44. 1960, Bad Nauheim, Germany; New York City

Drafted into the US Army and sent to Germany, a 23-year-old is struck by a recent recording of the classic Neapolitan ballad “O Sole Mio.” During a visit from his music publisher (before being drafted the young man was enjoying a massive success as a singer) he confides his wish to record an English version of the song. As soon as he is back in New York, the music publisher, whose primary job is to find and commission songs for the singer, rushes to his office in the Brill Building. That day only two songwriters are present. He explains to them what he wants and within 30 minutes they have produced a complete song. When the singer’s two-year tour of duty is over, he returns to the States and to civilian life. Although it is nothing like the rock-and-roll numbers that initially brought him attention (or perhaps precisely because of that difference), his revamped version of the old Italian song, titled “It’s Now or Never,” becomes his best-selling single to date.

(Elvis Presley, Freddy Bienstock, Aaron Schroeder, Wally Gold)