G.I. Blues is Elvis Presley’s first post-Army soundtrack. The soundtrack was recorded during April and May 1960 and released in October 1960. When it was first released in 1960 in was at 10 weeks at #1, and spent 111 weeks on the charts. It became one of Elvis’ top selling albums.
The version of “Blue Suede Shoes” used on the soundtrack is a new recording of the song Presley first recorded in 1956.
This is a pictorial guide of the RCA release, LPM-2256 G.I. Blues.
Mfg: RCA Records
Catalog: LPM-2256
Title: G.I. Blues
Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: 10/1960
Book Value: $80-$100
COVER 1: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at lower left.
DISC 1: Monaural. Black label, “Long Play” at bottom.
INNER SLEEVE 1: No number (10/1960)
RCA generic or Elvis Is Back top right. Back: RCA Elvis EPs and an explanation of sterophonic sound.
STICKER: Another $400 to $500 for the heart-shaped sticker for Wooden Heart which is affixed to the cover not the plastic baggie. However, there are rare cases where the sticker is affixed to the outer plastic baggie and not the cover.
Catalog: LPM-2256
Release: 11/1963
Book Value: $200-$250
COVER 1: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at lower left.
DISC 2: Monaural. Black label, “MONO” at bottom.
INNER SLEEVE 2: No number. (9/1963)
Turquise, black and white. Front RCA Elvis LP catalog, most recent of which is It Happened at the World’s Fair (Side 1, row 4, column 5). Back: RCA Elvis EPs and 45s Catalog.
Catalog: LPM-2256
Release: 10/1964
Book Value: $75-$100
COVER 1: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at lower left.
DISC 3: Monaural. Black label, “Monaural” at bottom.
INNER SLEEVE 3: 20-112-1 40A (10/1964)
Red, black and white. Front: RCA Elvis LP catalog, most recent of which is Kissin’ Cousins (Side 1, row 1, column 6) Back: RCA Elvis EPs and 45s catalog.
Catalog: LPM-2256
Release: 1967 (est)
Book Value: UNDOCUMENTED
COVER 1: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at lower left.
DISC 4: Monaural. Black label, “Monaural” at bottom.
Note: The estimate in date released is based on the fact that I have seen “How Great Thou Art” with the same label, and it was released 3/1967.
INNER SLEEVE 4: 21-112-1 40C (Verification Pending)
Blue, black and white. Front: RCA’s Elvis LP catalog, most recent being Spinout (side 1, row 2, column 7). Back: RCA Elvis Stereo 8 catalog.
A note about inner sleeves
Although a specific inner sleeve has been associated with a particular LP release, this is by far not the only inner sleeve that could have been packaged with a specific release of each LP. For example, the early G.I. Blues may have been packaged with a generic RCA sleeve. As releases span years in sales, and varying demand throughout the release, it is not uncommon to find 21-112-1 40A, 21-112-1 40B, or 21-112-1 40C or other possibilities. This is true about the majority of the Elvis releases throughout his career.