How Great Thou Art

A too "white" sacred sounding song for my linking, prefer the more "black" sounding spiritual gospels which are far more uplifting. They can be enjoyed without regardles of their spiritual content.

How can we not love this song When Elvis sing it it give me chill especially when he perform it live Iheard many version of this song but no one compare to Elvis magnificent one.

I have nothing against the live versions but I prefer the studio one. Spiritual music at its best !

I have nothing with gospels and never listen to them. However, Elvis sounds so powerful that this song always thrills me. Especially most of the live versions do so as his inspirational drive seems to 'flow' naturally. Definitely a must have for music lovers.

This is my favorite gospel. I don't really like the studio version, but we have some great Live versions of this magnificant song, don't we ? I play it a lot in my car and sing (scream) the lyrics together with Elvis...lol...

Booth Studio and live versions are great. But the live version from 1975/1977 is something very special. As I read it somewhere, if you ear the live version from 1975/1977 and you don't feel anything when Elvis hit the high note in the last verse, well… then you're legally dead!

I prefer the original studio version over the live version. It's my favorite Elvis gospel song.

The original 1966 album version is the one I like best, Elvis' voice was very much under control and the song was delivered with a much slower and relaxed manner than the concert versions. The concert versions of the song were sung at a much faster pace and the vocal at the climax of the song tended to be strained at times.

This is not from my favourite gospel session. Too gloomy for me in general. I like the up tempo stuff much better. Still I think it is a darn good rendition and the live version is - mostly - something special!

The version of 1974 (e.g. performed in Memphis) is definitely the best one, in my opinion. This version correctly won the Grammy Award. Just listen and you'll understand why.

What a great performance! Studio or concert version the feeling was always there. My mom wasn't an elvis fan but this was her favorite...I miss you Ma.

I never really liked the live versions of this song!

Elvis either ignored his past recordings or seemingly slotted them into almost every concert. This one belongs to the latter category. As much as I like How Great Thou Art the studio recording was never surpassed for me.

Perfection! 5 stars beyond a doubt, enough said!

I enjoy listening to this song as it developed for Elvis over the years. Lovely studio version and then the first live performances stayed fairly faithful to this arrangement. It then seemed to increase in bombast with each new year. In some cases (post 1975) Elvis seemed to put all the energy he should have used in his entire show into this one performance. Listening to the Grammy winning version from 974 I feel Elvis' voice is cracking up on the high notes a little but it's still a terrific rendition. However, my personal favourite is the December 13th interpretation, especially the reprise. His voice seemingly had no upper limit during that season. Absolutely spine tingling.

Definately Memphis '74 is the best performance.Elvis was in the best vocal form of his life that night.He was unbelievable.

The studio version is the best. The slower pace put a bit more feel into the lyrics and a more gospel feel into the song. Don't care for the faster paced live versions very much. Too bombastic for me as was a lot of the 70's for me.

The "Live concert versions" (especially Memphis 1974) are his best versions of this song. The emotion and drama of the stage added to the beautiful lyrics of this song. Elvis pushed his voice to the "maxium Level" and it was always great !!

Love this song and Elvis does it beautifully

The studio version is to me very respectful and reverent while the live version is more of a religious spectacle. I slighly prefer the live version, especially Memphis '74, but any rendition of this well loved gospel song is always a joy to hear.

The live versions are the best. I love the 1974 version and the one on "Elvis in Concert". 4 stars for the studio and 5 for most of his live versions.

I always thought the lyrics were.."them sings", Not "then sings". The Lyrics, posted here, seem to be missing some words. no? Song performed great by Elvis, especially in the live concert versions.

This is such a beautiful and iconic song and it was Elvis' favorite gospel song. Elvis easily has the very best renditions of this gem too.

I prefer the studio version, 'cause I don't care too much for the reprise on the live version I know. (Memphis). A solid song.

The greatest and most meaningful merit of this song is its lyrics, and not necessarily the fact that Elvis Presley recorded it... or part of it... O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee How great Thou art, How great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee How great Thou art, How great Thou art! When through the woods, and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow in humble adoration And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!" Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee How great Thou art, How great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

I heard the "Elvis in Concert" LP version a year before I heard the studio version (when I purchased the How Great Thou Art LP). The live versions exude power -- both vocally and instrumentally, "rolling thunder". The studio version feels like a flat can of Pepsi in comparison.

Out of his 3 gospel albums, this song and it's album rate number 3 on my personal list compared to "His Hand in Mine" and "He Touched Me" (with the ridiculous caped crusader photo on the front cover). Just my opinion. To each his own.

This is one of the BEST Gospel songs ever recorded and sung by the BEST singer ever

I prefer the studio version, however the arrangement of the live version was better suited to the atmosphere Elvis was trying to create on stage. When we listen to it at home, the studio version sounds better in my opinion. Elvis really loved these type of songs as his performances of How Great Thou Art show. I prefer his rock 'n' roll and country recordings but I still enjoy great gospel songs like this.