GEORGE NELSON REVIEWS  BMG  "HIS HAND IN MINE"

Reviewed by: George Nelson  2002/07/31

1960 album version       1988 CD cover
Also Australian CD cover

The album His Hand in Mine was Elvis’ first full length gospel album. There have been no upgrades of this album. What was released in 1988 is all that’s available, unless you buy one of the many gospel boxed sets. The cover used on this CD was taken from the 1976 re-issue. I prefer the original cover art to this one. I don’t like this cover at all. The original album contained 12 songs. The CD release contains 15 songs. The 3 bonus tracks were not recorded at the same session as the rest of the songs. Suprisingley the sound on this CD isn’t all that bad. It’s actually pretty good considering the year it was made. 

This album only took 2 days to record. On October 30, 1960 Elvis reported to RCA’s Studio B in Nashville to record a gospel album. The first song tried out was a song called Milky White Way. This is probably my favorite gospel song from this album.

The next song is the title track. His hand in Mine is spliced from 2 different takes. Elvis did a duet with his army buddy, Charlie Hodge on this song. It’s probably one of the best duets the 2 did. I Believe in the Man in the Sky was recorded next. RCA would release this as the flip side of Crying in the Chapel (not on the album).

He Knows Just What I need and Mansion over the Hilltop, were the last 2 gospel songs recorded at this session. They were both slow songs. Not exactly my favorites but they are good songs.

The next day Elvis returned and finished the album. In my Fathers House was recorded first. This was another gospel song Elvis new from his childhood. 

Joshua Fit the Battle is one of the more uptempo recordings on this LP. It would be backed with Known only to him in 1966, in time for the Easter Holiday. Swing Down Sweet Chariot was also used as single in 1966 backed with Milky White Way, released in time for the Easter holiday. Swing Down Sweet Chariot would also be re-recorded in 1968 for the movie THE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS.

I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs is a great uptempo song. It’s these uptempo songs that keep this album a classic. The mix between uptempo, and slow ballad type gospel songs gives the album a variety.

If we Never Meet Again and Known only to him are beautiful songs. They are done in a way only Elvis could do them. Known only to Him is a beautiful song. It was one of the first Elvis Gospel songs I heard.

Working on the building was the last song recorded at this session and the song that ended the original album. 

Now about the bonus songs. It is no Secret was recorded in January 1957. It appeared on Elvis’ Christmas album in 1957 and appeared on the Peace in the Valley EP.

You’ll Never walk alone was recorded in 1967 and was released as a single backed with We Call on Him (not on this CD). It would later be the title of a budget LP You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Who Am I? was recorded at Elvis’ 1969 session in Memphis. This would be released in 1971 on the album You’ll Never Walk alone.

Tracks:
HIS HAND IN MINE / I’M GONNA WALK DEM GOLDEN STAIRS / IN MY FATHERS HOUSE / MILKY WHITE WAY / KNOWN ONLY TO HIM / I BELIEVE IN THE MAN IN THE SKY / JOSHUA FIT THE BATTLE / HE KNOWS JUST WHAT I NEED / SWING DOWN SWEET CHARIOT / MANSION OVER THE HILLTOP / IF WE NEVER MEET AGAIN / WORKING ON THE BUILDING / IT IS NO SECRET / YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE / WHO AM I?