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Bob Elliott
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12/21/2019 4:57:38 PM
The Last Third of Elvis’ Christmas Album
Really, the whole album is good, but,until a few days ago, I’d never heard the last four songs on the album. They are all gospel tunes: “There’ll Be Peace in the Valley,” “I Believe,” “Take My Hand Precious Lord,” “it Is No Secret (What God Can Do.)” these four were recorded as an EP before he did the Christmas album, and they were added to the back of that album. I’m not the most fervent of Elvis fans. He has some tracks I think are great, but I don’t often put his music on. I happened to catch these four songs playing back to back on the radio a few days ago. Probably the DJ had been playing the whole album.
These four recordings have taken over my mind, especially “It Is No Secret.” I can’t get enough of them. Soon as they’re done, I want to hear them again. They are a beautiful mystical musical world unto themselves. The back up singers are perfection. The playing is subdued with such confident swing, and Elvis’ voice just fills the reverb canyon with such a soulful reverence that I just gotta sing these over and over.
I’m not religious, actually, but I’ll be working on my own version of “It Is No Secret.” It’s songwriting perfection. There’s a little melodic change up right before the chorus where the words are “do not be disheartened, for I have news for you,” and that is now firmly lodged in my soul as one of recorded music’s finest moments.
If you never heard these four tracks, try them. They create their own cavernous musical world.
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Bryon Tosoff
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12/21/2019 7:25:49 PM
Bob, this is what sets you apart from the many,here and other places, you have a keen ear, and acknowledge the masters and avail yourself to improve your skills.
Your evaluation here of those songs was priceless and done with such genuine insight and expressed in a manner that shows your ability to appreciate top drawer production, musicianship and those little nuances that make songs special.
Thank you for sharing your post, it was well worth the read and motivates me to do the same, that is to be a better listener and learn to improve myself at what I do, not only as a reviewer of music but becoming a much more capable musician and learn how to make good music, we all try, some are better at it, and you definitely do produce wonderful works.
cheers and Merry Christmas
bryon
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