Album: He Touched Me

Introduction
"He Touched Me" is a 1972 studio album by Elvis Presley, showcasing the artist's engagement with gospel music. Released in April 1972 by RCA Records, the album is a testament to the influence of spiritual and gospel music on Presley's artistry, reflecting his deep immersion in these genres. With fourteen tracks of spiritual songs, the album is not only an industrial success but likewise a critical hit, winning the 1972 Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance. This was Presley's third and final Grammy, all of which remained in the gospel category.

Background and Recording
Elvis Presley was greatly influenced by gospel music throughout his life and career. Born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, he grew up in a deeply religious environment, with his household going to the First Assembly of God church. There, he was exposed to the electrifying energy of Pentecostal praise and gospel music, which would become indelibly instilled in his musical identity. Presley acknowledged gospel as his preferred category and found solace in its messages, drawing from it both professionally and personally.

The recording sessions for "He Touched Me" happened primarily in March 1971 at RCA's Studio B in Nashville, TN, with a last session in September of the exact same year. Produced by Felton Jarvis, the album featured a multitude of top-notch studio musicians and background singers, including the Imperials and the Sweet Inspirations, who added to the lush, textured arrangements that identified the record.

Tracklist
"He Touched Me" makes up fourteen tracks, drawing from conventional gospel tunes as well as modern Christian compositions. The title track, composed by Bill Gaither, encapsulates the album's themes of redemption, salvation, and spiritual improvement. Other noteworthy tracks consist of "Amazing Grace", a classic hymn that Presley imbued with his emotive singing intensity; "I've Got Confidence", a positive, soulful number that showcased the artist's ability to combine gospel and pop sensibilities flawlessly; and "An Evening Prayer", a reflective meditation on faith, self-reflection, and the divine.

The complete tracklist is as follows:
1. He Touched Me
2. I've Got Confidence
3. Incredible Grace
4. Seeing Is Believing
5. He Is My Everything
6. Bosom of Abraham
7. An Evening Prayer
8. Lead Me, Guide Me
9. There Is No God But God
10. A Thing Called Love
11. I, John
12. Reach Out to Jesus
13. Put Your Hand In the Hand
14. The Miracle of the Rosary

Commercial and Critical Success
Upon its release, "He Touched Me" garnered strong business and vital success. Reaching No. 79 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and No. 13 on the Top Country Albums chart, it showed Presley's long-lasting appeal and more strengthened his status as the King of Rock and Roll who likewise had a strong affinity for gospel music. The album's appreciation culminated in Presley's winning the 1972 Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance, an honor that was a testament to the emotional intensity and enthusiasm that characterized the album and his engagement with the spiritual music collection.

In conclusion, "He Touched Me" is not only an artistically substantial entry in Elvis Presley's album brochure but also a representation of the enormous influence that gospel music had on his life and career. The record's commercial and critical praise, consisting of the prominent Grammy Award, act as suggestions that Presley's talent transcended categories and cemented his status as one of the most renowned artists in music history.