Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 1, 1960, (Friday)
A fibreglass carport was erected in the process of converting Graceland's three-car garage into an apartment for Vernon and Dee Stanley and her three children.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 2, 1960, (Saturday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 3, 1960 (Sunday)
Just two weeks after his first post-army recording session, Elvis again boards a chartered bus in Memphis to return to Nashville. The same group of musicians is joined this time by saxophonist Boots Randolph. The plan is to record ten songs over the next few nights.
RECORDING SESSION: - RCA Victor
RCA Victor Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee. (7:30 pm - 12:00 am)
Producer(s): Steve Sholes/Chet Atkins.
Engineer: Bill Porter.
Musicians: Lead Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Electric Guitar: Hank Garland - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Murrey "Buddy" Harman - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
Elvis recorded twelve of his most diverse and ambitious tracks in one marathon session, from 7:30 pm to 7:00 am. "It's Now Or Never" was overdubbed by RCA later.
Songs recorded: "Fever", "Like A Baby", "It's Now Or Never" (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 4, 1960 (Monday)
Recording in Nashville continued throughout the night into the early morning.
RECORDING SESSION: - RCA Victor
RCA Victor Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee. (12:45 am - 3:45 am) and (4:00 am - 7:00 am)
Producer(s): Steve Sholes/Chet Atkins.
Engineer: Bill Porter.
Musicians: Lead Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Electric Guitar: Hank Garland - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Murrey "Buddy" Harman - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
Elvis recorded "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" as an answer to a request by the Colonel's wife Marie. The finished master had to be spliced using a work-part ending.
Songs recorded: "The Girl of My Best Friend", "Dirty, Dirty Feeling", "Thrill of Your Love", "I Gotta Know", Such A Night", Are You Lonesome Tonight?",
"The Girl Next Door Went A-walking", I Will Be Home Again", "Reconsider Baby" (audio)
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith.
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley. #84
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"He'll Have To Go" by Jim Reeves.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" by Dinah Washington
and Brook Benton.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 39 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
"Elvis' Gold Records - Vol. 2" by Elvis Presley. #37
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (40 weeks or more)
"Inside Shelley Berman" by Shelley Berman.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE MONO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 19 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (20 weeks or more)
"South Pacific" Soundtrack.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE STEREO LP'S
"Soul of Spain - Vol. 2" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"Heavenly" by Johnny Mathis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 5, 1960, (Tuesday)
The undubbed master of "It's Now Or Never" was overdubbed by RCA.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 6, 1960, (Wednesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 7, 1960, (Thursday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 8, 1960, (Friday)
No information.
RCA Victor (LPM-2231)
RCA Victor (LSP-2231)
Just like the new single, RCA has rushed the session tapes to the pressing plant, and within four days of the session, the LP "Elvis Is Back!" was shipped. It's gatefold album of army snapshots had been printed in advance, and the titles of the subsequently recorded songs appeared on a yellow sticker. This is the first time that an album of Elvis' is available in both mono and stereo formats.
"Elvis Is Back!" (LPM/LSP-2231).
The front cover used a 1959 publicity shot, while the rear cover had an army photo taken in Fort Chaffee back in March 1958.
Songs:
Side 1: "Make Me Know It", "Fever", "The Girl of My Best Friend", "I Will Be Home Again", "Dirty, Dirty Feeling", "Thrill of Your Love".
Side 2: "Soldier Boy", "Such A Night", "It Feels So Right", "Girl Next Door Went A-walking", "Like A Baby", Reconsider Baby".
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 9, 1960, (Saturday)
Back home in Memphis, Elvis went on a $4,000 shopping spree, he bought his father a watch and purchased a diamond necklace for Anita, who dyed her hair black to match his. Brother Dave Gardner, who was performing at Ellis Auditorium, joined Elvis and his entourage at the Rollerdrome and the Memphian Theatre. During this period Elvis had begun to date nineteen-year-old Memphian Bonnie Bunkley, whom he met when she came to Graceland with her voice teacher to collect money for a benefit at Whitehaven High School.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 10, 1960, (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 11, 1960 (Monday)
No information.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith.
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley. #17
"Fame and Fortune" by Elvis Presley. #71
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith.
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley. #28
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"He'll Have To Go" by Jim Reeves.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" by Dinah Washington
and Brook Benton.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 39 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
"Elvis' Gold Records - Vol. 2" by Elvis Presley. #34
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (40 weeks or more)
"Inside Shelley Berman" by Shelley Berman.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE MONO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 19 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (20 weeks or more)
"Belafonte at Carnegie Hall" by Harry Belafonte.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE STEREO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"Heavenly" by Johnny Mathis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 12, 1960, (Tuesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 13, 1960, (Wednesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 14, 1960, (Thursday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 15, 1960, (Friday)
Local jeweler Harry Levitch sent Elvis a warm letter of gratitude for his patronage.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 16, 1960, (Saturday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 17, 1960, (Sunday)
Elvis and Anita attended an Easter service at the First Assembly of God Church but were forced to leave when their presence caused a disruption.
The rock & roll world had to deal with another tragic death when a road crash in England claimed the life of Eddie Cochran. Fellow performer, Gene Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were injured in the accident.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 18, 1960 (Monday)
TRAIN JOURNEY - Southern Pacific's Sunset Limited train from Memphis to Los Angeles, California.
lvis left Memphis and headed out for California to make his first post-army motion picture for Hal Wallis and Paramount. The entourage he had built up now included army buddies Joe Esposito and Charlie Hodge, longtime friend Lamar Fike, Red West's cousin Sonny, and Elvis' cousin Gene Smith. Together with Colonel Parker's staff (Tom Diskin, Ken Moore) they occupied two private cars on the Southern Pacific Sunset Limited at a cost of $2,424.41. Old friends Red West and Cliff Gleaves had already returned to Los Angeles to resume their search for Show business opportunities.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith.
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley. #6
"Fame and Fortune" by Elvis Presley. #44
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith.
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley. #8
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"He'll Have To Go" by Jim Reeves.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Fannie Mae" by Buster Brown.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 39 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
"Elvis' Gold Records - Vol. 2" by Elvis Presley. #32
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (40 weeks or more)
"Inside Shelley Berman" by Shelley Berman.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE MONO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 19 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (20 weeks or more)
"Belafonte at Carnegie Hall" by Harry Belafonte.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE STEREO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"Heavenly" by Johnny Mathis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 19, 1960, (Tuesday)
TRAIN JOURNEY - Southern Pacific's Sunset Limited train from Memphis to Los Angeles, California.
The train was mobbed by fans during stops in El Paso and Odessa, Texas, en route to Hollywood. In Odessa Elvis and Colonel Parker gave a short interview to Jack Murray. (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 20, 1960, (Wednesday)
TRAIN JOURNEY - Union Station, Los Angeles, California.
Elvis was interviewed while on board the train. (video) To avoid the large crowd gathered for his arrival at Union Station in Los Angeles, Elvis disembarked on a siding just outside the Station and took a cab to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel with Colonel Parker.
(Brief Interview)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 21, 1960 (Thursday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".
Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.
Elvis began pre-production on "G.I. Blues," a Hal Wallis production for Paramount. The picture was to be directed by Norman
Taurog and co-starred South African dancer Juliet Prowse. Elvis (and the Jordanaires) got their haircut under the supervision
of the movie's director. (photo)
G.I. BLUES
(Paramount Pictures) (1960)
Juliet Prowse
James Douglas
Norman Taurog
Robert Ivers
Letícia Román
Arch Johnson
Jeremy Slate
Sigrid Maier
Kenneth Becker
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 22, 1960 (Friday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".
Sound Stage, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.
Music rehearsals under the supervision of Charles O'Curran. Elvis spent his evenings at the Crossbow, where he first met
Lance LeGault, (photo) a white rhythm-and-blues singer from Louisiana who was a friend of Red's. Within days Elvis was
introduced to the club owner's fourteen year-old daughter, Sandy Ferra, who soon became a regular date.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 23, 1960 (Saturday)
The Beverly Wilshere Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 24, 1960 (Sunday)
The Beverly Wilshere Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 25, 1960 (Monday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".
Sound Stage, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.
Music rehearsals continued in the morning with wardrobe tests in the afternoon.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley.
"Fame and Fortune" by Elvis Presley. #20
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Stuck On You" by Elvis Presley. #8
"Fame and Fortune" by Elvis Presley. #21
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"He'll Have To Go" by Jim Reeves.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"White Silver Sands" by Bill Black's Combo.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 39 weeks or less)
"The Sound of Music" Original Broadway Cast.
"Elvis' Gold Records - Vol. 2" by Elvis Presley. #32
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (40 weeks or more)
"Inside Shelley Berman" by Shelley Berman.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE MONO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 19 weeks or less)
"Persuasive Percussion" by Terry Snyder & the All Stars.
ESSENTIAL INVENTORY ALBUMS (20 weeks or more)
"South Pacific" Soundtrack.
BEST SELLING LOW PRICE STEREO LP'S
"Soul of Spain" by 101 Strings.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"Heavenly" by Johnny Mathis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 26, 1960 (Tuesday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".
Sound Stage, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.
Music rehearsals continued. (Photos: Apr 25/26)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 27, 1960 (Wednesday)
SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSION: - Paramount "G.I. Blues"
RCA Building, 1510 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California. (9:00 am - 2:00 pm) and (3:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Producer(s): Joseph Lilley/Hal B. Wallis.
Engineer: n/a.
Musicians: Lead Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Rhythm Guitar & Mandolin: Hilmer "Tiny" Timbrell - Guitar: Neal Matthews - Bass: Ray Siegel - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Frank Bode - Piano: Dudley Brooks - Accordion: James Haskell - Tambourine: Hoyt Hawkins.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
Just a little over two weeks after his RCA recording session, Elvis found himself back in the studio again. Normally when making a movie soundtrack in Hollywood, Elvis would record at Radio Recorders, but due to a new agreement between RCA and the Musicians Union, the session was moved to RCA's Studio. Elvis arrived at the studio in full dress uniform that he was using for the movie. Several songs that included "Tulsa's Blues" and "Dog Face" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller had been set aside for business reasons (the songwriting duo had refused to accept the same onerous conditions that every other songwriter was forced to submit to), and Elvis was clearly disappointed with the material he was given. Very few of the tracks laid down this day would be chosen for final release.
Songs recorded: "Shoppin' Around", "Didja' Ever", "Doin' the Best I Can", "G.I. Blues", "Tonight Is So Right For Love", "What's She Really Like", Frankfort Special" (audio)