Darrell Glenn reached the Top Ten in 1953 with "Crying in the Chapel," scoring the second biggest hit version of a song that enjoyed half a dozen charting renditions that year.
June Valli took top honors, but
Glenn beat out such better-known competitors as
Rex Allen and
Ella Fitzgerald. "Crying in the Chapel" was
Glenn's only hit, but he made a number of subsequent recordings, including this 1959 gospel album for the NRC label. Titled after
Glenn's sole hit, the album contains a re-recording of "Crying in the Chapel" alongside spirituals such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Deep River," as well as more contemporary songs such as "That Lucky Old Sun" and
Stuart Hamblen's "It's No Secret."
Glenn cut country and rockabilly music in the '50s, but
Crying in the Chapel is a pure pop-gospel album --
Glenn's singing style here is more similar to
Eddy Howard than anyone in the country field. The accompaniment is appealingly sparse, with a male vocal group and a delicate instrument that sounds like a celesta.
Crying in the Chapel is a hidden gem in the NRC album catalog -- a lovely and distinctive gospel album by a talented vocalist.