Artist:Elvis Presley
Song:Crying in the Chapel
Album:Peace in the Valley
Elvis Presley scored a top five hit in 1965 with the gospel song Crying in the Chapel. It was a surprise hit that came at a time when Presley's recording career was in a slump. His last top five hit was in 1963. He was doing a lot of movies with terrible songs. And Beatlemania was a factor too. Presley's first gospel album His Hand in Mine was released in 1960. Presley and The Jordanaires all grew up singing in church. And Presley wanted to record an album for his mother. Crying in the Chapel was recorded for this album but Presley wasn't happy with the three takes and it did not appear on the album. Country musician Artie Glenn wrote Crying in the Chapel and his son Darrell Glenn had a hit with it in 1953 and so did pop singer June Valli. Recordings by Rex Allen, The Orioles and Ella Fitzgerald also charted. With Presley in a recording slump, his manager Colonel Tom Parker thought that the time might be right to record a new gospel album. As a test, RCA released Crying in the Chapel as an Easter single with a Gold Standard label to distinguish it from current songs like Do the Clam. Crying in the Chapel reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then Presley recorded the 1967 gospel album How Great Thou Art. Crying in the Chapel appears on that album. Presley wouldn't have another top ten hit until 1969. So I don't think Crying in the Chapel ended his recording slump. Presley recorded a third gospel album He Touched Me in 1972. All three albums plus bonus tracks are on this 2CD comp. Unfortunately Presley never performed Crying in the Chapel live. So here's a video for Crying in the Chapel by Elvis Presley.
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