Record #0672: Can't Help Falling in Love / Rock-a-Hula Baby ("Twist" Special) – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA Victor 47-0635 (original) USA, 22. November 1961
Words & Music by:  Side A – Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss; Side B – Fred Wise, Ben Weisman, Dolores Fuller
Musicians: Elvis Presley (lead vocals), Hank Garland (guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar), Hilmer “Tiny” Timbrell (guitar), Alvino Rey (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana / Hal Blaine (drums), Bernie Mattinson (percussion), Floyd Cramer (piano), Bernie Lewis (ukulele), Fred Tavares (ukulele), the Jordanaires (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Joseph Lilley at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, 23. March 1961
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #2, US AC #1, UK #1; Side B - US #23, UK #1

Both songs appeared on Elvis' 1961 film "Blue Hawaii". All songs for the movie were recorded in three days, 21.-23. March 1961. The session on the 23^rd also included “Aloha Oe” and “Beach Boy Blues”.

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” required 29 takes. The 23^rd was chosen for the movie and the 29^th for the record. The flip was done in just five takes.

I have already posted a 1977 re-issue of this single here.

List price:  Very Good+ is $12,50, Near Mint is $25. Picture sleeves are $20 and $40 correspondingly

Record #0671: Don't / I Beg of You – ELVIS PRESLEY

 

RCA Victor 47-7150 (original) USA, 7. January 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller; Side B – Rose Marie McCoy, Kelly Owens
Musicians: Elvis Presley (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (upright bass), D.J. Fontana (drums), Dudley Brooks (piano), the Jordanaires (backing vocals), Millie Kirkham (backing vocals on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Sholes at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Side A – 6. September 1957; Side B – 23. February 1957
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, US R&B #4, US Country #2, UK #2; Side B - US #8, US R&B #5, US Country #4.

This was Elvis’ first single of 1958 and it put him back on the top of the charts. Both songs were also included on Elvis’ fourth compilation album “50,000,000Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong”, which was released in 1959.

The session of side A took 8 hours starting at noon. It included “My Wish Came True” (28 takes), “White Christmas” (9 takes), “Here Comes Santa Claus” (2 takes), “Silent Night” (9 takes) and “Don’t” (7 takes).

I have already posted a 1977 re-issue of this single here. I missed Millie Kirkham’s backing vocals in that post.

List price:  Very Good+ is $12,50, Near Mint is $25. Picture sleeve is $45 for VG+ and $90 for NM. 2001 re-issue sleeve has text “This is a replica of the original packaging” on rear side, at the bottom. That’s $4 for a NM.

 

Record #0670: Return To Sender / Where Do You Come From – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA 47-8100 (original) USA, 2. October 1962
Words & Music by:  Side A – Winfield Scott, Otis Blackwell; Side B – Ruth Batchelor, Bob Roberts
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Barney Kessel (lead guitar), Hilmer “Tiny” Timbrell (acoustic rhythm guitar), Homer “Boots” Randolph (baritone saxophone), Ray Siegel (bass), Dudley Brooks (piano), D.J. Fontana (drums), the Jordanaires (backup vocals). Side B may have a different line-up; possibly Scotty Moore on guitar and Hal Blaine and/or Bernie Mattinson on drums. They were all playing in the session, but it’s hard to find, who played on this track.
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Sholes and Chet Atkins at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, on 27. March 1962
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #2, US Cashbox #1, Canada #1, Australia #1, UK #1, Sweden #1, Norway #1, Ireland #1, Finland #13; Side B – US #99

Elvis and the session musicians were given a tough task of recording all soundtrack songs of the movie “Girls, Girls, Girls” in just two days. These two (plus five others) were recorded during the first day. The session started at 1.00pm and ended at 12.30am.

“Return To Sender” was a big international hit.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20. Picture sleeve is listed VG+ $20, NM $40