EAP Index World: Peace in the Valley (EP

Title:

Peace in the Valley

Label:

RCA Victor [EPA 4054]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Running time:

12:45

Type of album:

Studio

Linked to:

Official discography

Year:

1957

Recorded:

January 12, 13 & 19. 1957

Released:

April 11, 1957

Singles:

---

Peace in the Valley was Elvis' first Gospel work on RCA. It contained four previously unreleased sacred tracks recorded at Radio Recorders Studio 1 in Hollywood.

In January 1957, Elvis recorded his first Gospel tracks in his career. They were released in April of the same year on an EP entitled "Peace in the Valley", to test the public's reaction to a possible record containing only religious songs.

The success of the release made RCA see that there was a lot of earning potential in the idea and, why not, in the claim that Elvis should have his own Christmas album, as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra had been doing annually for some time.

So the project was put on the agenda and Elvis began working with the label on an album that would redefine the spirit of Christmas releases. As for the Gospel LP, the idea was put on the back burner to facilitate Elvis' schedule, which also included soundtrack recordings and filming.

With the Colonel's marketing ploy sending his pupil to the army in Germany in 1958, he was only able to fulfill his dream on his return in 1960, releasing his first Gospel album, "His Hand in Mine".

In September 1957 Elvis began recording the original eight tracks for his first Christmas LP, "Elvis' Christmas Album", which hit stores on October 15 of that year with the addition of the "Peace in the Valley" EP as a bonus in the final tracks.

Before the end of 1957, the edition was already sold out and the album had sold over 3 million copies, having also spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Pop Albums, thanks to the contribution of the January EP that had also been a sales success.

The work includes the following tracks:

ORIGINAL EP

SIDE A

1. (There'll Be) Peace In the Valley (For Me)

2. It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)

SIDE B

3. I Believe

4. Take My Hand, Precious Lord

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECORDING SESSIONS

Dates:

January 12, 13 & 19, 1957

Studio:

Radio Recorders Studio 1

Location:

Hollywood, Califórnia

Musicians:

Voice: Elvis Presley
Electric guitar: Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore
Bass: Bill Black
Drums: DJ Fontana
Piano: Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Elvis Presley, Dudley Brooks
Backing Vocals: The Jordanaires

Producer:

Steve Sholes

Sound engineer / Recording engineer:

Thorne Nogar

JANUARY 12, 1957
I Believe H2WB 0253-09
Tell Me Why H2WB 0254-05
Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do! (Record Version) H2WB 0255-09
All Shook Up H2WB 0256-10

JANUARY 13, 1957
Mean Woman Blues (Record Version) H2WB 0257-14
(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) H2WB 0258-09
I Beg Of You (Alternate Master) H2WB 0259-12
That's When Your Heartaches Begin H2WB 0260-SP
Take My Hand, Precious Lord H2WB 0261-14

JANUARY 19, 1957
It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) H2WB 0282-13
Blueberry Hill H2WB 0283-09
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You H2WB 0284-15
Is It So Strange H2WB 0285-12
Is It So Strange (Backup Vocal Overdub / Repair) H2WB 0285

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SESSION LOGS