Crying in the Chapel

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"Crying in the Chapel" was a song written by Artie Glenn for his son Darrell to sing. Darrell recorded it, while still in high school, in 1953 along with Artie's band the Rhythm Riders. It became a local hit and publishers got hold of it and it went nationwide. June Valli had the biggest hit, reaching #4 on Billboard after charting for 17 weeks beginning August 1st, 1953. That same year the black group, the Orioles, recorded it, and it became a major success. The Orioles version reached #11. Darrell Glenn's version hit #6, Rex Allen's #8, Ella Fitzgerald #15, and Art Lund #23. All according to Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954.

On Oct. 30, 1960, Elvis Presley recorded a version of the song during the sessions for his RCA Records gospel album, His Hand in Mine. It was not included in that album, but rather was held back by RCA and finally released as an "Easter Special" single (447-0643) in April 1965, and hit #3 on the singles chart, the greatest chart success for Presley over a six-year span. It was later included as a bonus track on Presley's 1967 gospel album, How Great Thou Art.

The song was redone in the 1980s by Allies, a Christian band, on their 1989 album "Long Way From Paradise". While a little more contemporary, it still evokes the same feeling as the Elvis Presley version.

[edit] References

• Roy Carr & Mick Farren: Elvis: The Illustrated Record (Harmony Books, 1982), pp. 97, 106.

Preceded by Vaya con Dios	Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record September 5, 1953	Succeeded by Vaya con Dios
Preceded by Vaya con Dios	Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record September 19, 1953–September 26, 1953	Succeeded by You, You, You
Preceded by A Walk in the Black Forest	Billboard Adult Contemporary #1 record May 20, 1965–July, 1965	Succeeded by Cast Your Fate to the Wind
Preceded by "Long Live Love" by Sandie Shaw	UK number one single "Crying in the Chapel" by Elvis Presley 17 June 1965 (for one week)	Succeeded by "I'm Alive" by The Hollies
Preceded by "I'm Alive" by The Hollies	UK number one single (top again) 1 July 1965 (for one week)	Succeeded by "I'm Alive" by The Hollies
Preceded by '	Record Retailer #1 record 1965–1965	Succeeded by '
Preceded by '	NME #1 record 1965– 1965	Succeeded by '