"A Day in the life"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 1, 1958 (Wednesday)
Jimmie Rodgers Snow, a close friend of Elvis', and fellow performer from the early Jamboree "tours" , arrived in Memphis for a visit. Elvis invited him to stay after bumping into him back stage at the "Opry" last month.
The Colonel sent a telegram to Vernon Presley explaining the pressure he was receiving from Hal Wallis to get "The Blue Moon Boys" out to Hollywood on January 6. He also encouraged that they learn the music before they arrive in California to save time. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 2, 1958 (Thursday)
Elvis had been complaining to Colonel Parker of being bothered by requests for local appearances. He didn't want this kind of harassment, and thought he should be shielded from such pressure. The Colonel wrote a letter to Elvis, lecturing him on his responsibilities of being a big "Star".
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 3, 1958 (Friday)
Bill Bullock suggested to RCA that they produce a "Classical" Album using Elvis' songs. Colonel Parker rejected the idea saying it sounds like a "Side show medicine pitch" and also that it would be unfair to classical music in general, and to Elvis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 4, 1958 (Saturday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 5, 1958 (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 6, 1958 (Monday)
No information.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #7
Most Played By Jockeys:
"April Love" by Pat Boone.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #15
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played By Jockeys:
"The Story of My Life" by Marty Robbins.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #9
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #8
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Raunchy" by Ernie Freeman.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #7
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"April Love" by Pat Boone.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #10
The Top 100:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #6
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #96
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"Merry Christmas" by Bing Crosby.
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley. #2
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #16
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Warm" by Johnny Mathis.
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley. #8
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley.
"Elvis Sings Christmas Songs" by Elvis Presley. #2
"Loving You - Vol. I" by Elvis Presley. #6
The Billboard charts now reflected that artists were now appearing in any category and not being confined to any particular musical genre. R&B artists were challenging in the popular and country markets. C&W and Pop artists now appeared more regularly in the R&B chart.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 7, 1958 (Tuesday)
Elvis enjoyed his 23rd Birthday a day early with a party among friends who included Anita Wood, Cliff Gleaves, Lamar Fike, George Klein, Alan Fortas, Earl Greenwood and others. (video)
RCA shipped their latest Elvis single. The cover was from a publicity photo shoot taken by photographer Frank Powolny back in September 1956.
Songs: "Don't"/"I Beg of You" (20/47-7150)
RCA Victor (47-7150)
RCA Victor (20-7150)
23rd Birthday (silent footage)
Audio: "Raunchy" by Bill Justis and "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1958 (Wednesday)
Eight year old Mary Koloski, who was a "March of Dimes" poster girl, had her picture taken with Elvis on the stairs just inside Graceland, after waiting for him for two hours. (photos)
After his twenty third Birthday party at Graceland, Elvis asked Alan Fortas to accompany him to California. Earlier in the week Elvis had "fired" Cliff Gleaves and Lamar Fike after arguing with them over a game of Badminton.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 9, 1958 (Thursday)
Memphis DJ, Dewey Phillips was fired from his new midnight television show "Pop Shop" after he encouraged his "sidekick" Harry Fritzius to "fondle" a life size cut-out of Jayne Mansfield on air.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 10, 1958 (Friday)
Elvis took a train to Los Angeles along with Alan Fortas, Gene Smith, and the now forgiven Cliff Gleaves and Bitsy Mott.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 11, 1958 (Saturday)
Crowds of fans lined up at every train station on the way to Los Angeles, after Colonel Parker "leaked" information to radio D.J's, of Elvis' train route.
Bill for $350.00 from Chenault's drive-in for food purchased between November 23, 1957 to January 8, 1958. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 12, 1958 (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 13, 1958 (Monday)
Elvis arrived in California to begin pre-production of his second movie for Paramount Pictures. Working Titles used were: "A Stone for Danny Fisher", "Sing, You Sinners" and "Danny". It was based on the novel "A Stone For Danny Fisher" by Harold Robbins, and would co-star Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger, Carolyn Jones and once again, Dolores Hart. The movie was directed by Michael Curtiz.
KING CREOLE
(Paramount) (1958)
Walter Matthau
Vic Morrow
Michael Curtiz
Dean Jagger
Carolyn Jones
Paul Stewart
Jan Shepard
Dolores Hart
Liliane Montevecchi
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #6
Most Played By Jockeys:
"April Love" by Pat Boone.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #25
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #4
Most Played By Jockeys:
"The Story of My Life" by Marty Robbins.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #13
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #9
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Raunchy" by Ernie Freeman.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #11
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"April Love" by Pat Boone.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #12
The Top 100:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #7
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #92
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley.
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #17
Most Played By Jockeys:
"'S Marvelous" by Ray Conniff.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley.
"Elvis Sings Christmas Songs" by Elvis Presley. #2
"Loving You - Vol. I" by Elvis Presley. #4
"Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley. #10
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 14, 1958 (Tuesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 15, 1958 (Wednesday)
SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSION: - Paramount "Sing, You Sinners"/"A Stone for Danny Fisher"/"Danny"
Radio Recorders, Studio B, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (9:00 am - 1:20 pm) (2:20 pm - 5:40 pm)
Producer: Walter Scharf.
Engineer(s): Thorne Nogar, Wally Kamin.
Musicians: Lead Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Electric Bass: Neal Matthews - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Piano: Dudley Brooks - Trumpet: Teddy Bruckner - Clarinet: Mahlon Clark - Tenor Saxophone: Justin Gordon - Tuba & Bass: Ray Siegel - Trombone: Elmer Schneider - Bongos: Gordon Stoker - Cymbals: Hoyt Hawkins.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Elvis began work on the soundtrack for "Sing You Sinners"/"Danny" at Radio Recorders. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller who have written several songs for the movie are in charge and Elvis appreciates their input. Blanche Thomas sang the "Turtles" vocal on "Turtles, Berries & Gumbo". The other parts were sung by unknown artists.
Songs recorded: "Turtles, Berries & Gumbo", "Hard Headed Woman", "Trouble", "New Orleans", "King Creole" (alternate) and "Crawfish". (duet with Kitty White) (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 16, 1958 (Thursday)
SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSION: - Paramount "Sing, You Sinners"/"A Stone for Danny Fisher"/"Danny"
Radio Recorders, Studio B, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (9:00 am - 5:30 pm)
Producer: Walter Scharf.
Engineer(s): Thorne Nogar, Wally Kamin.
Musicians: Lead Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Electric Bass: Neal Matthews - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Piano: Dudley Brooks - Trumpet: Teddy Bruckner - Clarinet: Mahlon Clark - Tenor Saxophone: Justin Gordon - Tuba & Bass: Ray Siegel - Trombone: Elmer Schneider - Bongos: Gordon Stoker - Cymbals: Hoyt Hawkins.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Soundtrack recording continued. Present at the session were Movie Producer, Hal Wallis. Director, Michael Curtiz. Charles O'Curran, Choreographer.
Songs recorded: "Dixieland Rock", "Lover Doll", "Don't Ask Me Why", "As Long As I Have You", "Steadfast, Loyal and True" (unused movie version) (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 17, 1958 (Friday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 18, 1958 (Saturday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 19, 1958 (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 20, 1958 (Monday)
This was the original date that Elvis was supposed to be drafted into the U.S. Army.
MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "Sing, You Sinners"/"A Stone for Danny Fisher"/"Danny"
Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.
Principal photography started on "Sing, You Sinners"/"Danny".
A New Orleans balcony was reconstructed at Paramount for the opening scene where Danny sang "Crawfish" to street vendor
Kitty White. Elvis in discussion with choreographer Charles O'Curran about the scene. (photo)
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #6
Most Played By Jockeys:
"April Love" by Pat Boone.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #18
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"The Story of My Life" by Marty Robbins.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #4
Most Played By Jockeys:
"The Story of My Life" by Marty Robbins.
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. #14