Album: Elvis Presley, I Believe: The Gospel Masters (Sony)

It is when people try to be serious that they reveal themselves. To Elvis, being serious entailed singing the sacred music he grew up on. His gospel records are accordingly moving in a way that the secular ones could never be. Which is not to say they're all great; they're not. But many are fantastic in the way that only Elvis records can be. This four-disc set may be more than you need (in which case try Ultimate Gospel) but for some of us, more is always desirable.

Pick of the Album: 'Peace in the Valley': white boy cries in the wilderness