Elvis 1960s

Elvis had to join the U.S. Army. He served until 1960. This meant a break from his music and movies.

After his army service, Elvis returned to music in 1960. His music now had a more mature and polished sound. Hits like “It’s Now or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” showed his versatility.

Unlike in the 1950s, Elvis was known for his wild rock ‘n’ roll style. His famous songs like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Jailhouse Rock” were full of energy.

Elvis kept acting in the early 1960s, making light-hearted musical movies like “Blue Hawaii” and “Viva Las Vegas.”

He also made a big comeback on TV in 1968 with a special performance. You can see the video below.

Elvis also got married and became a father in the 1960s. Here is his timeline during the 60s decade:

Elvis 60s Timeline

  • 1960 begins with a promotion for Elvis to Sergeant!
  • Elvis returns from Germany on March 2nd and is officially discharged from military service on March 5.
  • His first post-Army album, Elvis is Back is recorded in late March.
  • Having developed an interest in karate while in the Army, on March 21 Elvis receives his first degree black belt.
  • In late April 1960, Elvis begins work on his first post-army movie, his fifth film, GI Blues for Paramount, the first of nine to be produced (not consecutively) by Hal Wallis. The soundtrack album will be Elvis’ most successful in terms of time on the Billboard charts
  • May 8, 1960 brings ABC airing Frank Sinatra’s Welcome Home, Elvis edition of his variety show, for which Elvis was paid a staggering $125,000.
  • On July 3, 1960 Vernon Presley marries divorcee and mother of three sons, Davada (Dee) Stanley, an American whom he met in Germany.Although they live at Graceland briefly, they later move to a home nearby.
  • March 25 of 1961 finds Elvis at the Bloch Arena at Pearl Harbor. His performance and support raises money and awareness which enables the USS Arizona Memorial to be completed the following year. This will be Elvis’ last live, non-movie performance until his 1968 television special.
  • Elvis will remain in Hawaii thru mid-April filming Blue Hawaii. When the soundtrack album debuts in October of 1961, it sells so well that it becomes second only to GI Blues as the biggest album of Elvis’ career on the Billboard charts.
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  • Late March to late April of 1962 finds Elvis working on Girls! Girls! Girls!, and late August and September bring filming on It Happened at the World’s Fair.
  • Priscilla Beaulieu had flown from West Germany to visit Elvis for Christmas 1962. And by early 1963 she will move there, finishing her senior year of high school in Memphis.
  • Elvis works on his thirteenth film, another “formula” movie, Fun in Acapulco. in the late winter of 1963.
  • By July, Elvis has gone to Las Vegas to film one of his most popular films, Viva Las Vegas.
  • Elvis records and shoots for his fifteenth motion picture, Kissin’ Cousins in October of 1963.
  • In early 1964 Elvis purchases the Potomac, former presidential yacht of Franklin Roosevelt, for $55,000.
  • In March of ’64 Elvis begins filming for his sixteenth motion picture, Roustabout, and by summer he’s working on Girl Happy.
  • In October of 1964 he’s at work on Tickle Me. Shamefully, this movie will have no new songs, just unreleased non-movie songs previously recorded.
  • Continuing the brutal schedule, by Spring of 1965 he’s filming Harum Scarum. And by May, work begins on his twentieth motion picture, to be released out of chronology as his twenty-first, Frankie and Johnny.
  • With his huge generosity always evident, in July Elvis donates $50,000 to the Motion Picture Relief Fund, reportedly the largest single donation the organization has ever received up to this date. Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Sinatra accepted the gift.
  • Back to the movies in August of 1965, this time it’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style. The location shoot allows for a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, which Elvis’ gifts had helped to build.
  • August 27, 1965. A big day. The Beatles visit with Elvis for several hours at his home in California and have an informal jam session.
  • February of 1966 and he’s at work on movie #22 – Spinout. By June thru September it’s Double Trouble. which is filmed back to back with #24,Easy Come, Easy Go.
  • December of 1966. Elvis proposes to Priscilla! ‘Bout time!
  • In February of 1967, Elvis buys the Circle G, a 163-acre ranch in Mississippi, minutes across the Tennessee state line from Graceland. Here he, Priscilla and friends will indulge their love of horses. Elvis’ favorite horse was Rising Sun.
  • RCA releases Elvis’ second gospel album, How Great Thou Art, in March of 1967. It will win Elvis his first Grammy award.
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  • February-April of ’67 he’s filming again. On #25 Clambake.
  • May 1, 1967. Just after 9:30AM Elvis married Priscilla in a small, private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. A press conference and breakfast reception follow. Then the couple honeymooned for a few days in Palm Springs.
  • May 29, 1967.Elvis and Priscilla dress in their wedding clothes and have a second wedding reception in the trophy room at Graceland to include their family and friends who were not in Las Vegas for the wedding.
  • During the summer of ’67, Priscilla’s pregnancy is announced.
  • Back at the salt mines…In summer its movie #26, Speedway
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    and in the fall, Stay Away, Joe.
  • February 1, 1968, nine months to the day of their wedding, Priscilla gives birth to Lisa Marie Presley.
  • And in March it’s #28, Live a Little, Love a Little. The Great Dane that appears is this movie is Elvis’ real dog, named Brutus, although the dog’s screen name was Albert!
  • June 27, 28, 29, and 30. Taping for an NBC television special, which will actually air on December 3, 1968. The true name was Elvis but it is commonly called the ’68 Comeback Special.
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  • Summer of ’68. Yup. #29, Charro!, and then in fall, #30, The Trouble with Girls.
  • During January and February of 1969 Elvis records some of his best work ever. Returning to Memphis, his produces four hits which will be released in late ’69 and early ’70. They are In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, Don’t Cry, Daddy and Kentucky Rain.
  • In the spring of 1969, Elvis films Change of Habit, which will be his last acting role in a motion picture.
  • July 31 – August 28, 1969. The now famous four-week, fifty-seven show engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. His show is wildly successful. Elvis’ first live album, Elvis in Person at the International Hotel is recorded during this engagement.
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  • In September, RCA releases Suspicious Minds, which becomes Elvis’ first number one single since Good Luck Charm in 1962.

Elvis Presley 1960s Songs and Albums

1960

ALBUMS

  • Elvis is Back! Gold record
  • G. I. Blues Gold record
  • Fun Fact! Sgt. Elvis Presley was honorably discharged from the U.S Army on March 5, 1960.

SINGLES

  • Stuck on You Platinum record
  • Fame and Fortune Platinum record (with Stuck on You)
  • Are You Lonesome Tonight? Platinum recordPlatinum record
  • I Gotta Know Platinum recordPlatinum record (with Are You Lonesome Tonight?)
  • It’s Now or Never Platinum record

1961

ALBUMS

  • His Hand in Mine Platinum record
  • Something For Everyone Gold record
  • Blue Hawaii Platinum recordPlatinum record

SINGLES

  • Surrender Platinum record
  • Flaming Star
  • I Feel So Bad Gold record
  • (Marie’s the Name of) His Latest Flame Gold record
  • Little Sister Gold record (with His Latest Flame)

1962

ALBUMS

  • Pot Luck
  • Girls! Girls! Girls! Gold record

SINGLES

  • Can’t Help Falling in Love Platinum record
  • Good Luck Charm Platinum record
  • Follow That Dream
  • She’s Not You Gold record
  • Return to Sender Platinum record

1963

ALBUMS

  • It Happened At The World’s Fair
  • Elvis’ Golden Records, Vol. 3 Platinum recordPlatinum recordPlatinum record
  • Fun in Acapulco

SINGLES

  • One Broken Heart for Sale Gold record
  • (You’re the) Devil in Disguise Gold record
  • Bossa Nova Baby Gold record

1964

ALBUMS

  • Kissin’ Cousins
  • Roustabout Gold record

SINGLES

  • Kissin’ Cousins Gold record
  • Such a Night
  • Ain’t That Lovin’ You, Baby Gold record
  • Ask Me Gold record (with Ain’t That Lovin’ You, Baby)

1965

ALBUMS

  • Elvis For Everyone!
  • Girl Happy Gold record
  • Harum Scarum

SINGLES

  • Crying in the Chapel Platinum record
  • (Such an) Easy Question
  • I’m Yours Gold record
  • Puppet on a String Gold record

1966

ALBUMS

  • Frankie and Johnny
  • Paradise Hawaiian Style
  • Spinout

SINGLES

  • No Top Hit Singles charted this year

1967

ALBUMS

  • How Great Thou Art Platinum recordPlatinum record
    Fun Fact! Elvis Presley is the only artist with two Multi-Platinum gospel or inspirational albums. Amazing Grace–His Greatest Sacred Performances is certified double-platinum, matching the sales of his 1967 album, How Great Thou Art.

SINGLES

  • No Top Hit Singles charted this year

1968

ALBUMS

  • Elvis’ TV Special Platinum record

SINGLES

  • No Top Hit Singles charted this year

1969

ALBUMS

  • From Elvis in Memphis Gold record
  • From Memphis to Vegas, from Vegas to Memphis Gold record

SINGLES

  • Love Letters
  • If I Can Dream Gold record
  • In the Ghetto Platinum record
  • Suspicious Minds Platinum record

Gold record Means that the album or single has been awarded Gold status by the RIAA.

Platinum record Means that the album or single has been awarded Platinum status, sometimes multiple, by the RIAA.

Elvis Presley – ’68 Comeback Special

The December 1968 special Elvis was a proud moment as Elvis reclaimed his title as King of Rock and Roll.

Through much of the decade, Elvis had been churning out movies, his recordings limited by soundtrack offerings. But the rest of the music world continued to evolve. The Beatles, the Stones, the Doors and others had burst onto the scene. The very world that Elvis had helped forge was moving past him.

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Now if Colonel Parker had had his way, this special would have consisted of Elvis standing in front of a Christmas tree crooning Christmas carols. Again, a retreat to the familiar, the formulaic.

Enter Steve Binder, a producer of experience and vision. His certainty that the special should be an allegory of Elvis’ life, a mixture of the rhythm and blues, gospel and country which formed Elvis’ genius, convinced Elvis to ignore the Colonel and trust the young producer.

Elvis Presley 1968 Comeback Special
Credits: NBC

The show begins with a production number of Trouble from King Creole, which evokes Elvis’ past. A country and western, song and dance version of Guitar Man traces Elvis’ roots.

Perhaps best remembered are the segments taped before a live studio audience. Reunited with longtime band members Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana, they sit on a small stage surrounded by fans. Elvis wears the famous black leather suit designed by Bill Belew and looks every bit the serious rocker. With new arrangements of his hits, these sessions are intimate and powerful.

For a finale, the Colonel was pressing for Silent Night. Yawn. Again Binder prevailed. Elvis appears on stage dressed entirely in white, standing before a huge backdrop of red lights that spell ELVIS. He sings If I Can Dream which was written just for this special. This song of hope is delivered with passion and conviction. A tour de force.

The ’68 Comeback Special with its marriage of the old to the new, re-established Elvis’ place as King of Rock and pointed the way for Elvis’ future.

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