Personnel: Elvis Presley (vocals); James Burton, Chip Young, Charlie Hodge, Joe Esposito (guitar); David Briggs, Charlie McCoy, Joe Moscheo (piano, organ); Norbert Putnam (bass); Jerry Carrigan, Kenneth Buttrey (drums); The Imperials, The Nashville Edition (background vocals).
Recorded at RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee on May 17-19 & June 8-9,
1971.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Elvis Presley (vocals, guitar); June Page, Temple Riser, Sonja Montgomery, Ginger Holladay, Millie Kirkman, Imperial, Millie Kirkham (vocals); Chip Young, James Burton, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge (guitar, baritone guitar); David Briggs , Joe Moscheo, Charlie McCoy (piano, organ); Kenneth A. Buttrey, Jerry Carrigan (drums, snare drum).
Recording information: Nashville, TN (01/06/1957-03/20/1974); RCA's Studios, Nashville, TN (01/06/1957-03/20/1974).
Arranger: Elvis Presley.
Elvis' third and final gospel album, He Touched Me, is distinct from both of his previous LPs -- it was not only recorded five years after the prior album, but included a far different set of songs and musicians. This is Elvis' contemporary gospel record, including material from Bill Gaither (the title song), Andraé Crouch ("I've Got Confidence"), and Dallas Frazier ("He Is My Everything"). His vocal backgrounds come from the Imperials and J.D. Sumner & the Stamps, and the instrumental arrangements leave space for electric guitar and electric bass. Though it's spiritual, it doesn't have the sacred feel of 1960's His Hand in Mine or the first half of 1966's How Great Thou Art. ~ John Bush
Elvis' third and final gospel album, HE TOUCHED ME taps a more modern vein than do his previous gospel efforts. Presley's earlier gospel recordings adhere to traditional piano, organ and vocal arrangements. The material on those albums is similarly drawn from older, familiar sources. For HE TOUCHED ME, Presley fleshes out the backing tracks with drums and electric guitars. The material on HE TOUCHED ME includes a number of contemporary gospel songs in addition to such older favorites as "Amazing Grace" and "Bosom of Abraham."
The results are funky, soulful, occasionally raucous, and a true revelation for those willing to write off Elvis' later recordings. As he would more frequently in the later stages of his career, Elvis sings here in a bold dramatic baritone with a wide vibrato, a style that communicates well his heartfelt devotion to this material. HE TOUCHED ME was nominated for a 1972 Grammy in the Best Inspirational Performance category. minimize