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. 

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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)

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Producer(s): Steve Sholes/Chet Atkins.

Engineer: Bill Porter.

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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.

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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.

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Songs recorded: "Fever", "Like A Baby", "It's Now Or Never" (audio)

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)

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Producer(s): Steve Sholes/Chet Atkins.

Engineer: Bill Porter.

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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.

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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.

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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 undubbed master of "It's Now Or Never" was overdubbed by RCA.

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RCA Victor (LSP-2231)

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. 

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Local jeweler Harry Levitch sent Elvis a warm letter of gratitude for his patronage.

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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.

TRAIN JOURNEY - Southern Pacific's Sunset Limited train from Memphis to Los Angeles, California.

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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. 

TRAIN JOURNEY - Southern Pacific's Sunset Limited train from Memphis to Los Angeles, California.

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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)

TRAIN JOURNEY - Union Station, Los Angeles, California.

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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)

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MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".

Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.

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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)

MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".

Sound Stage, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.

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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. 

The Beverly Wilshere Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.

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The Beverly Wilshere Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.

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MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".

Sound Stage, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.

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Music rehearsals continued in the morning with wardrobe tests in the afternoon.

MOVIE PRODUCTION - Paramount "G.I. Blues".

Sound Stage, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California.

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Music rehearsals continued. (Photos: Apr 25/26)

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)

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Producer(s): Joseph Lilley/Hal B. Wallis.

Engineer: n/a.

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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.

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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.

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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)