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Bosom of Abraham |
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Written by: William Johnson, George McFadden, Ted Brooks Recorded: June 9, 1971, RCA Studio B, Nashville Released master is take 6. Single:w/ "He Touched Me", 74-0651, February 4, 1972 Highest U.S. Charts Positions: Didn't chart 1st LP release: He Touched Me - April 1972 |
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 Elvis with The Imperials |
My grandparents may not have been Elvis fans, but like most religious people their age from the rural Midwest, they had quite a bit of southern gospel in their record collection. I was a little surprised way back in the day when my grandma was listening to her copy of He Touched Me with me, and just before this song began, she says to me sort of conspiratorially, "I like this one." I laughed when the song started. "Bosom of Abraham" is proof that southern gospel music wasn't always serious and reverent! Elvis and the Imperials are certainly having fun with this one! Later, in footage from the film Elvis On Tour, Elvis and the Stamps Quartet are even less formal, J.D. Sumner showing off and taking a nosedive with his bass voice at the end. Folks, this is NOT a solemn hymn, okay? The songwriters credited here (William Johnson, George McFadden, Ted Brooks) were three of the four members of the gospel group The Jubilee Four, who appeared in Viva Las Vegas. It was lead (bass) singer George "Biggie" McFadden who sang lead on "The Climb" and The Jubilee Four lip-synced the song in the movie. Besides "Bosom of Abraham", they are also credited as the writers of "I, John" which Elvis also recorded. Despite the songwriting credits, this tune goes back much further (See David Neale's Original Version Recordings site). The earliest recording is from 1937 by The Heavenly Gospel Singers, and there were quite a few variations through the years. |
Other Spins(What did the critics and fans say?)"Bosom of Abraham" was a disaster. It is ludicrously short - ninety seconds. Furthermore, when the song was released at Easter 1972 it was cut and pressed at 33 1/3 rpm, although labelled 45! It never stood a chance. Robert Matthew-Walker, Elvis Presley: A Study in Music, 1979 Well-known spiritual of medium tempo and short length, blending voice with the Imperials. Martin Torgoff  , The Complete Elvis, 1982 Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the Elvis News page for Bosom of Abraham Check out other opinions at Rate Your Music "Bosom of Abraham" Links
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Well you rock my soul Down in the bosom of Abraham Rock, rock, rock down in the bosom of Abraham He rocks my soul down in the bosom of Abraham Well a rich man lives, He lives so well Children, when he dies on a lonely hill Why don't you rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham |
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