My Top 25 Elvis Songs: Crying in the Chapel (#11)

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It's time for another song by the great "King of Rock and Roll," Elvis Presley. I began counting down my 25 favorite songs by Elvis back on August 16, which was the 39th anniversary of his death. His popularity hasn't waned in all those years, and he remains one of the biggest-grossing singers. Yes, he's outselling living singers! #11: Crying in the Chapel I've mentioned Elvis' love for gospel music before, and how any examination of his career has to include a look at his gospel recordings. His only three Grammy awards came in the "gospel" category. Now for a little story that involves my favorite duo, the Louvin Brothers. Ira Louvin was a piece of work. I think he was a truly tortured soul, probably because he felt called to be a minister but his early escapades (he was married, one of those good old early 40s "have to get married" marriages, if'n you know what I mean, when he was 17 and divorced by the time he was 20, which -- in the southern Baptist south would prohibit him from entering the pulpit) kept him from doing so. He poured out his faith in his songs (any discussion of album covers will inevitably include the Louvin Brothers' Satan Is Real album...and just google the album cover and you'll see why). Ira also had a temper, and when he poured gasoline -- or more precisely, alcohol -- on it, he became a raging firestorm. So in 1956 the Louvin Brothers were on a package tour with other acts, including a young Elvis. The Louvin Brothers were hot at the time, just having scored their first #1 hit with "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby." And Elvis was causing some screams but he wasn't the headliner. Backstage, Elvis was sitting at a piano, singing gospel songs. Hot-tempered wanna-be-preacher Ira Louvin came over to him and told him, in rather crass terminology, that there was no way Elvis should be singing that demonic rock and roll music then sing gospel music. "I sing what they want out there," Elvis reportedly replied. "Back here, I sing what I want to." The next day the Louvins were off the tour. "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" would become their only #1 hit. Chalk that up to me being in a Paul Harvey "and now you know the rest of the story" mood. As for this song, it's a cover (also keeping with that theme). It was written by a Knoxville writer named Artie Glenn and recorded by his son, Darrell. That was the first version of this song I ever heard. Later in 1953 (the year Glenn's recording was released) a doo-wop group by the name of the Orioles covered it. And everybody covered it. Elvis' version didn't come out until 1960. But oh, is it good. Crying in the Chapel Written by Artie Glenn From His Hand In Mine, 1960 Here's Elvis' version: