Where No One Stands Alone

[MikeFromHolland]

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Thomas Mosie Lister (September 8, 1921 – February 12, 2015) was an American singer and Baptist minister. He was best known for writing the Gospel songs “Where No One Stands Alone”, “Till the Storm Passes By”, “Then I Met the Master” and “How Long Has It Been?”



As a singer, he was an original member in The Statesmen Quartet, the Sunny South Quartet, and the Melody Masters. In 1976 Lister was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Southern Gospel Music Association in 1997. His songs have been recorded by nearly every Southern Gospel artist.


The song Where No One Stands Alone was written by Mosie Lister and was first released by The Statesmen Quartet in 1955.

"Where No One Stands Alone" is a song about a basic theme of humanity, the fear of being alone. We're created as social creatures, and even the most introverted and private among us seek companionship at times.

Facing life can be so hard at times and facing it alone is that much harder. "Hold my hand" the song pleads, so I do not have to walk totally alone in this world.

Because no matter how many people are in our lives, no matter how busy we are and how surrounded we are with love and affection, no matter how powerful and wealthy we may become, we're still ultimately alone in many ways and in the end, no one can go with us.


Once I stood in the night with my head bowed low
In the darkness as black as the sea
And my heart was afraid and I cried,
Oh Lord, don't hide your face from me.

Hold my hand all the way, every hour, every day
From here to the great unknown
Take my hand, let me stand
Where no one stands alone.

Like a king, I may live in a palace so tall
With great riches to call my own
But I don't know a thing in this whole wide world
That's worse than being alone.

Hold my hand all the way, every hour, every day
From here to the great unknown
Take my hand, let me stand
Where no one stands alone...

The Statesman Quartet somewhere in the 50's:
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The Peasall Sisters in 2005:
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The Peasall Sisters were a country harmony group formed by the teenage Peasall siblings, which was showcased in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Their inclusion on the soundtrack album made the group at the time the youngest vocal group nominated for contribution in a Grammy Award. The sisters currently have 2 albums - First Offering (2002) and Home to You (2005).



Elvis recorded his version of the song at RCA Studio B - Nashville, Tennessee on May 25/26, 1966. Exactly 50 years ago last week. The version used as Master was a composite of Take 4 & Work Part Take 7.

Back Up vocals during the sessions:
The Jordanaires: Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews, Hoyt Hawkins and Ray Walker
The Imperials: Armond Morales, Jake Hess, Gary McSpadden and Sherrill Nielsen
Women's voices: Millie Kirkham, June Page and Dolores Edgin

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The thema "loneliness" played a big role in Elvis' life. Especially in his later years.


Part of a note, written by Elvis in (probably) December 1976:




From another part of the note:




We know Elvis has never been the same after losing his mother. And he couldn't handle the loss of his wife.

A live recording with vocals and piano from Elvis at his concert in Montgomery, Alabama on February 16th 1977. He never sang it live before:

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...



Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosie_Lister
http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.nl/2015/03/where-no-one-stands-alone.html
http://www.wordaroundthe.net/2011/07/songs-i-like-where-no-one-stands-alone.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peasall_Sisters
http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/660525.html
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=1487858#p1487858

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[Johnny2523]

Love it. Particularly the live performance which been a favourite of mine since I first heard it.

[norrie]

Perfect gospel from Elvis.Lovely vocal building up nicely to that brilliant climax

norrie

[Juan Luis]

Love it! Even the 1977 impromptu version!

[memphisound]

Love it. Particularly the live performance which been a favourite of mine since I first heard it.

Same for me when I first heard it, gave me chill bumps. Still does.

[karlos]

Ty Mike for this thread - Its such a good read and information about the writer behind this song

I love Elvis interpretation of this song from May 25th -26th 1966 when he recorded the How Great Thou Art Lp and the Live version from Montgomery on _ February 16th '77 when he recorded this song just once Live in concert when he sat on the piano and sung it
This is a gem in itself _Ty so much for this great thread my friend _
Many best regards and wishes sent to you my friend Mike from Holland
keep up the great work here on this site

[Steve Morse]

I have always thought Elvis's vocal on the master sounds strained.

I much prefer the live version - we are so lucky to have it.

[Scarre]

Lovely song. Sadly, he is almost out of breath and the breathing is heavy. But it's nice to have that live version.

[Hobbes]

I like hearing Elvis making an effort to reach those notes at the end of the song. If it were 1960 he probably would have hit them effortlessly, but the fact that you hear him really trying shows that he wanted more out of his singing career than soundtrack albums.

[Jamie]

Love the song but the 66 version is far better vocally for me. The album is full of beautifully crafted and sing sings.
I do enjoy the 77 version as well but as mentioned it's clear be is struggling with his control. The passion though is right there, you can feel his suffering. A cry for help.

Jamie

[GERRY]

1966 version is my favorite, one for the ages. I like the 1977 live version also. Great reading this.

[colonel snow]

Mosie Lister was the first to depart the Statesmen Quartet in 1948. He continued to write and arranged songs for the group. He was replaced by Jake Hess.

colonel snow

[stevelecher]

It is still a mystery why the 31 year old singer's range was so diminished from that of the 27 year old. It is not normal. That said, i like Where No One Stands Alone.

[poormadpeter2]

I think it's probably true to say that vocally Elvis was out of shape, or out of practice, in 1966 when the HGTA sessions took place, and that he regained a more flexible and fluent use of his instrument over the next few years as he got more and more interested in his career once again. The ballads on How Great Thou Art are, therefore, even more impressive than they would have been with his "sweeter" voice of a few years previously, because they must have taken far more effort and commitment to record them and produce the sounds he did. Where No One Stands Alone is probably the most difficult of those songs he attempted, and yes, he does seem to be a little less sure-footed than he was two and a half years later singing the similarly-shaped Without Love, for example. But it doesn't affect the performance for a moment, and the result is remarkable given the fact that he had not attempted any challenging material at all since It Hurts Me over two years earlier.

[GERRY]

Is this really all that exists from these sessions?


RCA Studio B - Nashville, Tennessee
May 25 / 26 1966 (Wednesday / Thursday)

Run On TPA4 0908-07
How Great Thou Art TPA4 0909-04
Stand By Me TPA4 0910-11
Where No One Stands Alone 04
Where No One Stands Alone (Work Part) -07
Where No One Stands Alone (Composite) TPA4 0911-SP
Down In The Alley TPA4 0912-09
Tomorrow Is A Long Time TPA4 0913-03

RCA Studio B - Nashville, Tennessee
May 26 / 27 1966 (Thursday / Friday)

Love Letters TPA4 0914-09
So High TPA4 0915-04
Farther Along TPA4 0916-SP
By And By TPA4 0917-10
In The Garden TPA4 0918-03
Beyond The Reef TPA4 0919-02

[r&b]

Good song. Dont listen to the gospel stuff very often anymore by Elvis. I really prefer Sam Cooke or Mahalia Jackson if I get the urge for that genre, but this is one that stands out. In 1966, it really stood out from the soundtrack stuff!

[poormadpeter2]

It is still a mystery why the 31 year old singer's range was so diminished from that of the 27 year old. It is not normal. That said, i like Where No One Stands Alone.

Not using his voice to the fullest was probably complicit in this. Elvis hadn't been in a recording studio using his voice like this in some years. The same was true in 1968, when the undertaking involved in rehearsing and preparing for his NBC special surely had an affect on his voice. That roughness wasn't simply by design, Elvis was singing more forcefully and more frequently than he had in years. This was also true with regards to his concerts in 1969.

The same thing happened to Frank Sinatra in 1974, when he went back on the road after his retirement. There was a roughness to his voice that came about because he was out of shape, vocally, through inactivity. This applies to Elvis despite the songs he was recording on a regular basis, because the material and the approach to recording wasn't challenging his voice. It's like an instrument not being used and needing fine tuned, or a muscle without exercise. Elvis put his instrument back to work in 1966 and again in 1968, when it was put through new tests and challenges.

There's also the issue that the range hadn't necessarily diminished, but changed. Elvis could never have sung the bass notes in Somebody Bigger That You And I in 1961 or 1962.

[stevelecher]

The low singing he did on His Hand In Mine was fairly impressive. Again, his voice shouldn't have gotten that much lower between 1963 and 1966. Very unusual. A couple of the high parts on Somebody Bigger Than You And I actually sound like they're difficult for him too and the song should have been easy for him. BTW, this is another song I've always loved on this album.

Elvis has a totally different and distinct sound on each of the sacred sessions: 1957, 1960, 1966, and 1972. He's amazing, which is why we still come here today.

[fn2drive]

I think im on the wrong board. A thread about an outstanding Elvis recording. And outstanding this one is. The studio master does what the best spiritual music can do make you feel the presence and love of God. I expect that the power of this track could even move a non-believer to rethink their opinion. It is that good. The live recording is also stellar for different reasons. Elvis singing with his by then wrecked voice seems to be locked in prayer seeking the relief he so desperately craves and which was only months away.

[Juan Luis]

I think im on the wrong board. A thread about an outstanding Elvis recording. And outstanding this one is. The studio master does what the best spiritual music can do make you feel the presence and love of God. I expect that the power of this track could even move a non-believer to rethink their opinion. It is that good. The live recording is also stellar for different reasons. Elvis singing with his by then wrecked voice seems to be locked in prayer seeking the relief he so desperately craves and which was only months away.

You just have been posting in threads you dislike. But have not commented or much in threads with songs such as "Stand By Me, Where Could I go but To The Lord", I Got Stung", "Such A Night" "Run On" and on and on within a relatively short time span. Those threads seemingly aren't fun for you.

[Chucky99]

Good song. Dont listen to the gospel stuff very often anymore by Elvis. I really prefer Sam Cooke or Mahalia Jackson if I get the urge for that genre, but this is one that stands out. In 1966, it really stood out from the soundtrack stuff!

How come? Elvis gospel >>> Sam Cooke gospel

[MikeFromHolland]

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Nice to see.

A picture from May 28, 1966, taken in the Studio where Elvis recorded Where No One Stands Alone two days earlier:

1966 05 28 In between sessions in Nashville.jpg

As found on: http://www.elvis-foreveryone.com/elvis-in-the-studio.php

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[r&b]

Good song. Dont listen to the gospel stuff very often anymore by Elvis. I really prefer Sam Cooke or Mahalia Jackson if I get the urge for that genre, but this is one that stands out. In 1966, it really stood out from the soundtrack stuff!

How come? Elvis gospel >>> Sam Cooke gospel

I like Elvis gospel I just like The Soul Stirrers a bit more. The songs, the down home revival, doo-wop feeling of it all. its very moving. When I was in Memphis in 1996, my friend and I were invited in to a African American church on a Sunday morning. The music and feel were something I had never witnessed before. Hand clapping, choruses, all upbeat. That is now what I like to hear in gospel music. Some Elvis songs capture it, like By and By, Run On, etc. I dont think any white singers really capture that feel totally. Elvis is the best though of the ones I have heard. I wish he had properly recorded Oh Happy Day for his 70's gospel album. What you hear in the unofficial recording is like what I heard in that church. Give this a listen

[MikeFromHolland]

I like Elvis gospel I just like The Soul Stirrers a bit more. The songs, the down home revival, doo-wop feeling of it all. its very moving. When I was in Memphis in 1996, my friend and I were invited in to a African American church on a Sunday morning. The music and feel were something I had never witnessed before. Hand clapping, choruses, all upbeat. That is now to what I like to hear in gospel music. Some Elvis songs capture it, like By and By, Run On, etc. I dont think any white singers really capture that feel totally. Elvis is the best though of the ones I have heard. I wish he had properly recorded Oh Happy Day for his 70's gospel album. What you hear in the unofficial recording is like what I heard in that church. Give this a listen

Yeah, Sam Cooke is a class in itself. Thanks for the link, never heard this one before.


Alway nice to read other people's memories.

I've been to such a church as well when I visited New York with a friend. We were invited over by an African American girlfriend of us on Long Island to visit a night club on Saturday and to go to church with her on Sunday. It was really fantastic and uplifting. The rest of the week I was called "brother Mike" by my friend, for everyone in this church called us "brother". Even the reverent welcomed us by name as a guest to the church. We were two white boys surrounded by dark skinned African Americans and were made sure to feel us welcome, comfortable and at home. We sure did. And the singing was really amazing. Cool, sweet memories.

My favorite gospel since last week, when I discovered this:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head
..

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[r&b]

I like Elvis gospel I just like The Soul Stirrers a bit more. The songs, the down home revival, doo-wop feeling of it all. its very moving. When I was in Memphis in 1996, my friend and I were invited in to a African American church on a Sunday morning. The music and feel were something I had never witnessed before. Hand clapping, choruses, all upbeat. That is now to what I like to hear in gospel music. Some Elvis songs capture it, like By and By, Run On, etc. I dont think any white singers really capture that feel totally. Elvis is the best though of the ones I have heard. I wish he had properly recorded Oh Happy Day for his 70's gospel album. What you hear in the unofficial recording is like what I heard in that church. Give this a listen

Yeah, Sam Cooke is a class in itself. Thanks for the link, never heard this one before.


Alway nice to read other people's memories.

I've been to such a church as well when I visited New York with a friend. We were invited over by an African American girlfriend of us on Long Island to visit a night club on Saturday and to go to church with her on Sunday. It was really fantastic and uplifting. The rest of the week I was called "brother Mike" by my friend, for everyone in this church called us "brother". Even the reverent welcomed us by name as a guest to the church. We were two white boys surrounded by dark skinned African Americans and were made sure to feel us welcome, comfortable and at home. We sure did. And the singing was really amazing. Cool, sweet memories.

My favorite gospel since last week, when I discovered this:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head
..

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Cool story and thanks for posting Up Above My Head. That is a great song as well. I never heard this one before. I think you would enjoy The best of Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers if you truly like gospel music. its very R&B tinged as you just heard.