Suitable for the Easter business RCA Victor released "Peace In The Valley" in April 1957. On the singles charts "Top 100" the ep peaked at number 39, on the "Best Sellers In Stores Chart" it reached number 25. After Billboard had installed a chart especially for the extended players "Peace In The Valley" was listed there for 14 weeks and peaked at number 3. In 1992 the RIAA honored the US sales with a Platinum Award. It took some time before RCA Victor released the ep abroad, in Great Britain "Peace In The Valley" was issued in 1961, the French fans even had to wait until 1966. With global sales of more than a million copies "Peace In The Valley" is regarded to be the most successful gospel ep of all time. Transated to the present the physical sales equal 150 million paid streams of the complete ep or 600 million paid streams of individual tracks.

To broaden Elvis' audience and appeal to a more conservertive target group RCA Victor and Colonel Parker selected a picture that showed the young singer in a suit and with a tie. Of course Elvis didn't pose especially for the record cover, the managers simply used a promo photo for the movie "Love Me Tender". The art department of RCA Victor photoshopped (of course there wasn't "Photoshop" back in 1957, but everybody know what is meant) the picture in front of a peaceful looking landscape. The back cover was used for liner notes.

Half a year after the release of "Peace In The Valley" RCA Victor also used the songs on "Elvis' Christmas Album". In 1971 the tracks were sold to the fans a third time, now as a part of the CAMDEN album "You'll Never Walk Alone".

On the streaming platforms the ep is available as released by AVID Entertainment on February 11, 2008. This was legal, because in Europe the copyright ran out 50 years after the initial release. However, there is no official release by Sony Music Entertainment, because all tracks are included on "Elvis' Christmas Album". For a review of the album tap HERE.

On January 6, 1957 Elvis had surprised his audience when he performed the gospel "Peace In The Valley" on "The Ed Sullivan Show". Seven days later he recorded it in the studio within nine takes. Originally Thomas A. Dorsey had written the song for Mahalia Jackson, but the big hit was by Red Foley & The Sunshine Boys. Their version made it to number 7 on the "Country & Western Charts" in 1951 and became the first gospel record that sold more than a million copies. I am known for disliking most of the ballads Elvis recorded in his early days, but "Peace In The Valley" is the big exception. His voice sounds nothing but great and he performs with depth, warmth and believable feelings.

Elvis recorded "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" on January 19, 1957 within 13 takes. The songs was written by Stuard Carl Hamblen, who also recorded it in 1950.

Elvis recorded it on January 12, 1957. Take 9 was selected as the master. The king surely sings it well, but he certainly would have done it better a few years later. Erwin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman had written "I Believe" in 1953 for Jane Froman. The song was covered by many great artists like Perry Como, Dolly Parton and Frank Sinatra. 

This one was also written by Thomas A. Dorsey. At least, that's what the copyright claims, because the melody is based on a hymn by George Nelson Allen called "Maitland". The Heavenly Gospel Singers were the first to record "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" way back in 1937. On January 13, 1957 Elvis needed 14 attempts to do so.