1961 to 1966
Fun fact: the first 12 songs I am listening to from 1961 (mostly used for the Something for Everybody album) were recorded 64 years ago today! And then it is on to the songs recorded for Blue Hawaii. They are mostly as lame as the movie. Things start to get jumbled up from here, so I might stop talking about what they were recorded for. But needless to say, the songs not recorded for the movies are generally better than the ones that were. That is not to say that all the soundtrack songs were awful; I actually dig the songs for Follow That Dream - and the movie itself. It is hilarious; Elvis plays a complete simpleton and appears to be having a fun time. I'm surprised Elvis hasn't been cancelled for Plantation Rock. And many other things. It Happened at the World's Fair is another one of my favourite Elvis movies - hilarious movie. And a couple of great songs on the soundtrack. Only a couple. One Broken Heart For Sale is actually an awesome song. Who makes a song called Mexico and never once mentions Lucha Libre? 1963 was generally a pretty decent year for The King; some fun singles like Bossa Nova Baby, You're the Devil in Disguise and What'd I Say, and the soundtracks ranged from harmless (Fun in Acapulco) to iconic (Viva Las Vegas). "The eyes of Texas are upon you and you can not get away" is gawdam frightening! I've changed my mind: Barefoot Ballad is genuinely the worst Elvis song on the planet. Or any other planet, ever. Kissin' Cousins is disturbing enough, but Kissin Cousins #2 is even weirder, with lines like "Kissin's allowed because we're proud". Yikes! In 1964 we get It Hurts Me and Little Egypt - both re-recorded and improved greatly for the '68 Comeback Special - and then just 2 soundtracks? I liked Girl Happy, but can barely remember Roustabout. Oh, Do The Clam was also 1964. What an odd single/idea/song/everything. 1965 is simply just soundtracks again; I recall Harum Scarum wasn't as bad a movie as I was led to believe. The soundtrack, however, is very blah. The Frankie and Johnny soundtrack feels more 'big band' style than anything else Elvis has done. It's mostly fine. Spinout may well be my fav Elvis movie soundtrack. But again, I don't really remember the movie, even though I know I have seen it a few times. Might have to watch it again soon. Tomorrow is a Long Time is the longest song by Elvis by far! Until now, very few songs even made it past the 3-minute mark, but this one is 5 1/2 minutes long! Huh, I always thought Love Letters was a 70s song, but here it is in 1966 exactly where it has always been. The soundtrack for Double Trouble is also not bad. I just realised that, of course, I removed all the gospel songs and half the singles from the 60s - since I have them elsewhere - so this 60s section really is about 95% songs from the movies. Which is really making me want to watch all of Elvis' movies again. The songs from Easy Come, Easy Go are pretty funny; lots of love machine talk and ridiculous explanations of yoga.
Highlights: One Broken Heart for Sale, Return to Sender, Viva Las Vegas, What'd I Say, Kiss Me Quick, Suspicion, It Hurts Me, Little Egypt, Girl Happy
6/10
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