Forrest AGAIN sings the praises of Elvis movies

[ForrestGump]

Part 2 -- more movie songs, following on from this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4789932

From that post:

Part 1, in which he messes around with some tuneage from '60s soundtracks. There're too many of these things that I laid down, even for the diehardest of the ForrestGump Record Club, so I split 'em up into two installments...second one will be along in maybe a day or so.

I had a ton of fun singing these songs, and some of the least (musically) were the most fun. "You Gotta Stop," from the Easy Come, Easy Go soundtrack (in the second batch of uploads, yet to come), is just one example of a less-than-stellar song that I not only find terminally catchy but that is just such fun to sing (always liked the lead guitar on that song, too).

Some of these songs are bona fide classics, like "Return To Sender," "Viva Las Vegas," "Wooden Heart," "A Little Less Conversation" (albeit this one being largely unappreciated until it resurfaced a few years ago), and a few others. Others are gems, on a par ( in my opinion) with his great non-soundtrack studio work from the '60s, like "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears," "Follow That Dream," "Let Yourself Go," "Edge Of Reality," and others. But some are, pretty much undeniably, not-so-good and definitely squandering of Elvis' talent and potential. Even these latter songs, though -- like the movies that so many of us grew up with via TV -- have attained a kind of legitimacy in the past decade or two, almost as a cult phenomenon. And, dammit, I still find "You Gotta Stop" catchy -- I have no explanation for "Do The Clam," however, but will note that it was an inexplicably huge hit in Japan in 1965.

Some of these songs pop up in unexpected places, too. I've got a recording of none other than Led Zeppelin doing "Frankfort Special," "Pocketful Of Rainbows" was on the Jerry Maguire soundtrack, "Follow That Dream" has for many years been a staple in Bruce Springsteen's live setlist, Julee Cruise's cover of "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears" was recorded for the film Until The End Of The World, "Viva Las Vegas" has been covered by Bruce, ZZ Top, and just about anyone who's played Vegas, kd lang used to close her concerts with "I'll Be Back," and, of course "A Little Less Conversation" was a pet favorite of the maker of the remake of Oceans Eleven and went from its soundtrack to chart dominance after a remix for a Nike commercial.

Anyway, here they are, in all their dubious glory (some more dubious than others), my renditions of some of Elvis' celluloid ditties. All MP3 files...just click on the URL below the song title if it's a song you want to hear (my attempt thereof, anyway)

Bossa Nova Baby (1963 - from the Fun In Acapulco soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1C4ISXXWGDIS12HZ7APRY6RA97 (2.65 MB)

Marguerita (1963 - from the Fun In Acapulco soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1NVPAUOUDYFPN1LX6X2WB65U8G (3.70 MB)

C'mon Everybody (1963 - from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3PXXFJFIDR3JI3TT9H26THU82D (3.25 MB)
Viva Las Vegas (1963 - from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0LI8FUP0UZX1Z2X32CAPNQ4DTS (3.34 MB)

Today, Tomorrow, And Forever (1963 - from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=11O44UH3N8VAA0VYFRL2D3TL53 (4.66 MB)

What'd I Say (1963 - from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FZSQ5DGW9O9828GFRPWPVKXKF (4.41 MB)

Roustabout (1964 - from the Roustabout soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2POB4UJD3G1E43GP1EIH4YA5DW (2.87 MB)

Wheels On My Heels (1964 - from the Roustabout soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=11I1O4K55O0RG1CC1PF3I2D9MM (1.70 MB)

Do The Clam (1964 - from the Girl Happy soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=09MXX0CL6K4B41KTO661SHD4TG )4.51 MB)

Puppet On A String (1964 - from the Girl Happy soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01T4K0FZ0IB7G1ND7YQPBEBX9U (3.96 MB)

Wolf Call (1964 - from the Girl Happy soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=185T20SRORKOP1AFU7TOOUB901 (2.27 MB)

Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1965 - from the Paradise, Hawaiian Style soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1IKB4460O1XFQ2EYW8C36BAGJB (3.67 MB)

All That I Am (1966 - from the Spinout soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=33XIAKD21BODO3BBMFPY7K96DC (3.15 MB)

I'll Be Back (1966 - from the Spinout soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3MZ9NGBGK9JIC2M0JA29RJ33KZ (2.83 MB)

You Gotta Stop (1966 - from the Easy Come, Easy Go soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2RANVKKIREMW51VBJF68NTXBJ3 (3.17 MB)

A Little Less Conversation (1968 - from the Live A Little, Love A Little soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=07J97BRBZ7N3U0S0Y1SY7CIGI8 (2.75 MB)

Edge Of Reality (1968 - from the Live A Little, Love A Little soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0GGMC18IBJDES3FWE5GQHQ864U (4.65 MB)

[Dave Reynolds]

1. Elvis, shmelvis.

Meh.


:hide:

[ForrestGump]

2. you're lucky i'm halfway asleep

:P

I'll get you later

If i remmnreber

[Dave Reynolds]

3. I'm hiding,

cuz an insult to Elvis marks me for jihad.

[merh]

4. I love these, still downloading

I am excited that this one made your list

C'mon Everybody (1963 - from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack)
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3PXXFJFIDR3JI3TT9H26... (3.25 MB)
Viva Las Vegas (1963 - from the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack)

But how I wish you would do "Lova my baby"


Thanks again, Mr. Gump, for sharing your music with us.

:hug: :loveya:

[ForrestGump]

5. I wrote that post days ago (i'm alittle more incoherent now!, sorry)

but I forgot to add what I'd put in the post accompanying an earleir batch of songs (Valentine's SdaY) but erased m'cos my eaarleir version of this song sucked:

""C'mon Everybody" is what Ms merh claims as her favorite Elvis song, from the film Viva Las Vegas, and she asked me to do it...I wish she had a favorite song that was more within my vocal range, but I survived the ordeal. I love the song, too, but it's quite a stretch on some of those notes...phew!"

That night i just couldn't get the song right, and thrashed my throat, so I didn't upload that version and delted the above from my post. I'd tried once before, too, but it was the end of a lo9ng and grueling bout at the microphone and that one was awful. This time it worked betetr...third time lucky, and my throat even survived.. :-)

But, yep, I did that one for you.

Now if only I could get "Always In My Mind" backing track in the right key, I cna do Mrs Grumpy's request :-)

[merh]

6. Have I told you that lately that I adore you?

You are truly talented and I, for one, truly appreciate all that is you.

I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. ;)

Thank you, Mr. Gump, for giving so much of yourself to all of us.

Glad that the throat survived and tickled you did my song... :blush:

:hug: :loveya:

[ForrestGump]

8. I don't know...please tell me again, just in case

:D

:hug:

Thanks, Ms merh...I'm glad you like my go at that great song, too. Thanks for the request! :yourock:

[merh]

10. If you insist!

I adore you ForrestGump!



You are always so full of surprises and life. :hug: :loveya:

[Bryan]

7. Supercool post, Forrest.

I've always had a sneaking enjoyment of the music from Elvis' movies, as dreadful as the movies themselves often are. Elvis "scholars" don't seem to think much of them, but they are interesting, representing a separate icon all to themselves: not the soulful, romantic "young Elvis", or the garish and decrepit but often moving "old Elvis", but a wanton, full-blooded Elvis who's up to no good, and who has a bottomless supply of campy but virile swinging-'60s party songs like "There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car".

[ForrestGump]

9. I agree!

Some catchy tunes in those soundtracks (1965 was the nadir, to my mind, but even the fairly dreadful Harum Scarum turned up a couple of catchy tracks) and, yes, the abomination known as "There's No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car" appeals to me, too. :D

It's sad that his talent was so squandered, and criminal in view of what you hear if you listen to the recording of his 1961 Hawaii charity concert (the last live concert he did until 1969) and think of what might have been, but the soundtracks did yield some great songs as well as some classic bits of fluff that are fun, if nothing else. For the most part, he did his best on even the soundtracks he detested, too, the famous quote along the lines of "what can you do with this sh*t?" being inspired by a moment when he'd about had enough (he did walk out on 1966's "Old McDonald" and they pieced the RCA recording together from bits and pieces and, I believe, a taped rehearsal...he just couldn't do it any more on that one).

[HuskerDU]

11. Forrest- have you heard the Neil Young song 'He was the King?'

Great song full of joy and love for Elvis. Hope you have a chance to check it out sometime.

Thank you very much!