This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“The King is gone but he’s not forgotten,” Neil Young wrote back in 1979. It’s still just as true today.
On Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley left the building for good — or so they would have us believe. Either way, his legend still looms large. Maybe not as large as the man himself got to be toward the end there, but large enough to keep his memory alive. Of course, the people who recall Elvis most with the most love would have be those at his longtime record label RCA. Which is likely why, over the past several months, they’ve been quietly putting classic Elvis titles back into circulation. If you’re thinking about spending some quality time with The King, pick up one of these at your nearest CD store. And if the guy who sells it to you has mutton-chop sideburns and smells of peanut butter and bananas, wish him a happy anniversary from us, would ya?
His Hand in Mine
First Released: 1960.
The Lowdown: It’s the gospel according to Elvis. A year after Johnny Cash issued his Hymns record, Elvis follows suit, crooning some holy oldies backed by The Jordanaires and a combo that’s tastefully understated but not afraid to rock out a little occasionally.
Essential Hits: You’ll Never Walk Alone — a Rodgers and Hammerstein track from Carousel that wasn’t actually on the original album, but fits thematically — is the only chart-topper here, though you’ll probably recognize Joshua Fit the Battle and Swing Down Sweet Chariot.
Buried Treasures: Most of the remaining cuts on this 15-track collection, which finds Elvis delivering the goods with honesty and passion.
The Last Word: Most of Elvis’s music was made for Saturday night. Here’s one built for Sunday morning.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfWMkdkNvqBbo24vWHON0VWYrXr4c10bR
