Album: How Great Thou Art (1965)

Charted: 1 3

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• When this inspirational song hit the #1 spot in the UK, Elvis became the first act to have 15 #1s.
• This was written by Artie Glenn. The song was first recorded in 1953 by Darrell Glenn, reaching the Top 10 of the charts. Its success resulted in several covers, including June Valli's and Rex Allen's, which also hit the pop Top 10. The Orioles and Ella Fitzgerald also recorded cover versions. It became a much performed song especially among gospel groups, and in 1960 Presley recorded a version at his 1960 gospel album Your Hand In Mine sessions with his vocal backup group The Jordanaires and Floyd Cramer on piano. However its release was withheld because Colonel Parker wanted the publishing rights.
  
  In 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Neal Matthews of The Jordanaires recalled, "Elvis was feeling really good that day. He fooled around with it and then he cut it in five minutes." In 1965 RCA released it as an Easter single and to their surprise it became Elvis' biggest single for over two years, giving his career a much needed shot in the arm.
• In the US, Presley had gone more than two years without a Top 10 hit before charting with this song. He would go another four years before he had another with "In The Ghetto." >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 9

• Jennifur Sun from RamonaLoved his version of this song. A lot of his fans don't know that even though his Powers that be didn't want him to cut those two gospel LPs, they outsold anything else he ever did.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 5th 1965, the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!' aired a special episode titled 'A Tribute to Elvis'; the hour long broadcast featured over twenty Elvis songs performed by such artist as Glen Campbell, Sonny & Cher, Isley Brothers, Ray Peterson, Delaney Bramlett, and others...
  At the time Elvis' "Crying in the Chapel"* was at #39 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; one month and one day later on June 6th, 1965 it would peak at #3 {for 1 week} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
  And also at that time Elvis also had two movie soundtrack albums on Billboard's Top Albums chart; 'Girl Happy' was at #25 and ‘Roustabout’ was at #71...
  * On this 'Shindig!' Elvis tribute episode Linda Gail Lewis performed "Crying in the Chapel"; and Linda’s older brother is Jerry Lee Lewis.
• Elvesse from Los Angeles, CaThanks a lot! Larry for adding the background facts to 2 GREAT songs! So beautiful!
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyAccording to Billboard'S Year-End chart of the Top 100 Songs of 1965, "Crying in the Chapel" by Elvis was the No. 9 Song of the Year!!! Copy & paste: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1965.htm
  
• Jerry from Portland, OrThe album title is actually "His Hand In Mine", not "Your Hand In Mine", in case someone tries to find it.
• Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaI haven't heard Darrell's original version, but what a nice recording, with a marvelous
  heartfelt rendition by EP
  RIP,Elvis
• Kristian from Cleveland, Txi love this song, elvis is the true king, and this song makes me cry more than anything else
• Larry from Ft.worth , TxI would like to add a p.s. to my above comment.The Chapel is a real church in Ft.Worth,tx.It's the Loving Avenue Baptist church, on Ft.Worth,s north side,close to the stockyard's area.Loving ave.& 28th st. to be exact.Indescribably Blue was Inspired by my brother's and my love for Peter Paul Almond joy candy.Indescribably Delicious.Now you know.
• Larry from Ft.worth , TxMy dad wrote Crying in the Chapel.It is on so many Elvis records,{cd,s}I wondered where it ranked in his entire catalog.One of the Jordanaires said It was his biggest gospel song.My brother Darrell wrote Indescribably Blue in 1967.It was hoped to be a come back single,as stated on Elvis gold records vol.IV.Chapel to me was like "Don,t"also a number #1 from 1958,but not a great concert song, say like How Great Thou Art.My family Is honored and very proud Elvis did outstanding performances on both songs.Sincerely,Larry

More Songfacts:

Uptown FunkMark Ronson

The actress Michelle Pfeiffer gets namechecked in the 2014 megahit "Uptown Funk" ("Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold"). When it was released, "Riptide" by Vance Joy was on the charts; that song also mentions her ("Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen").

Talkin' Hawkin'Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Talkin' Hawkin'" uses a sample of Stephen Hawking's synthesized voice taken from a speech he made for a 1994 British Telecom commercial.

Auld Lang SyneTraditional

The New Year's Eve favorite "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish song that roughly translates to "Days Of Long Ago."

Fallin'Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys got a huge break when Oprah had her perform her debut single "Fallin'" on her show.

At This MomentBilly Vera & the Beaters

"At This Moment" was first released by Billy Vera & the Beaters in 1981, and hit #79. After it was used in two episodes of Family Ties in 1985-1986, it went to #1.

Rock The CasbahThe Clash

Barry Sonnenfeld, who would later direct the movies Get Shorty and Men in Black, was the director of photography on the "Rock the Casbah" video for The Clash.

Editor's Picks

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.