He Touched Me / Bosom of Abraham 

Modified: February 28, 2016

Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: RCA Victor 74-0651 He Touched Me / Bosom of Abraham (45)
Release Date: 2/4/1972

74-0651-cover-side174-0651-cover-side2

Cover: picture sleeve front and back.

74-0651-side1-i-ylp74-0651-side2-i-ylp

Disc: Yellow label, NOT FOR SALE. Vocal accompaniment by The Imperials Quartet on two lines.1
Matrix numbers: AWPKS-1277-1S A1 / AWPKS-1295-1S-A1 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)2

74-0651-side1-ylp74-0651-side2-ylp

Disc: Yellow label, NOT FOR SALE. Vocal accomp. by The Imperials Quartet on one line.
Matrix numbers: APKM-1277 3S / APKM-1295 3S (machine stamped) (Rockaway pressing)

74-0651-side1-i74-0651-side2-i

Disc: Orange label. Vocal accompaniment by The Imperials Quartet on two lines.
Matrix numbers: AWPKS-1277-1S-A3 / AWPKS-1295-1S (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)3
Matrix numbers: AWPKS-1277-1S-A2 / AWPKS-1295-5S-A4 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)

74-0651-side1-h74-0651-side2-h

Disc: Orange label. Vocal accomp. by The Imperials Quartet on one line. No space between Victor and Gaither Music,.
Matrix numbers: AWKS-1277-3S / APKS-1295-3S (machine stamped) (Hollywood pressing) (verified 45 RPM)
Matrix numbers: AWKS-1277-4S / APKS-1295-4S (machine stamped) (Hollywood pressing)

A variation exists where the He Touched Me side was pressed at approximately 35 rpm. The matrix numbers for this error is 4S on the He Touched Me side. According to one source, only 10,000 copies had been produced before the error was identified and existing copies recalled.4

74-0651-side174-0651-side2

Disc: Orange label. Vocal accomp. by The Imperials Quartet on one line. A space between Victor and Gaither Music,.
Matrix numbers: APKS-1277-5S-A2D / APKS-1295-5S-A1G (hand etched) (Rockaway pressing)
Matrix numbers: APKS-1277-6S-A1C / APKS-1295-5S-A2F (hand etched) (Rockaway pressing)
Matrix numbers: APKS-1277-6S-A1H / APKS-1295-5S-A1G (hand etched) (Rockaway pressing)
Matrix numbers: APKS-1277-6S-A3B / APKS-1295-5S-A2A (hand etched) (Rockaway pressing)

74-0651-commentcard-outside74-0651-commentcard-inside

Undocumented: SESAC INC. Comment Card. This card was found inside the sleeve accompanying the record. Inside the card reads:

A superb performance of that award-winning standard, “He Touched Me” by the inimitable Elvis Presley. It’s a “natural” for every music format and destined to become another big one for Elvis. Give it some spins and watch the audience reactions. Your comments will be appreciated.

SESAC INC. (Society of European Stage Authors & Composers) is Performing rights organizations (there are three … in the U.S.) are businesses designed to represent songwriters and publishers and their right to be compensated for having their music performed in public.

  1. Images from the collection of Christian (of France).
  2. Matrix numbers from the collection of Christian (of France).
  3. eBay reference 330783926254 (September 1, 2012)
  4. Paul Lichter, The Boy Who Dared To Rock: The Definitive Elvis. (Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1978) p 254.