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April 28 1960
(+ means you need both    ~ means same material    °° means stereo or binaural    ° means mono)
(SFS = Short False Start | FS = False Start | LFS or BD (Breakdown) = Long False Start | PB (Playback) or Complete = Complete Take)

RCA Studios - Hollywood, California
Soundtrack Session for Paramount's G.I. Blues
Paramount Producer : Joseph Lilley
Engineer : Al Schmitt
(12.30pm - 6.00pm / 7.45pm - 11.30pm)

Musicians:   Backup Vocals:
Guitar: Scotty Moore The Jordanaires: Gordon Stoker; Neal Matthews; Hoyt Hawkins; Ray
Guitar: Neal Matthews Walker
Mandolin / Guitar: Hilmer J. 'Tiny' Timbrell  
Bass & Tuba: Ray Siegel  
Drums: D.J. Fontana  
Drums: Frank Bode  
Piano: Dudley Brooks  
Accordion: Jimmie Haskell  
Tambourine: Hoyt Hawkins  

Whistling Blues (instrumental)
JO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 SFS      
Take 2 M 3:27 GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°

Tonight Is So Right For Love (music & chorus - "Barcarolle")
KO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 FS 0:15 Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2°°
Take 2 FS 0:42 Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2°°
Take 3 FS 0:08 Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2°°
Take 4 M 2:28 GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°~La Legende - GI Blues (BMG France)°°

Wooden Heart (gramafunken version - instrumental)
LO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 FS
Take 2 M 1:36 GI Blues Volume 2 (FTD)° (1:19)+Acetate°

Big Boots (slow tempo)
MO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 Complete 1:57   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 2 FS 0:31   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition°°
Take 3 Complete 1:48   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition°°
Take 4 Complete 1:43 (used for composite master) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Elvis Sings
For Children & Grown Ups Too°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3°° (count-in)
~EP Collection Vol. 1°°

Big Boots (fast tempo)
WPA5 2514
M1O April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 FS 0:15   GI Blues Volume 1 (FTD)°°
Take 2 Complete 1:28   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition°°
Take 3 Complete 1:54   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition°°
Take 4 Complete 1:39   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 5 Complete 1:39   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~The Comp. Movie Masters 1960-62 3 (MRS)°°
+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°~GI Blues
Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 6 FS 0:16   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°° (count-in)~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 7 M 1:38 (not used) Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°° (Count-In)
~Complete Elvis Presley Masters 28 (Sony)°°~GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°
~La Legende - GI Blues (BMG France)°°~GI Blues Anniversary Ed. 2°°
~GI Blues (BMG '97)°° (edited)~Collectors Gold 1°°

What's She Really Like
GO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 6 FS 0:57 (continued) GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition°°
Take 7 Complete 2:46 (MPA5 9151) GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2°°~GI Blues (BMG '97)°°
~Rare Elvis Volume 3°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition°°
Take 8 LFS 2:16   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°° (count-in)
Take 9 FS 0:45   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 10 FS+
Tryout
0:38   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°° (FS & tryout)~GI Blues Anniversary Ed. 2°° (FS only)
Take 11 Complete 2:59   The Comp. Movie Masters 1960-62 3 (MRS)°°+GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°
+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2°°~GI Blues
Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 12 FS 0:39   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°° (count-in)~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 13 Complete 2:38   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 14 FS 0:53   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°
Take 15 LFS 1:13   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°
Take 16 LFS 2:23   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 17 LFS 1:56 (different key & beat) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°
Take 18 FS 0:29   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°
Take 19 Complete 2:24 (used for composite master) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°

What's She Really Like (insert)
GO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 20 Complete 1:18 (take numbering continued) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°
Take 21 Complete 1:29   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°
Take 22 Complete 1:10 (used for composite master) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2°°

What's She Really Like (composite)
L2PB 3679
   
Spliced M 2:20 Composite of Take 19
& insert - Take 22
Complete Elvis Presley Masters 5 (Sony)°°~Soldier Boy (Franklin Mint
Complete Masters Collection 15)°°~GI Blues (remastered soundtrack)°°
~GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~GI Blues (24 Bit)°°~(BMG '97)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 2 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 2°°~The Complete
Movie
Masters 1960-62 1 (MRS)°°~From Memphis To Hollywood (FTD)°

What's She Really Like (movie version)
  (May 11 1960)
Take NA (M) 0:19 (recorded on movie set) The Best Of British - 1959-1960 (FTD)°~Soundtrack°+Elvis Presley In
G.I. Blues - Part 1 (Elvis One)°

Pocketful Of Rainbows
WPA5 2544
NO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 LFS 1:54   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°~60th Anniversary Celebration°° (take number not listed)
Take 2 Complete 3:09 (MPA5 9153) GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°~GI Blues (BMG '97)°°
(edited with Take 27)~60th Anniversary Celebration°° (take number
not listed)~Rare Elvis Volume 3°°
Take 3 Complete 2:59   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°° (count-in)
Take 4 LFS 2:29   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 5 FS 0:13   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 6 FS 0:23   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 7 Complete 2:53   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~The Comp. Movie Masters 1960-62 3 (MRS)°°
+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°° (count-in)
Take 8 Complete 2:57   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~The Comp. Movie Masters 1960-62 3 (MRS)°°
~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°
Take 9 Complete 2:58   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 10 Complete 3:03   GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°° (count-in)
Take 11 FS 0:17   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 12 M 2:25 Alternate master (not used)
(2:47 with count-in)
GI Blues Volume 1 (FTD)°° (listed as 'version 1')+Cafe Europa
Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°° (count-in)
Take 13 FS 0:26   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 14 Complete 2:49   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 15 FS 1:02   GI Blues Volume 2 (FTD)°°~Close Up 2°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°
~GI Blues Anniversary Ed. 2°°
Take 16 Complete 2:49 (continued later) GI Blues Volume 2 (FTD)°°~Close Up 2°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°
~GI Blues Anniversary Ed. 2°°

Blue Suede Shoes (remake)
L2PB 3687
PO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 M 2:08 (2:18 with count-in) Complete Elvis Presley Masters 5 (Sony)°°~Soldier Boy (Franklin Mint
Complete Masters Collection 15)°°~GI Blues (remastered soundtrack)°°
~GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~GI Blues (24 Bit)°°~(BMG '97)°°~Cafe Europa
Sess. 1 (MRS)°° ~La Legende - GI Blues (BMG France)°°~The Complete
Movie Masters 1960-62 1 (MRS)°°~From Memphis To Hollywood (FTD)°
+GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°° (count-In)+Soundtrack° (1:15)

Wooden Heart
L2PB 3681
QO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 1 Complete 2:15   GI Blues Volume 1 (FTD)°°~Close Up 2°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°
~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°
Take 2 FS 0:14   GI Blues Volume 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°
Take 3 LFS 1:23 (NPA5 5823) GI Blues Volume 1 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°~La Legende - GI
Blues°° (BMG France)~GI Blues Anniversary Edition 2°°~A Legendary
Performer Vol. 4°° (LP)
Take 4 M 2:05 (2:15 with count-in) (NPA5 5823) Complete Elvis Presley Masters 5 (Sony)°°~Soldier Boy (Franklin Mint
Complete Masters Collection 15)°°~Elvis 75 CD2°°~GI Blues (remastered
soundtr'k)°°~GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°~Command Performances°°~GI Blues
(24 Bit)°°~GI Blues (BMG '97)°°~Complete Single Collection 4°°~Cafe
Europa Sess. 3 (MRS)°°~La Legende - GI Blues (BMG France)°°+E1 30
#1 Hits)°° (remixed)~A Legendary Performer Volume 4°° (LP)~GI Blues
Anniversary Edition°°+GI Blues Vol. 1 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3
(MRS)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3°° (count-In)+GI Blues Volume 2 (FTD)°°
+The Complete Movie Masters 1960-62 1 (MRS)°° (remixed)
~From Memphis To Hollywood (FTD)°~The Mono Masters CD2 (Venus)°

Pocketful Of Rainbows
WPA5 2544
NO April 28 1960 (Thur)
Take 17 Complete 2:48 (continued) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°~Collectors Gold 1°°
Take 18 LFS 1:35   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 19 LFS 2:16   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 20 Complete 2:47   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 21 FS 0:38   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 22 FS 1:04   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°~Collectors Gold 1°°
Take 23 FS 0:19   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 24 FS 0:41   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 25 Complete 2:43   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 26 FS 1:11   GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°°
Take 27 FS 1:09 "Doin' The Best I Can" GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°+Cafe Europa Sessions 3°°+G.I. Blues (BMG '97)°°
(before Take 2 - not listed)
Take 28 Complete 2:45 (Re-recorded on May 6) GI Blues Vol. 2 (FTD)°°~Cafe Europa Sessions 3 (MRS)°°~Cafe Europa
Sessions 3°° (count-in)

Notes

The instrumentals 'Whistling Blues' and 'Wooden Heart' (gramafunken version) were recorded on one channel of the 3-Track tape (mono) for soundtrack purposes only, although 'Whistling Blues' was eventually not used in the movie

One verse was omitted on the 1997 G.I. Blues edit of 'Pocketful of Rainbows' - Take 2, it was also spliced with the talking from Take 27, which wasn't listed.

Two lines were omitted from 'Big Boots' (fast tempo) on the 1997 G.I. Blues release. The end is the same as the original take but they edited out two "once wore little boots like you" just before the end.

The ending of the movie version of 'Big Boots' is extended, where Elvis sings the last line twice in the movie.

Originally, 'Hound Dog' was supposed to be re-recorded for the movie, but this idea was dropped in favour of 'Blue Suede Shoes' instead. Another song that was intended for the movie was 'I Got A Woman'.

A remixed version of 'Wooden Heart' can be found on Elvis 30 #1 Hits (E1).

The verse of 'What's She Really Like' heard in the movie was recorded on the movie set.

Most of these sessions are available on the UK based Memphis Recording Service official release G.I. Blues - The Cafe Europa Sessions. Due to public domain copyright issues, this set does not contain tracks officially released by RCA in the last 50 years, although take 4 of 'Big Boots' (slow tempo) was released on RCA's Elvis Sings For Children & Grownups Too and The EP Collection Volume 1, Take 7 of 'Big Boots' (fast tempo) was released on Sony's 30 disc Complete Elvis Presley Masters collection and the Franklin Mint package, and Take 17 of 'Pocketful Of Rainbows' was released on Collectors Gold.

FTD's classic album releases of G.I. Blues are undoubtedly the best source for these sessions, although edited.

Take 7 of 'What's She Really Like' is listed as being on the UK based Memphis Recording Service official release G.I. Blues - The Cafe Europa Sessions but it isn't!

The tracks listed as being on the Elvis One release Elvis Presley In G.I. Blues - Part 1 (The Bootleg Series Vol. 48) appear to be lifted from the Blu-Ray release of G.I. Blues, where the "Score" can be found on a separate track of the Blu-Ray disc, , some of it without talking etc, which can be heard in the soundtrack of the movie.

All timings in the 'Musical Breakdown' below are taken from the Blu-Ray release of the movie.

In March of 2007, Sony decided to go through all of Elvis' masters. They retransferred everything and remastered all tracks including repairing as many clicks, pops, bad edits and dropouts as they could. They have used these newly mastered recordings on their new releases since 2007 including budget soundtracks, Legacy releases, the 30 disc Complete Elvis Presley Masters collection and the Franklin Mint package.

Thanks to Ray Reeves for the 'Big Boots' comparisons.

Session Logs
Musical Breakdown
G.I. Blues
G.I. Blues
Recording Information
G.I. Blues (April / May 1960)
G.I. Blues
 

Acetate
Whistling Blues (instrumental)
Whistling Blues (instrumental) (JO-02)
Acetate
Tonight Is So Right For Love (music)
Tonight Is So Right For Love (music & chorus) (KO-04)
Acetate
Wooden Heart (gramafunken version)
Wooden Heart (gramafunken version) (LO-02)

Acetate
What's She Really Like
What's She Really Like (GO)
Acetate
Pocketful Of Rainbows
Pocketful Of Rainbows (NO-12)
Acetate
Blue Suede Shoes
Blue Suede Shoes (PO-01)

 
Acetate
Wooden Heart
Wooden Heart (QO-04)
 


Music Sheets
Music Sheet
Big Boots
Big Boots
Music Sheet
What's She Really Like
What's She Really Like (Thanks to Christopher Brown)
Music Sheet
Pocketful Of Rainbows
Pocketful Of Rainbows (Thanks to Christopher Brown)

Music Sheet
Blue Suede Shoes
Blue Suede Shoes
Music Sheet
Wooden Heart
Wooden Heart
 

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