Elvis Presley - I Believe: The Gospel Masters

A very praiseworthy box set

The first time Presley recorded his own voice was as a gift for his mother, so it’s of little surprise that once he’d hit the big time he negotiated a contract clause to release religious material to appease the rock’n’roll-hating Gladys. A four-track EP was issued in 1957, ostensibly as a trailer for a Christmas album, but standalone sales of 400,000 brought dollar signs to the eyes of RCA’s initially reluctant bean counters.

Ultimately, the sacred songs became integral to Elvis’ make-up, and he put more of his heart and soul into them than much of the throwaway pulp of the movie years. Presley never limited himself to traditional hymns or stuffy old pew-rattlers, as Milky White Way swings like Sam Cooke at his smoothest, while Working On The Building is just one of several infectious gospel shoutalongs on this sumptuous collection.

That Presley’s only three Grammys were for gospel recordings has become a pub quiz staple, but let’s dispense with the trivia and confess (to whoever might be listening...) that How Great Thou Art and In The Garden are among his best vocal performances. You don’t have to be a believer to find succour here, all you need is an open mind and an honest pair of ears.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Sony | 88697458842 (4-CD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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