G.I. Blues (album)

G.I. Blues

Studio album / Soundtrack by Elvis Presley

Released

October 1, 1960

Recorded

April–May 1960

Genre

Pop, rock and roll

Length

26:35

Label

RCA Victor

Elvis Presley chronology

Elvis Is Back!
(1960)

G.I. Blues
(1960)

His Hand in Mine
(1960)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
MusicHound	^[2]
Rough Guides	^[3]

G.I. Blues is the eleventh album by Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2256, in October 1960. Recording sessions took place on April 27 and 28, and May 6, 1960, at RCA Victor Studio C and Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. The album topped the Billboard Top Pop Album chart.^[4] It was certified Gold on March 13, 1963 and Platinum on March 27, 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America.^[5]

Content

Music on this album comprised songs that had appeared in the film of the same name. The song "Wooden Heart" was released as a single in the United Kingdom, where it was number one for six weeks. In the United States, Joe Dowell recorded a cover version of "Wooden Heart" that topped the Billboard Hot 100. RCA Victor later released "Wooden Heart" by Presley as the b-side of a single twice, once in 1964 on the back of a reissue of "Blue Christmas," and again on the flip side of a belated issue in 1965 of "Puppet on a String" from the film Girl Happy. Four songs from this album appear on the 1995 soundtrack compilation Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II: "G.I. Blues", "Wooden Heart", "Shoppin' Around", and "Doin' the Best I Can".

Due to copyright reasons, the European version of the soundtrack album and film substitutes the opening track "Tonight Is So Right for Love" with the song "Tonight's All Right for Love", adapted from a melody by 19th century waltz-king Johann Strauss II, Tales from the Vienna Woods. Interestingly, the melody for "Tonight Is So Right for Love" was taken directly from a barcarolle composed by Jacques Offenbach, one of Strauss's contemporaries. An American release of "Tonight's All Right for Love" did not occur until it appeared on the compilation album Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1 in 1974. The version of "Blue Suede Shoes" used on the soundtrack is a new recording of the song Presley first recorded in 1956, and is one of only a few songs that Presley would re-record in a studio setting during his career, others being "Love Letters", "It Hurts Me" and "A Little Less Conversation".

The G.I. Blues soundtrack album was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1960 in the categories Best Sound Track Album Or Recording Of Original Cast From A Motion Picture Or Television and Best Vocal Performance Album, Male.^[6]

On April 27, 1997, RCA remastered the album for compact disc, adding eight outtakes from the recording session as bonus tracks. Two songs were previously released, the acoustic version of "Big Boots" appearing on the posthumous 1978 album Elvis Sings for Children and Grown-Ups Too, and the substitute "Tonight's All Right For Love".^[7] In 2012 G.I. Blues was released on the Follow That Dream label in a 7 inch digi-pack edition featuring a booklet and two CDs containing the original album tracks and numerous alternate takes.^[8] A follow-up album, Café Europa, which also contained a booklet and two CDs was released in 2013. This album featured more alternate takes of the G.I. Blues soundtrack.^[9]

Personnel

Elvis Presley – vocals, acoustic guitar (on "Blue Suede Shoes", "Shoppin' Around")
The Jordanaires – backing vocals
Scotty Moore – electric guitar
Tiny Timbrell – acoustic guitar
Neal Matthews, Jr. – electric bass (on April 27)
Pete Drake – pedal steel guitar
Jimmie Haskell – accordion
Hoyt Hawkins – tambourine
Dudley Brooks – piano
Ray Siegel – double bass
D.J. Fontana, Frank Bode, Bernie Mattinson – drums

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
1.	"Tonight Is So Right for Love"	Abner Silver and Sid Wayne	April 27, 1960	2:14
2.	"What's She Really Like"	Abner Silver and Sid Wayne	April 28, 1960	2:17
3.	"Frankfort Special"	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	May 6, 1960	2:58
4.	"Wooden Heart"	Ben Weisman, Fred Wise, Kathleen Twomey, Bert Kaempfert	April 28, 1960	2:03
5.	"G.I. Blues"	Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett	April 27, 1960	2:36

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
1.	"Pocketful of Rainbows"	Ben Weisman and Fred Wise	May 6, 1960	2:35
2.	"Shoppin' Around"	Aaron Schroeder, Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett	May 6, 1960	2:24
3.	"Big Boots"	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	May 6, 1960	1:31
4.	"Didja' Ever"	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	April 27, 1960	2:36
5.	"Blue Suede Shoes"	Carl Perkins	April 28, 1960	2:07
6.	"Doin' the Best I Can"	Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman	April 27, 1960	3:10

1997 CD reissue bonus tracks

Tracks 1-11 are from the original release
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording date	Length
12.	"Tonight's All Right For Love"	Sid Wayne, Abner Silver, Johann Strauss II	May 6, 1960	1:21
13.	"Big Boots" (fast version)	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	May 6, 1960	1:14
14.	"Shoppin' Around" (alternate take 11)	Aaron Schroeder, Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett	April 27, 1960	2:15
15.	"Frankfort Special" (fast version take 2)	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	April 27, 1960	2:25
16.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (alternate take 2)	Ben Weisman and Fred Wise	April 28, 1960	2:47
17.	"Didja' Ever" (alternate take 1)	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	April 27, 1960	2:42
18.	"Big Boots" (acoustic version)	Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards	May 6, 1960	0:58
19.	"What's She Really Like" (alternate take 7)	Abner Silver and Sid Wayne	April 28, 1960	2:24
20.	"Doin' the Best I Can" (alternate take 9)	Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman	April 27, 1960	3:17

2012 Follow That Dream release

Disc 1

Disc 2

The Original Album
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tonight's All Right for Love"	2:15
2.	"What's She Really Like"	2:19
3.	"Frankfort Special"	2:57
4.	"Wooden Heart"	2:05
5.	"G.I. Blues"	2:41
6.	"Pocketful of Rainbows"	2:36
7.	"Shoppin' Around"	2:24
8.	"Big Boots"	1:33
9.	"Didja' Ever"	2:38
10.	"Blue Suede Shoes"	2:08
11.	"Doin' the Best I Can"	3:16
12.	"Tonight's All Right for Love" (alternate song)	1:26

Bonus Songs
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Shoppin' Around" (version #1)	2:17
14.	"Frankfort Special" (fast version)	2:19
15.	"Big Boots" (fast version)	1:22
16.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, take 12)	2:26
17.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, take 12)	2:26
18.	"Big Boots" (medium tempo version)	1:04

First Takes
No.	Title	Length
19.	"Tonight Is So Right for Love" (Barcarolle from The Tales Of Hoffman, instrumental)	2:18
20.	"Tonight Is So Right for Love" (takes 1-2)	3:07
21.	"What's She Really Like" (takes 1-5)	6:25
22.	"Frankfort Special" (fast version takes 1-2)	3:48
23.	"Wooden Heart" (take 1)	2:13
24.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, takes 1-2)	4:52
25.	"Shoppin' Around" (version #1, take 1)	2:34
26.	"Big Boots" (fast version, takes 1-2)	1:48
27.	"Big Boots" (slow version, take 1)	1:39
28.	"Didja' Ever" (take 1)	2:59
29.	"Tonight's All Right for Love" (take 1)	1:24
30.	"Doin' The Best I Can" (takes 1-3)	5:11

April 27-28 Sessions
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, take 3)	2:43
2.	"Shoppin' Around" (instrumental take 4)	1:46
3.	"Shoppin' Around" (version #1, takes 2-4)	3:20
4.	"Shoppin' Around" (version #1, take 5)	2:26
5.	"Doin' The Best I Can" (takes 4-7)	2:23
6.	"Doin' The Best I Can" (takes 8-9)	3:44
7.	"G.I. Blues" (takes 2-4)	3:45
8.	"G.I. Blues" (take 5)	2:43
9.	"Tonight Is So Right for Love" (take 3)	2:30
10.	"Tonight Is So Right for Love" (take 4)	2:36
11.	"Tonight Is So Right for Love" (takes 5-7)	5:28
12.	"Frankfort Special" (fast version, takes 3-7)	6:51
13.	"Frankfort Special" (fast version, take 8)	2:42
14.	"Big Boots" (fast version, take 3)	1:36
15.	"Big Boots" (fast version, take 4)	1:41
16.	"Big Boots" (slow version, takes 2-3)	2:26
17.	"What's She Really Like" (takes 6-7)	3:32
18.	"What's She Really Like" (takes 8-11)	6:10
19.	"What's She Really Like" (takes 12-13)	3:02
20.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, takes 4-7)	5:36
21.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, take 8)	2:51
22.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, take 9)	2:49
23.	"Pocketful of Rainbows" (version #1, take 10)	2:48
24.	"Wooden Heart" (takes 2-4M)	3:53

2013 Café Europa Follow That Dream release

Disc 1

Disc 2

Master Takes - Remixed
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Didja' Ever" (take 2 CO-sp replaced master)	2:54
2.	"Doin' The Best I Can" (take 13/M)	3:32
3.	"G. I. Blues" (take 7/M + insert ending takes 8-10/M)	4:36
4.	"Tonight Is So Right For Love" (takes 10-11/M)	4:16
5.	"What's She Really Like" (takes 17-19/M + insert takes 20-22/M)	8:11
6.	"Blue Suede Shoes" (take 1/M)	2:14
7.	"Wooden Heart" (take 4/M)	2:09
8.	"Shoppin'Around" (remake, takes 6-7/M)	2:57
9.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (remake, take 2/M)	2:36
10.	"Frankfort Special" (remake, takes 9-10/M)	4:29
11.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (take 10/M + insert takes 1-2/M)	3:22
12.	"Big Boots" (slow version, take 4/M)	1:40
13.	"Big Boots" (slow version, remake, insert takes 2-4/M)	1:55

Outtakes
No.	Title	Length
14.	"Shoppin' Around" (version 1, takes 6-10)	4:59
15.	"Doin'The Best I Can" (takes 10-12)	4:38
16.	"G.I. Blues" (take 6)	2:47
17.	"Tonight Is So Right For Love" (take 8)	2:30
18.	"Tonight Is So Right For Love" (take 9)	2:29
19.	"Big Boots" (fast version, takes 6-5)	1:40
20.	"What's She Really Like" (takes 14-16)	4:13
21.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (version 1, takes 11,13-14)	3:19
22.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (version 1, takes 15-16)	3:31
23.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (version 1, take 17)	2:50

Outtakes continues
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (version 1, takes 18-20)	6:18
2.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (version 1, takes 21-25)	5:04
3.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (version 1, takes 26-28)	4:45
4.	"Big Boots" (medium tempo version, take 1)	1:10
5.	"Shoppin' Around" (remake, takes 1-2)	2:47
6.	"Shoppin' Around" (remake, takes 3-5)	3:24
7.	"Pocketful Of Rainbows" (remake, takes 1-3)	4:11
8.	"Frankfort Special" (fast version, takes 9-12/fs + remake takes 1-5)	9:11
9.	"Frankfort Special" (remake, takes 6-8)	5:38
10.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (takes 2-5)	4:05
11.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (take 6)	1:27
12.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (takes 7-8)	2:02
13.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (takes 9,11,12)	2:46
14.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (takes 14-15)	2:03
15.	"Tonight's All Right For Love" (takes 16-17)	2:15
16.	"Big Boots" (slow version, remake takes 1-6 + insert take 1)	4:50

Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Length
17.	"Tonight¹s All Right For Love" (Tales from the Vienna Woods, instrumental)	2:26
18.	"Wooden Heart" (Grammafunken Version, instrumental)	1:19
19.	"Whistling Blues" (Instrumental)	3:26

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1961	Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) (mono and stereo)	1
1961	UK Albums Chart^[10]	1

Preceded by South Pacific by Original Soundtrack South Pacific by Original Soundtrack South Pacific by Original Soundtrack	UK Albums Chart number-one album 14 January 1961 - 4 March 1961 11 March 1961 - 1 April 1961 8 April 1961 - 1 July 1961	Succeeded by South Pacific by Original Soundtrack South Pacific by Original Soundtrack South Pacific by Original Soundtrack

References

↑ AllMusic review
↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 892. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
↑ Simpson, Paul (2004). The Rough Guide to Elvis. London: Rough Guides. p. 121. ISBN 1-84353-417-7.
↑ "Pop Albums". Elvis Presley: The Official Site of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
↑ "Searchable datebase". RIAA. 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013. Note: Enter search for "Presley, Elvis"
↑ "Grammy Awards 1961". Award Shows. Awards and Shows. Retrieved January 17, 2015. The winner was Ray Charles for The Genius of Ray Charles. Other nominees were Harry Belafonte for Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall, Frank Sinatra for Nice 'n' Easy and Nat King Cole for Wild Is Love.
↑
Sources:
- Presley, Elvis (1997), G.I. Blues (CD), RCA Records, 07862-66960-2
- Elvis Sings for Children and Grown-Ups Too at AllMusic
↑ "Released : G.I. Blues FTD 2 CD Special Edition Classic Album [Vol. 1]". Elvis Australia. July 11, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑
Sources:
- "Follow That Dream releases". Elvis Australia. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- "Café Europa". Elvis Australia. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑ "Chart Stats - Elvis Presley - G.I. Blues". chartstats.com. Retrieved 2 June 2011.

External links

LPM-2256 G.I. Blues Guide (monaural) part of the The Elvis Presley Record Research Database
LSP-2256 G.I. Blues Guide (stereo) part of the The Elvis Presley Record Research Database

Elvis Presley

Albums discography Singles discography Filmography

Studio albums	Elvis Presley Elvis Elvis' Christmas Album For LP Fans Only A Date with Elvis Elvis Is Back! His Hand in Mine Something for Everybody Pot Luck Elvis for Everyone! How Great Thou Art From Elvis in Memphis From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) Love Letters from Elvis Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas Elvis Now He Touched Me Elvis Raised on Rock/For Ol' Times Sake Good Times Promised Land Today From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee Moody Blue

Live albums	On Stage As Recorded at Madison Square Garden Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis Having Fun with Elvis on Stage Elvis in Concert An Afternoon in the Garden

Soundtrack albums	Loving You King Creole G.I. Blues Blue Hawaii Girls! Girls! Girls! It Happened at the World's Fair Fun in Acapulco Kissin' Cousins Roustabout Girl Happy Harum Scarum Frankie and Johnny Paradise Hawaiian Style Spinout Double Trouble Clambake Speedway Elvis That's the Way It Is Viva Elvis

Compilation albums	Elvis' Golden Records 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3 Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4 Elvis Sings Flaming Star Let's Be Friends Almost in Love C'mon Everybody I Got Lucky Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1 Elvis' 40 Greatest Pure Gold Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2 The Sun Sessions Welcome to My World Mahalo from Elvis Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3 Greatest Hits Volume 1 Elvis' Gold Records Volume 5 Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II Elvis 56 Tiger Man Memories: The '68 Comeback Special Sunrise Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology ELV1S 2nd to None Elvis at Sun Hitstory Elvis Inspirational Elvis Rock Elvis Christmas The Essential Elvis Presley Christmas Duets

Box sets	Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1 The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters Live in Las Vegas Today, Tomorrow, and Forever Elvis the King The Complete '68 Comeback Special The Complete Elvis Presley Masters

Bootlegs	Elvis' Greatest Shit

Biographical films	Elvis (1979 film) Elvis Meets Nixon Elvis (2005 mini-series) Elvis & Nixon

Documentaries	The Pied Piper of Cleveland Elvis: That's the Way It Is Elvis on Tour This Is Elvis The New Gladiators

TV specials	The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Elvis in Concert

Stage shows based on Elvis	Cooking with Elvis All Shook Up Elvis. The Musical Elvis: The Concert Viva Elvis

Top 10 singles	"Heartbreak Hotel" "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" "Don't Be Cruel" "Hound Dog" "Love Me Tender" "Love Me" "Too Much" "All Shook Up" "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" "Jailhouse Rock" "Don't" "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" "Hard Headed Woman" "One Night" "I Got Stung" "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" "I Need Your Love Tonight" "A Big Hunk o' Love" "Stuck on You" "It's Now or Never" "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" "Surrender" "I Feel So Bad" "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" "Little Sister" "Can't Help Falling in Love" "Good Luck Charm" "She's Not You" "Return to Sender" "(You're The) Devil in Disguise" "Bossa Nova Baby" "Crying in the Chapel" "In the Ghetto" "Suspicious Minds" "Don't Cry Daddy" "The Wonder of You" "Burning Love"

Related people	Sam Phillips The Blue Moon Boys The Jordanaires The Imperials The Sweet Inspirations TCB Band J. D. Sumner Stephen H. Sholes June Juanico Memphis Mafia Colonel Tom Parker George C. Nichopoulos Lisa Marie Presley Priscilla Presley Judy Spreckels Linda Thompson Ginger Alden Larry Geller

Related articles	Graceland Cultural depictions Cultural impact Personal relationships Impersonators Elvis and Gladys Elvis and Me Elvis-A-Rama Museum Hit singles Sun recordings Million Dollar Quartet List of Elvis Presley songs Songs about Elvis Elvis Presley Enterprises "Elvis has left the building" Elvis Radio FBI files on Elvis Presley Army career Eight Elvises Triple Elvis Elvis Presley's Pink Cadillac Elvis Presley's guitars Elvis Presley Forever stamp

Book Category Portal

UK best-selling albums (by year) (1956–1969)

1956: Carousel (Original Soundtrack) 1957: The King and I (Original Soundtrack) 1958: My Fair Lady (Broadway Cast recording) 1959: South Pacific (Original Soundtrack) 1960: South Pacific (Original Soundtrack) 1961: G.I. Blues (Elvis Presley) 1962: West Side Story (Original Soundtrack) 1963: With the Beatles (The Beatles) 1964: Beatles for Sale (The Beatles) 1965: The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack) 1966: The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack) 1967: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles) 1968: The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack) 1969: Abbey Road (The Beatles)

Complete list (1956–1969) (1970–1989) (1990–2009) (2010–2029)

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, March 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.