1960 - April | Lifestory

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)

Fever - Elvis Presley

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Like A Baby - Elvis Presley

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It's Now Or Never (Overdubbed Master) - Elvis Presley

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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.

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)

The Girl of My Best Friend - Elvis Presley

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Dirty, Dirty Feeling - Elvis Presley

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Thrill of Your Love - Elvis Presley

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I Gotta Know - Elvis Presley

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Such a Night - Elvis Presley

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Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Spliced Master) - Elvis Presley

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Girl Next Door Went A-walking - Elvis Presley

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I Will Be Home Again - Elvis Presley

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Reconsider Baby - Elvis Presley

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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.