Best track on "He touched me" LP 1972

Post by **dreambear** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:19 am

Motivation is an important factor when it comes to music. On this album, with a few exceptions, Elvis sounds good. Much better than on the christmas (and some of the secular) songs recorded in 1971.

Two tracks have to be excluded because of poll limitations. As a swedish, perhaps I don´t understand all gospel/christian music from US, but I find it hard to listen to "An evening prayer". One reason is the strained (1971ish) voice of Elvis. I cut it from the poll.

The other track that must leave is "He is my everything". The reason is the much better recording "There goes my everything". Night and day!

I just gonna do very short comments on each track:

He touched me: Nice harmonies and a beatiful melody.

I´ve got confidence: What about a live version of this one in 1972? One of the best Elvis rockers in the 70´s!

I prefer the alternate take of Amazing grace on the 70´s box. A bit "grittier".

Seeing is believing: I think that an album called "Elvis sings Red West", could have been quite good. Nice rythm!

"Bosom of Abraham". They say that it´s hard to write a good three chord song. Chuck Berry succeeded in writing a splendid two chord song (You never can tell). This one has just one chord, and it´s quite entertaining, I think. Just because of our man and his voice.

"Lead me, guide me" is splendid. The version fron "On tour is even better.

"There is no God but good" is a bit light weight pop/gospel and it´s not one of my favourites from this album.

"A thing called love" is nice, but suffers a bit from hearing Elvis too little. But I guess he wanted himself to blend with the other voices.

"I John": See "Bosom of Abraham".

The final track, "Reach out to Jesus" is my favourite and the nice way to end this album. Good overall production.

This is a great album, but my least favourite of the three gospel LP´s (not counting the Camden one). It feels like this album was done in a bit more hurry than "How great thou art", which is my favourite of the three.

What do you other people thinks?

Kind regards Björn

Post by **familyjules** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:54 pm

Hard one to pick. You've left off An Evening Prayer which might be my favourite - I disagree with your thoughts here as I think Elvis sings a blinder on that one!

But apart from that it's between Reach Out To Jesus and Lead Me, Guide Me. I went with the former, but it was a tough call.

Jules

Post by **Mike Eder** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:11 pm

As I like Elvis' seventies voice best and the 1971 sessions in general I like this LP best of the three myself. I thought you gave it a good review so I have little to add except that I picked Boson Of Abraham for my favorite. It is just so catchy and I feel good hearing it and singing it myself.

Post by **dreambear** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:21 pm

familyjules wrote:Hard one to pick. You've left off An Evening Prayer which might be my favourite - I disagree with your thoughts here as I think Elvis sings a blinder on that one!

But apart from that it's between Reach Out To Jesus and Lead Me, Guide Me. I went with the former, but it was a tough call.

Jules

And I do remember the Padre/Love me, love the life I lead-discussion, so we will never agree when it comes to the vibrato of 1971

. But it really doesn´t matter. This is just for fun, isn´t it?

But both of us like the tracks you mentioned. It´s an improvement

//Björn

Post by **familyjules** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:24 pm

dreambear wrote:we will never agree when it comes to the vibrato of 1971

I never even thought about there being a vibrato issue!

Jules

Post by **dreambear** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:42 pm

familyjules wrote:
dreambear wrote:we will never agree when it comes to the vibrato of 1971
I never even thought about there being a vibrato issue!

Jules

On some of the 1971 recordings, there are some overuse and lack of control of the vibrato. It reminds a bit of some of the 1976 recordings like "Never again".

//Björn

Post by **BigredG** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:14 pm

Despite the apparent problem on the master

, I have voted for Reach Out To Jesus.

Post by **familyjules** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:48 pm

dreambear wrote:
familyjules wrote:
dreambear wrote:we will never agree when it comes to the vibrato of 1971
I never even thought about there being a vibrato issue!

Jules
On some of the 1971 recordings, there are some overuse and lack of control of the vibrato. It reminds a bit of some of the 1976 recordings like "Never again".

//Björn

So, is that a big issue on An Evening Prayer? Or Padre? Or Love Me, Love The Life I Lead?

I'm not sure I notice. I mean, he's not as bad as all those pop singers of the last 10 or 20 years who can't stop their throats wobbling away to save their lives!!

Jules

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:26 pm

"He Touched Me" is my all-time favorite Elvis gospel cut.

It would be rude of me not to vote for it.

Post by **ColinB** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:51 pm

dreambear wrote:On some of the 1971 recordings, there are some overuse and lack of control of the vibrato.
It reminds a bit of some of the 1976 recordings like "Never again".

The vibrating vibrato I can take.

But that trembling tremolo !

Post by **Marc Haegeman** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:57 pm

"He Touched Me" and "An Evening Prayer" are my favourites on this album - so you made the difficult choice for me, Björn

Post by **sylvain** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:38 pm

He touched me

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:48 pm

My fave has always been "Reach Out To Jesus."

Post by **Suspicious Minds** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:10 pm

I voted for Amazing Grace. I like the alternate version too.

Post by **dreambear** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:42 pm

familyjules wrote:
dreambear wrote:
familyjules wrote:
dreambear wrote:we will never agree when it comes to the vibrato of 1971
I never even thought about there being a vibrato issue!

Jules
On some of the 1971 recordings, there are some overuse and lack of control of the vibrato. It reminds a bit of some of the 1976 recordings like "Never again".

//Björn
So, is that a big issue on An Evening Prayer? Or Padre? Or Love Me, Love The Life I Lead?

I'm not sure I notice. I mean, he's not as bad as all those pop singers of the last 10 or 20 years who can't stop their throats wobbling away to save their lives!!

Jules

Perhaps just for me and a few others. It has been discussed before on the board.

If you talk about the Maria Carey-typ of vibrato, I totally agree.

//Björn

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:30 am

"He Touched Me" is my least favorite of the 3 gospel albums. It's too contemporary (for its time) for my taste.

Post by **charlie** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:11 am

There's a reasonable smattering on songs on this album, but I'm not a fan of the heavy handed production and mixing. Why is it that the songs captured on the Elvis on Tour filmed rehearsal sessions sound so much better? Or indeed FTD I Sing All Kinds? It's a shame. The sooner FTD put out the Classic album of this in newly mixed sound and with the undubbed alternatives the better as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, gripes aside, I really like the uptempo songs on this album - Bosom of Abraham and I John are super. Lead Me Guide Me is also a nice sincer performance. I vote for I John.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:35 am

Of his three major gospel albums, He Touched Me is the worst. Some tracks are reflective of the lost, chaotic sound of the May 1971 Nashville sessions themselves. Some underscore Elvis' lack of interest in the material.

That said, "Bosom of Abraham" is quite good and, if better produced, would have been considered a top shelf effort.

Post by **dreambear** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:10 pm

Marc Haegeman wrote:"He Touched Me" and "An Evening Prayer" are my favourites on this album - so you made the difficult choice for me, Björn

Of course you mean that I made your choice very easy, by removing one of your favourites. Just one left to vote for

//Björn

Post by **Marc Haegeman** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:17 pm

dreambear wrote:
Marc Haegeman wrote:"He Touched Me" and "An Evening Prayer" are my favourites on this album - so you made the difficult choice for me, Björn
Of course you mean that I made your choice very easy, by removing one of your favourites. Just one left to vote for

//Björn

That's right

Post by **dreambear** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:53 pm

shanebrown wrote:
drjohncarpenter wrote:Of his three major gospel albums, He Touched Me is the worst. Some tracks are reflective of the lost, chaotic sound of the May 1971 Nashville sessions themselves. Some underscore Elvis' lack of interest in the material.

That said, "Bosom of Abraham" is quite good and, if better produced, would have been considered a top shelf effort.
It may be the worst of the three, but that is a bit like saying that out of Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and The Old Curiosity Shop, The Old Curiosity Shop is the worst. The standard is so high on the other two albums that it was unlikely they could ever be topped.

There are, without doubt, some low points here - There Is No God But God is truly awful, as is the material presley has to work with. He Is My Everything seems something of a lazy, uninspired choice. But, take these away to make a ten-track instead of a twelve-track album and this is really fine work and miles above the majority of the 1971 studio recordings.

And thank God that "Miracle of the Rosary" isn´t included. It became the worst track on "Elvis now" instead.

//Björn

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:19 am

I like Miracle of The Rosary. It would have fit much better on HTM. A Thing Called Love ould have fit much better on Elvis Now. Worst cut on "Now" is Hey Jude. I hate that song. And not just by Elvis.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:25 am

Lonely Summer wrote:Yes, it is a masterpiece.

You might be overstating the case, just a tiny bit.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:24 am

Righto. "There Is No God But God" is really up there. My mistake.

Post by **LesterB** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:57 am

The worst Gospel Album by far.

However, the Elvis world would not be the same with the superb Amazing Grace track. I also really like Reach Out to Jesus – it’s a bit of a good movie song type gospel number if that makes any sense???!!!

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