Sixty-six years ago today, Elvis Presley walked into RCA Studio B in Nashville and recorded what would become the biggest-selling single of his entire career.
On April 3, 1960, Presley laid down "It's Now or Never" during a late-night session that ran from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. The recording was produced by Steve Sholes with assistance from Chet Atkins, engineered by Bill Porter and backed by the Jordanaires. But it wasn't the technical setup that made this session legendary. It was the song's unlikely origin story and the sheer determination Presley brought to the microphone.
The inspiration came from an Italian classic. While stationed in Germany during his two-year stint in the U.S. Army, Presley became captivated by "'O Sole Mio," a Neapolitan ballad written in 1898. He loved the melody so much that he asked his team to create an English-language version he could record. Songwriters Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold delivered, reportedly writing the new lyrics in just 30 minutes.
The session itself was intense. Presley insisted on nailing the song's dramatic vocal climax in a single take without any splicing. Co-writer Schroeder later recalled that Elvis "wanted everything to be right, almost to the point of having tears in his eyes because he felt himself to be struggling to get the result that he envisioned."
That perfectionism paid off. "It's Now or Never" was released in July 1960 and shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for five weeks. It also topped the charts in the U.K. for eight weeks. To date, the single has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, making it not only Presley's biggest hit but one of the best-selling singles in music history.
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A Song Elvis Loved More Than Any Other
The track holds an especially personal place in the Presley legacy. Priscilla Presley has said it was her husband's favorite song, noting that he loved it more than anything else he ever recorded. And for fans who know the King primarily through his earlier rock and roll hits, "It's Now or Never" showcased a completely different side of his voice: operatic, tender and full of emotion.
More than six decades later, that late-night Nashville session still stands as one of the most important recording dates in rock and roll history.
Related: Elvis Presley Details His Deepest 'Fears' in Intimate 50-Minute Unearthed Tape
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