvis’s deep, lifelong familiarity with such hymns allowed him to lay down an emotionally resonant vocal performance in just a few takes. The song was also the signature track of The Imperials, who provided powerful vocal support on Elvis’s version, contributing significantly to its impact. Released the following year, the He Touched Me LP earned Elvis the second of his three Grammy awards, all of which were in the gospel or sacred music categories.

4. “His Hand in Mine” (1960)

When Elvis arrived in Nashville in October 1960 to record his first sacred LP, he worked with the same core group of musicians and vocalists used for his successful pop recordings. This small, familiar ensemble managed to produce 14 master recordings in a single, marathon session. “His Hand in Mine,” a song previously recorded by one of Elvis’s favorite gospel groups, The Statesmen, was the second track recorded that evening. Charlie Hodge, Elvis’s close friend and army buddy who was also very familiar with the gospel genre, harmonized with Elvis on the track. According to Jorgensen, “Over the course of only five takes, they developed an impressive vocal arrangement featuring both the Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham—further evidence of the familiarity of everyone on the session with the material,” showcasing the collaborative magic present during the recording.

3. “Saved” (1968)

In a 1971 radio documentary about Elvis, Jordanaire Ray Walker distinguished between spiritual music and rhythm gospel. Spirituals, he explained, arise from pain and suffering, often characterized by a held-back intensity that leaves the listener wanting more. Rhythm gospel, conversely, is more frantic, driven by a steady beat, with the singer typically giving their all. By this definition, “Saved,” recorded for Elvis’s iconic 1968 TV special, might be considered his most authentic rhythm gospel performance. While Elvis usually embodied the ‘leaving the listener wanting more’ quality, with “Saved,” chasing an infectious beat, his vocal was high-energy from start to finish. He held nothing back, delivering a performance that was completely ‘all out.’ It was featured as part of a gospel medley in the TV special, but Elvis’s standalone recording of “Saved” wasn’t officially released until many years after his death, allowing fans to appreciate the full power of this unique track. For those interested in Elvis’s movie songs, exploring his elvis presley change of habit songs offers another perspective on his diverse recordings.

2. “Crying in the Chapel” (1965)

After a long night recording gospel songs on October 30-31, 1960, Elvis decided he wanted to try “Crying in the Chapel.” Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires recalled, “We were tired when we recorded it, but I’m thankful we don’t sound tired on the record.” Despite some personal reservations about the ending, which they felt was sung incorrectly, Elvis approved the take, reportedly saying, “It’s good, forget it, don’t make any difference.” Due to issues with obtaining the publishing rights by Colonel Parker, the recording was initially left off the His Hand in Mine album. Five years later, however, RCA resurrected the recording and released it as a single. To everyone’s surprise, it became a massive hit, soaring up Billboard’s pop chart and reaching the #3 position. Presley’s beautiful and heartfelt rendition of this well-known hymn became the most commercially successful of all his gospel recordings, introducing many pop fans to his spiritual side. It remains one of the most famous Elvis Presley Gospel Hymns.

1. “How Great Thou Art” (1967)

Although “How Great Thou Art” became Elvis’s favorite gospel song, according to Jordanaire Gordon Stoker, Elvis initially claimed he had never heard of it when they first discussed recording it. After listening to The Jordanaires perform it, Elvis decided to proceed. Neal Matthews, The Jordanaires’ second tenor, created an arrangement, which Elvis learned and recorded from memory. Ernst Jorgensen noted that “Elvis sang with sincerity and dedication, in a slower tempo than The Statesmen’s version that accentuated the spirituality of the material and allowed him to build the song into a powerful anthem.” “How Great Thou Art” became the title track of Presley’s acclaimed 1967 gospel album and earned Elvis his first Grammy Award. A live recording of the same song, released later, earned Presley another Grammy in 1974, cementing its status as a cornerstone of his gospel legacy.

It is a point of discussion among fans and critics that Elvis never received a Grammy award in any pop music category despite his immense success. However, it is perhaps fitting that the music establishment recognized him multiple times for his religious music. He consistently held onto his early love for spiritual music, a passion that is clearly evident in the deep commitment and emotion he poured into his gospel recordings.

— Alan Hanson | © December 2012

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