Peace in the Valley (EP)
| Peace in the Valley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| EP by Elvis Presley | |
| Released | April 1957 |
| Recorded | January 12, 13 & 19, 1957 |
| Genre | Gospel |
| Length | 12:36 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Producer | Steve Sholes |
Peace in the Valley is an extended play single by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono, catalogue number EPA 4054, in April 1957. The recordings included were taken from sessions on January 12, 13, and 19 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. It reached number three on the short-lived Billboard EP chart, and number three on the album chart, and number 39 on the singles chart.
Content
By the 1950s, Presley's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee had become a center for gospel music in the United States.[1] Presley grew up listening to this music, and maintained an abiding love for gospel singing his entire life. This EP initiated Presley's commercial presentation of this interest. Presley would go on to make many more recordings of spiritual music, including the issue of the gospel albums His Hand In Mine, How Great Thou Art, and He Touched Me.
All four selections are gospel classics, including two by Thomas A. Dorsey 'the father of black gospel'. The four songs are all reverential in spirit, rather than celebratory, uptempo gospel songs.[2] Six months after the appearance of this EP, the four songs issued here would be added to eight recordings of Christmas songs for his first holiday album.
Personnel
- Elvis Presley – vocal, guitar
- The Jordanaires - vocals
- Scotty Moore – electric guitar
- Floyd Cramer – piano
- Dudley Brooks – piano
- Gordon Stoker - organ
- Bill Black – bass
- D. J. Fontana – drums
Track listing
| Side one | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
| 1. | "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" | Thomas A. Dorsey | January 13, 1957 | 3:22 |
| 2. | "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" | Stuart Hamblen | January 19, 1957 | 3:53 |
| Side two | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
| 1. | "I Believe" | Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, Al Stillman | January 12, 1957 | 2:05 |
| 2. | "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" | Thomas A. Dorsey | January 13, 1957 | 3:16 |
References
- ↑ Wolfe, Charles. Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances. RCA 66421-2, 1994, liner notes, p. 8
- ↑ Jorgensen, Ernst. Elvis Presley A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998; p. 84.
