"Joshua Fit The Battle"

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Topic author
Juan Luis

"Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Juan Luis »

" 'Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho' (or alternatively "Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho" or "Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jericho") is a well-known African-American spiritual.
The song is believed to have been composed by slaves in the first half of the nineteenth century. Some references suggest that it was copyrighted by Jay Roberts in 1865.
The lyrics allude to the biblical story of the Battle of Jericho, in which Joshua led the Israelites against Canaan (Joshua 6:15-21). However, like those of many other spirituals, the words may have had a hidden meaning alluding to eventual escape from slavery - in the case of this song,
The first recorded version was in July 1922 by Harrod's Jubilee Singers, on Black Swan 2057-B." http://jopiepopie.blogspot.nl/2013/05/joshua-fought-battle-of-jericho-1922.html .............


Another Gospel favorite influenced by the Golden Gate Quartet. Elvis Presley met the group he admired since childhood while on army leave in Paris, France, in January 1960 while going to see a showgirl revue at "Le Casino de Paris", where the Golden Gate Quartet was the opening act. Elvis reportedly had a blast and sang Gospel songs for hours back at the hotel "Prince de Galles", that both Elvis and the group were staying at. According to Peter Guralnick, Elvis even reminded them of Gospel songs they had forgotten!

A tip of the hat to Charlie Hodge who provided Elvis a record of the quartet with this number (among others), inspiring him even more (after meeting and singing with the group), to record for his album "His Hand In Mine" later that very year!

Recorded at Nashville's RCA Studio B, on October 31, 1960 with Steve Sholes as credited producer and Bill Porter behind the console. Only took four takes for Elvis to nail the master! I love it when Elvis solo sings "good morning sister Mary, good morning brother John"...wonderful!


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Topic author
r&b

Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by r&b »

Good song, performance, production. I have grown less fond of the gospel material over the years, but always enjoy this one.



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Domino
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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Domino »

Another great song spotlight.Lot's a new to me info on the song too all neatly put together in this post.
I wonder if there are any other photos from that cover photo session.
I wonder if there are picks that were the second choice for all the albums.
Anyway,like the song.Elvis hopped along through this song with ease.


8) "Well sir,to be honest with you,we just stumbled upon it." - 1954
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Topic author
Juan Luis

Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Juan Luis »

Greystoke wrote:Elvis’s recording of Joshua Fit the Battle is just wonderful. This was Elvis in full command of his artistry, lavishing all of his abilities upon a song that simply glissades from his tongue.

Elvis had an undeniable love for songs of this type, and they brought out the best of him in many ways. Here, the arrangement is first-class, finding a gentle - but persuasive - swing in the rhythm section that's complimented by a wonderful bounce on the chorus.

The backing harmonies are splendid, too, and are complimentary to Elvis’s lilting vocals by adding rich bass notes -- musical light and shade. Textured. But deep in feeling and true to the jubilee style. With Elvis’s phrasing exemplary and his approach to the song so deft, beautifully alive and boasting a refined musicality that shows just how much he had grown and developed since 1956.
Impossible to describe Elvis' singing this song better. Thank you.



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Johnny 99
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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Johnny 99 »

This is a man at the top of his game. Love the alternate take on the FTD of HHiM where he kind of speaks the words 'up to the walls of Jericho'. One of those magic little moments for me.


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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Dan_T »

From the very first note of this song Elvis nails it ! The rhythm in his voice is amazing. love it !!!


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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Davelee »

r&b wrote:Good song, performance, production. I have grown less fond of the gospel material over the years, but always enjoy this one.
Elvis' singing on Gospel music is first class and i can not find any faults on his singing, he is clearly well commited on the genre. As we all know, Gospel music was his first love, and it shows.

On a personal level, i don't play Elvis' Gospel music purely because of the nature of its subject "religion". I'm not a religious person so i don't really care too much about it all. But as i say, vocal wise, he is at his best.



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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by MikeFromHolland »

Juan Luis wrote:
Another Gospel favorite influenced by the Golden Gate Quartet. Elvis Presley met the group he admired since childhood while on army leave in Paris, France, in January 1960 while going to see a showgirl revue at "Le Casino de Paris", where the Golden Gate Quartet was the opening act. Elvis reportedly had a blast and sang Gospel songs for hours back at the hotel "Prince de Galles", that both Elvis and the group were staying at. According to Peter Guralnick, Elvis even reminded them of Gospel songs they had forgotten!
Nice to tell that the famous Line Renaud also sang along with Elvis and the Golden Gate Quartet during that jam. In this thread there's more. Including an interview with her about this jam:

About Elvis' Jam session with Line Renaud in Paris 1960
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=92045#p1467915

Recorded around that time:

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Thanks for reminding me of Joshua Fit The Battle with this interesting topic. I love these kind of gospels!

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Mike

------
lay back,
take it easy
And try a smile...

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Topic author
r&b

Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by r&b »

Davelee wrote:
r&b wrote:Good song, performance, production. I have grown less fond of the gospel material over the years, but always enjoy this one.
Elvis' singing on Gospel music is first class and i can not find any faults on his singing, he is clearly well commited on the genre. As we all know, Gospel music was his first love, and it shows.

On a personal level, i don't play Elvis' Gospel music purely because of the nature of its subject "religion". I'm not a religious person so i don't really care too much about it all. But as i say, vocal wise, he is at his best.
Agree. Just got to be in the mood to hear that specific genre & these days I find myself less in that mood. But I do prefer the more R&B styled gospel of Sam Cooke over a 'church' sounding song like How Great Thou Art.




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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Scarre »

Very enjoyable.




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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Davelee »

r&b wrote:
Davelee wrote:
r&b wrote:Good song, performance, production. I have grown less fond of the gospel material over the years, but always enjoy this one.
Elvis' singing on Gospel music is first class and i can not find any faults on his singing, he is clearly well commited on the genre. As we all know, Gospel music was his first love, and it shows.

On a personal level, i don't play Elvis' Gospel music purely because of the nature of its subject "religion". I'm not a religious person so i don't really care too much about it all. But as i say, vocal wise, he is at his best.
Agree. Just got to be in the mood to hear that specific genre & these days I find myself less in that mood. But I do prefer the more R&B styled gospel of Sam Cooke over a 'church' sounding song like How Great Thou Art.
Can't make any comments about Sam Cookes gospel music because i haven't heard any of it, i have a "Best Of" Sam CD with more of his well known stuff.

Regarding "How Great Tho Art", i find Elvis' live versions of it better than the studio master from 66.



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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by vinelvis »

Great song, I love it. Nice topic.




Topic author
Arvis Paisley

Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Arvis Paisley »

Thanks, now I know what it means to fit a battle.




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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by Eggrert »

Arvis Paisley wrote:Thanks, now I know what it means to fit a battle.
LOL, I always wondered the same thing, but was too lazy to look it up...



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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by jeanno »

I'm not sure you need to be on religion to enjoy those spirituals and gospel songs. In my case -I am no religious person at all- I always dig the first gospel album, specially in its FTD version. What an amazing album, outstanding vocals all the way through and that energy not that different from the rock and roll approach.

The other two lps are not that interesting to me. I don't listen to them from start to finish, but I still enjoy So High, Where Could I Go But To The Lord, Stand By Me, By and By, Run On, Amazing Grace, I've Got Confidence and I, John.




Topic author
poormadpeter2

Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by poormadpeter2 »

jeanno wrote:I'm not sure you need to be on religion to enjoy those spirituals and gospel songs. In my case -I am no religious person at all- I always dig the first gospel album, specially in its FTD version. What an amazing album, outstanding vocals all the way through and that energy not that different from the rock and roll approach.

The other two lps are not that interesting to me. I don't listen to them from start to finish, but I still enjoy So High, Where Could I Go But To The Lord, Stand By Me, By and By, Run On, Amazing Grace, I've Got Confidence and I, John.
It's an odd situation, isn't it? I'm not simply non-religious but, I guess, anti-religion in general for various reasons, and yet from a purely musical point of view (the harmonies, rhythms etc) these songs are wonderful. I don't really have a problem with the "story" spirituals such as Joshua or Sing You Children or something such as Run On. There are certainly a few songs that, for me, don't work from a non-religious/anti-religious stance. I tend to get positively queasy at There Is No God But God or If That Isn't Love or Who Am I, for example, but this may be as much because they are "modern" attempts at religious songs as much as for their (to me) saccharine lyrics. The older, more traditional songs don't tend to have that syrup-y effect. Take My Hand, Precious Lord is just as overt in its meaning, and yet is still remarkably moving even to disbelieving old me - and not just in Elvis's treatment of the song either.




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Re: "Joshua Fit The Battle"

Post by rlj4ep »

I love this performance from Elvis. As stated above, he loves this type of music and he is enjoying the song. His voice is magnificent and the arrangement fits Elvis at this point in his career. The Jordanaires are magnificent in their supporting role as well. The whole song is just wonderful!

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