Love Me Tender
"Elvis can act. So help me the boy's real good, even when he isn't singing."
The Los Angeles Times
Love Me Tender was Elvis Presley’s first motion picture.
It was a typical Western that takes place just after the completion of the Civil War. It’s plot sets up a love triangle involving two brothers. Elvis' character Clint Reno marries his older brother's sweetheart when the elder sibling fails to return from the war, but brother Vince unexpectedly shows up and naturally is not happy about the state of affairs on the family farm. The rivalry brings about tragic consequences.
In Love Me Tender, Elvis’s character dies. After the preview audiences reacted so badly to his character's fate, the film’s producers feared that this would cause a negative reaction on the films full release so re-wrote the ending showing a ghostly image of Elvis singing Love me Tender as the rest of the cast walk off into the Sunset.
The songs featured in the film were:
"LOVE ME TENDER"
"LET ME"
"POOR BOY"
"WE'RE GONNA MOVE"
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Vita Mumolo (guitar), Red Robinson (drums), Chuck Prescott (bass), Ken Darby Trio (accompaniment and vocals).
A group of Hollywood session musicians backed Elvis for these four songs as it was thought that Elvis' real life backing musicians Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana did not look like country musicians.
Loving You
"A furtive step on Presley's part in a screen career".
The Los Angeles Times
"Loving you" was Elvis Presley's second feature and first color film. It capitalized on the Elvis’ meteoric rise to superstardom by autobiographically depicting his real-life experiences.
It shed light on a few of the darker aspects of being famous, such as rabid fans that rob Elvis of his privacy and, even more telling, the tenuous relationship with a manipulative manager.
Loving You boasts beautiful color photography, excellent costuming, and a few of the Elvis’ outstanding performances.
The songs featured in the film were:
"GOT A LOT O'LIVIN' TO DO"
"PARTY"
"TEDDY BEAR"
"HOT DOG"
"LONESOME COWBOY"
"MEAN WOMAN BLUES"
"LOVING YOU"
This time Elvis’s original band members were used in the movie:
Guitars: Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, George Fields and the Jordanaires.
Dolores Hart made her film debut in "Loving You". She also appeared in Elvis' fourth movie, "King Creole". In 1963 she retired and became a nun. Delores Hart is now know as Mother Dolores at the convent of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut.
Jailhouse Rock 1957
Elvis (Vince Everett) is sent to prison after being convicted of Manslaughter following a bar brawl over a girl.
Whilst in prison Vince is taught guitar by his cellmate Hunk Houghton, (an ex small time country singer).
When Vince is released he tries to get a job in a local nightclub and impresses Peggy Van Alden (Judy Tyler), a record promoter with his audition.
After a series of failed attempts using the country style Hunk taught him, Vince adopts his own singing style and needless to say becomes rich and famous. Hunk is finally released from prison and comes to cash in on his old cellmates fame.
Vince takes him on doing menial tasks after an attempt to give him a break on a TV show fails.
Hunk frustrated by Vince's fame and bad attitude hits Vince in the throat and the singer is rushed to hospital. After recovering everyone rally’s round to see Vince get his voice back and realizes the error of his ways.
The songs featured in the film were:
"I WANT TO BE FREE"
"YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL"
"DON'T LEAVE ME NOW"
"JAILHOUSE ROCK"
"TREAT ME NICE"
"BABY I DON'T CARE"
Again Elvis was allowed to use his original band members for the movie. Musicians included: Elvis Presley (vocals & guitar), Scotty Moore, "Tiny" Timbrell (guitars), Bill Black (bass), D.J. Fontana (drums), Dudley Brookes, Mike Stoller (piano), the Jordinaires (vocals).
King Creole 1958
“From the director of Casablanca”
Taken from the Harold Robbins novel "A Stone for Danny Fisher", King Creole is considered to be without doubt Elvis' greatest acting performance. A great story of a young rebel, Danny Fisher (Elvis) rowing up in the ghetto and seeking fame and fortune as a singer in the New Orleans Jazz clubs. Along the way he tangles with gangland boss Maxie Fields (Walter Matthau) and falls in love with Maxie Fields girlfriend Ronnie played, by Carolyn Jones
The songs featured in the film were:
"CRAWFISH"
"STEADFAST, LOYAL AND TRUE"
"LOVER DOLL"
"TROUBLE"
"DIXIELAND ROCK"
"YOUNG DREAMS"
"NEW ORLEANS"
"HARD HEADED WOMAN"
"KING CREOLE"
"DON'T ASK ME WHY"
"AS LONG AS I HAVE YOU"
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore (guitar), Bill Black (bass), D.J Fontana (drums), Kitty White and the Jordanaires (vocals).
GI Blues 1960
On August 18, a sneak preview was held in the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. Raymond Willie, the vice president of the distribution company sent a telegram to Paramount that stated "We have never witnessed such a marvelous reaction to any picture."
In an effort to cash in on Elvis' return from the army G.I Blues is roughly based on Elvis’ time in Germany. G.I Tulsa McLean (Elvis) is posted to Franfurt (sound familiar) and on arrival he and his unit place a bet with another unit that no one can spend the night with Lili (Juliet Prowse) a dancer at the Cafe Europa. Needless to say Elvis is chosen to melt the ice maiden, but is given several knock backs before she finally warms to his charms. Although it was just supposed to be a bet Tulsa also falls in love, but everything is almost ruined when Lili learns of the wager. All is explained in the end and everyone is happy giving the movie ending a huge feel-good factor.
The songs featured in the film were:
"TONIGHT IS SO RIGHT FOR LOVE"
"WHAT'S SHE REALLY LIKE"
"FRANKFURT SPECIAL"
"WOODEN HEART"
"G.I BLUES"
"POCKETFUL OF RAINBOWS"
"SHOPPIN' AROUND"
"BIG BOOTS"
"DIDJA' EVER"
"BLUE SUEDE SHOES"
"DOIN' THE BEST I CAN"
The musicians were:
Guitar: Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Neal Matthews Jr., Elvis Presley.
Bass:Ray Siegel. Drums:D.J Fontana, Frank Bode, Bernie Mattinson.
Piano:Dudley Brooks. Accordian: Jimmie Haskell.
Vocal accompaniment by the Jordinaires.
Flaming Star 1960
“Originally planned as a vehicle for Marlon Brando”
Elvis Presley stars as Pacer Burton, son of a white father (John McIntire) and Native American mother (Dolores del Rio) who finds his loyalties tested in a war of attrition between a fierce Indian tribe, the Kiowas, and a group of racist white settlers on the Texas frontier in 1870.
Although his parents attempt to remain outside the fray, his father is eventually killed in an Indian attack on the settlement. A white man, enraged over the Indian attacks, kills Pacer's mother. Shunned by white society after the Indian attacks, Pacer elects to fight on the side of the Kiowas while his brother, Clint (Steve Forrest), stays with the settlers. When Clint rides into the Kiowa camp alone and kills their chief to avenge his father's murder, Pacer fights off the entire tribe to protect his brother, and Clint barely escapes with his life. After Pacer's girl, Roslyn Pierce (Barbara Eden), has tended to Clint's severe wounds, she's unsuccessful in trying to stop him from going off to try to save his brother's life.
Don Siegel was probably the best director Elvis ever worked with, and he draws a quietly smoldering performance from Elvis, who was still undeniably raw.
The songs featured in the film were:
"FLAMING STAR"
"A CANE AND A HIGH STARCHED COLLAR"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Howard Roberts, Tiny Timbrell (guitars), Myer Rubin (bass), Bernie Mattinson (drums), Dudley Brookes (piano), Jimmie Haskell (accordian), the Jordanaires (vocals).
Wild in the Country 1961
Elvis plays Glenn, who's had more than a couple of run-ins with the law—his mother has died and his father can't handle him, so he's paroled into the custody of his uncle, Rolfe (William Mims).
Everybody thinks that Glenn is trouble yet all the women are still interested in him. There is the standard good girl/bad girl split with Millie Perkins playing Betty Lee, the virtuous brunette who is Glenn's sweetheart, and Tuesday Weld as Noreen, the happy go lucky blonde flinging herself at him, who also happens to be family. She's Rolfe's daughter, and Rolfe is really pushing the kissing cousins thing—his scheme is to get Noreen married off to Glenn, in a hopelessly late effort to stanch the rumors. She's got a baby, fathered by a mysterious and missing husband—everybody talks about it with a nod and a wink, too polite to call them on the cover story, too gossipy not to roll their eyes.
In the occasionally precious Clifford Odets script, this comes across as James Dean by way of a Thomas Wolfe novel--and not a bad shot at respectable acting by Elvis. His monologue about his dead mother, delivered to sympathetic shrink Hope Lange, is one of the most affecting things the King ever did in a movie.
The songs featured in the film were:
"WILD IN THE COUNTRY"
"I SLIPPED, I STUMBLED, I FELL"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell (guitars), Myer Rubin (bass), Bernie Mattinson (drums), Dudley Brookes (piano), the Jordanaires (vocals).
Blue Hawaii 1961
The song Blue Hawaii was first introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1937 film
Waikiki Wedding.
Showcased by beautiful panoramic shots of Hawaii the film boasts one of the best selling soundtrack albums of all time. Elvis is in top form returning to the islands after a stint in the army to take up a position with a travel agent showing tourists around. Elvis' relaitionship with Maile Duval (Joan Blackman) is threatened when Elvis has to escort a bunch of amorous school girls around the island on a holiday as well as getting unwelcome attention from the glamorous teacher.
The songs featured in the film were:
"BLUE HAWAII"
"ALMOST ALWAYS TRUE"
"ALOHA OE"
"NO MORE"
"CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE"
"ROCK - A - HULA BABY"
"MOONLIGHT SWIM"
"KU-LI-I-PO"
"ITO EATS"
"SLICIN' SAND"
"HAWAIIN SUNSET"
"BEACH BOY BLUES"
"ISLAND OF LOVE"
"HAWAIIN WEDDING SONG"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Hank Garland, Tiny Timbrell (guitars), Bernie Lewis (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Bernie Mattinson, Hal Blaine (drums), Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brookes (piano), Boots Randolph (sax), George Field (harmonica), Fred Tavares, Alvino Rey (ukeleles)the Jordanaires and the Surfers (vocals).
Follow that Dream 1962
The song "A Whistling Tune" originally written for this movie was dropped, but later
re-recorded and used for the film Kid Galahad.
When the Kwimper family car runs out of gas on a new Florida highway and an officous state supervisor tries to run them off, Pop Kwimper digs in his heels and decides to do a little homesteading. He and his son Toby and their "adopted" children - Holly, Ariadne and the twins - start their own little community along a strip of the roadside.
The fishing is good and the living is easy until the mob sets up a gambling operation and the state supervisor sticks a sexy social worker on the Kwimpers in an effort to take away Ariadne and the twins.
The songs featured in the film were:
"WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE"
"I'M NOT THE MARRYING KIND"
"SOUND ADVICE"
"FOLLOW THAT DREAM"
"ANGEL"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland & Neal Mathews (guitars), Bob Moore (bass), D.J Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Millie Kirkham and the Jordanaires (vocals)
Girls Girls Girls 1962
A newcomer to the musicians was Barney Kessel, a widely popular electric jazz guitarist who would feature on several of Elvis' later film soundtracks.
Elvis stars as Ross Carpenter, a fishing guide.
Trouble arises for him when he has to get his dad's fishing boat out of hock by singing songs in a local night club. As usual, he is besieged by girls, including a little rich girl spending the summer by the shore, and Robyn, a tough club singer.
The songs featured in the film were:
"GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS"
"I DON'T WANNA BE TIED"
"A BOY LIKE ME, A GIRL LIKE YOU"
"EARTH BOY"
"RETURN TO SENDER"
"BECAUSE OF LOVE"
"THANKS TO THE ROLLING SEA"
"SONG OF THE SHRIMP"
"THE WALLS HAVE EARS"
"WE'RE COMIN' IN LOADED"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Barney Kessel (guitars), Ray Seigel (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattinson (drums), Dudley Brookes (piano), Boots Randolph (sax & vibes), the Jordanaires and the Amigos (vocals).
It Happened At the Worlds Fair 1963
The little boy who kicks Elvis in the leg is a very young Kurt Russell. He went on to play the part of Elvis in the 1979 film Elvis the Movie.
Mike (Elvis) and Danny (Gary Lockwood) fly a crop-duster, but because of Danny's gambling debts, a local sheriff takes custody of it.
Trying to earn money, they hitch-hike to the World's Fair in Seattle. While Danny tries to earn money playing poker, Mike takes care of a small girl, Sue-Lin, whose father has disappeared. Being a ladies' man, he also finds the time to court a young nurse, Diane (Joan O'Brien).
The songs featured in the film were:
"BEYOND THE BEND"
"RELAX"
"TAKE ME TO THE FAIR"
"THEY REMIND ME TOO MUCH OF YOU"
"ONE BROKEN HEART FOR SALE"
"I'M FALLING IN LOVE TONIGHT"
"COTTON CANDY LAND"
"A WORLD OF OUR OWN"
"HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE"
"HAPPY ENDING"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Barney Kessel (guitars), Ray Siegel (bass), D.J Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattinson (drums), Don Robertson (piano), Boots Randolph (sax), the Jordanaires and the Mello Men (vocals).
Fun In Acapulco 1963
Director Richard Thorpe also directed one of Elvis's previous films Jailhouse Rock in 1957
Elvis plays Mike Windgren, who is running away from an accident that happened when he was working with his family’s trapeze act.
He takes the job as a life guard and singer in a local hotel and while there catches the eye of Elsa Cardenas, a lady bullfighter. Elvis’ character falls for the beautiful Ursula Andress who plays hard to get.
The songs featured in the film were:
"FUN IN ACAPULCO"
"VINO, DINERO Y AMOR"
"I'M GONNA LIKE IT HERE"
"MEXICO"
"EL TORO"
"MARGUERITA"
"THE BULLFIGHTER WAS A LADY"
"(THERE'S) NO ROOM TO RHUMBA IN A SPORTS CAR"
"BOSSA NOVA BABY"
"YOU CAN'T SAY NO IN ACAPULCO"
"GUADALAJARA"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Barney Kessel (guitars), Ray Siegel (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine (drums), Emile Radocchia (percussion), Dudley Brookes (piano), Anthony Terran, Rudolph Loera (trumpets), the Jordinaires and the Amigos (vocals).
Elvis managed to inject a Spanish feel to his vocals for these soundtrack recordings accompanied by the Amigos.
Kissin Cousins 1964
The filming of "Kissin' Cousins" was completed in a record time of seventeen days.
Production cost was $1.3 million.
Kissin' Cousins has Elvis appearing in a dual role as a soldier (Josh Morgan) and a hillbilly (Jodie Tatum.)
The story revolves around the armed forces attempts to take ownership of a backwoods mountain in order to build a military base, but the Tatum family who own and live on the mountain have resisted all previous attempts. The forces send in Josh Morgan (Elvis) when they discover he is a distant relative of the Tatum's.
The songs featured in the film were:
"KISSIN' COUSINS"
"SMOKEY MOUNTAIN BOY"
"ONE BOY, TWO LITTLE GIRLS"
"CATCHIN' ON FAST"
"TENDER FEELING”
"BAREFOOT BALLAD"
"ONCE IS ENOUGH"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Grady Martin, Jerry Kennedy, Harold Bradley (guitars), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Boots Randolph, Bill Justis (sax), the Jordanaires (vocals).
Viva Las Vegas 1964
Among the guitarists at this session was Glen Campbell,
who later to become a famous recording star in his own right.
One of the best of Elvis’ movies which succeeds largely due to the chemistry between Elvis and the gorgeous Ann Margaret. Sporting the impossibly comic-book perfect names Lucky Jackson and Rusty Martin, the two stars forge a romance against the backdrop of the Vegas Grand Prix, which Elvis, naturally intends on winning. Typically as in most Elvis movies he needs to achieve his goal through hard work slaving as a hotel employee in order to raise enough cash to fix his racing car.
The songs featured in the film were:
YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS/THE EYES OF TEXAS (Medley)"
"THE LADY LOVES ME"
"WHAT I'D SAY"
"VIVA LAS VEGAS"
"I NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON"
"C'MON EVERYBODY"
"TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOREVER"
"SANTA LUCIA"
"IF YOU THINK I DON'T NEED YOU"
"APPRECIATION"
"MY RIVAL"
"THE CLIMB"
"DO THE VEGA"
"NIGHT LIFE"
"YOU'RE THE BOSS"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Billy Strange, Alton Hendrickson, Glen Campbell (guitars), Bob Moore, Ray Siegal (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Frank Carlson (drums), Roy Hart (percussion), Floyd Cramer, Artie Cane, Calvin Jackson (pianos), Oliver Mitchell, James Zito (trumpets), Randall Miller, Herb Taylor (trombones), Boots Randolph, William Green, Steve Douglas (sax), the Jordinaires, the Jubilee Quartet and the Carole Lombard Quartet (vocals)
Elvis was surrounded by the largest number of musicians he had ever worked with on a movie soundtrack.
Roustabout 1964
Elvis plays a coffee bar singer who has a fight and takes off on his motorcycle. He gets a job as a Roustabout in the carnival run by (Barbera Stanwyck) and falls for a pretty girl (Joan Freeman). His singing makes the rundown carnival a success but Elvis’ character soon decides to quit after a fight with a customer and his romance going badly. Elvis leaves to take up an offer from another carnival and with his departure the show takes a nose dive and soon the creditors are ready to close the carnival down. There is only one chance left, Joan goes after Elvis and persuades him to return and save the carnival. He does so, learning the meaning of hard work and true love.
The songs featured in the film were:
"ROUSTABOUT"
"POISON IVY LEAGUE"
"WHEELS ON MY HEELS"
"IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD"
"IT'S CARNIVAL TIME"
"CARNY TOWN"
"ONE TRACK HEART"
"HARD KNOCKS"
"LITTLE EGYPT"
"BIG LOVE, BIG HEARTACHE"
"THERES A BRAND NEW DAY ON THE HORIZON"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Billy Strange (guitars), Bob Moore, Ray Siegal (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, Buddy Harman, Bernie Mattinson (drums), Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brookes (pianos), Boots Randolph, (sax), the Jordinaires & the Mello Men (vocals)
Girl Happy 1965
The song "The Meanest Girl in Town" was originally written for Bill Haley and the Comets and recorded by them in 1964 under the title "Yeah She's Evil".
Rusty Wells (Elvis) and his band quit the Nightclub where they work for a vacation in Fort Lauderdale, but end up being forced to look after their gangster boss' daughter who is staying at the same resort. At first she seems like a plain Jane, but soon reveals her true charms and Elvis and the boys have to come up with plenty of schemes to keep the local ‘Romeos’ away from her and keep the boss happy.
The songs featured in the film were:
"GIRL HAPPY"
"SPRING FEVER"
"FORT LAUDERDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE"
"STARTIN' TONIGHT"
"WOLF CALL"
"DO NOT DISTURB"
"CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO DIE"
"THE MEANEST GIRL IN TOWN"
"DO THE CLAM"
"PUPPET ON A STRING"
"I'VE GOT TO FIND MY BABY"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Tommy Tedesco (guitars), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Frank Carlson (drums), Floyd Cramer, (piano), Boots Randolph, (sax), the Jordinaires, the Jubilee Four and the Carole Lombard Trio (vocals)
Tickle Me 1965
Writers Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds had previously worked with The Three Stooges.
Elvis plays a singing Rodeo cowboy with a second job as a handyman at a beauty spa where all the women compete for his attentions, but he only has eyes for Jocelyn Lane.
The second half of the movie has a twist where the two lovers search for treasure in a haunted house. The film contains some slapstick comedy which offers a rare chance to see Elvis’ talent for comedy.
The songs featured in the film were:
"(It's a) Long Lonely Highway"
"It Feels So Right"
"(Such An) Easy Question"
"Dirty Dirty Feeling"
"I'm Yours"
"Night Rider"
"I Feel That I've Known You Forever"
"Slowly But Surely"
Harum Scarum (aka Harem Holiday) 1965
Elvis plays Johnny Tyronne, a matinee idol on a good will tour in the middle-east. He soon becomes involved with kidnappers, assassins and a beautiful damsel in distress (Mary Ann Mobley).
The songs featured in the film were:
"HAREM HOLIDAY"
"MY DESERT SERENADE"
"GO EAST YOUNG MAN"
"MIRAGE"
"KISMET"
"SHAKE THAT TAMBOURINE"
"HEY, LITTLE GIRL"
"GOLDEN COINS"
"SO CLOSE YET SO FAR"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Grady Martin, Charlie McCoy (guitars), Henry Strzelecki (bass), D.J. Fontana, Ken Buttrey (drums), Floyd Cramer, (piano), the Jordinaires (vocals)
Several new musicians were recruited for the film soundtrack session due to the unavailability of a number of the regulars.
Frankie and Johnny 1966
Frankie and Johnny was directed by Fred de Cordova, director of
Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show"
Elvis plays Johnny, a riverboat entertainer that has a big gambling problem with Donna Douglas as Johnny's girl, Frankie. In the story, a fortune teller tells Johnny how he can change his luck with a new lady luck played by Nancy Kovack and the fight begins between Johnny’s girl and Nelly Bligh.
The songs featured in the film were:
"COME ALONG"
"PETUNIA THE GARDENER'S DAUGHTER"
"CHESAY"
"WHAT EVERY WOMAN LIVES FOR"
"FRANKIE & JOHNNY"
"LOOK OUT BROADWAY"
"BEGINNER'S LUCK"
"DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE/WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN"
"SHOUT IT OUT"
"HARD LUCK
"PLEASE DON'T STOP LOVING ME"
"EVERYBODY COME ABOARD"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Charlie McCoy (guitars), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums),George Worth (trumpet), Richard Noel (trombone), Gus Bivona (sax), John Johnson (tuba), the Mello Men (vocals)
Easy Come Easy Go 1967
Jerry Scheff, who was to be part of Elvis' live band made his debut on bass at this session.
Elvis Presley plays a Navy frogman, who later as a civilian dives for buried treasure. Dodie Marshall plays a disco dancer and yoga student that ends up helping the former frogman. Pat Priest plays a playgirl and with the aid of her boyfriend (Skip Ward) tries to foil the recovery of the treasure chest. Pat Harrington plays the owner of a little club where Elvis sing.
The songs featured in the film were:
"EASY COME EASY GO"
"THE LOVE MACHINE"
"YOGA IS AS YOGA DOES"
"YOU GOTTA STOP"
"SING YOU CHILDREN"
"'I'll TAKE LOVE"
"LEAVE MY WOMAN ALONE"
"SHE'S A MACHINE"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Charlie McCoy (guitars), Bob Moore, Jerry Scheff (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Hal Blaine (drums), Michael Rubini (piano),Anthony Terran, William Hood, Mike Henderson, Butch Parker (horns) the Jordanaires (vocals)
Spinout 1966
Among the musicians in Spinout for the first time was guitarist James Burton who was to play such an influential role when Elvis later returned to live performances.
Elvis Presley plays Mike McCoy, the leader of a small time combo on the road. Millionaire Howard Foxhugh played by Carl Betz wants McCoy to sing solo for his daughter's birthday. Daughter Cynthia is aptly played by Shelley Fabares. Entering the plot further, Foxhugh wants the singer to drive his new race car in an up and coming race. Deborah Walley plays the drummer in the combo and has a mad crush for her boss, Elvis. Diane McBain plays an author looking for a subject for her next book; guess who? That’s right, Elvis.
Auto racing, light comedy and plenty of music helps McCoy dodge the girls
Spinout made an Elvis movie fun again. Also in cast are Will Hutchins, Dodie Marshall and Jimmy Hawkins.
The songs featured in the film were:
"SPINOUT"
"STOP, LOOK & LISTEN"
"ADAM & EVIL"
"ALL THAT I AM"
"NEVER SAY YES"
"AM I READY"
"BEACH SHACK"
"SMORGASBORD"
"I'll BE BACK"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, James Burton (guitars), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano),Boots Randolph (sax), the Jordanaires (vocals)
Double Trouble 1967
Guy Lambert (Elvis Presley) is the leader of a small combo touring Europe. Whilst in London, a wealthy heiress played by Annette Day falls in love with the singer. She plays Jill Conway who is sent away to Belgium to keep her away from Lambert, and also from finding out her uncle (John Williams) is trying to steal her inheritance. As the music tour is set in Europe Lambert ends up singing in Belgium and bumps into Jill. More trouble arises when Lambert is suspected of jewel smuggling and the story goes on.
The songs featured in the film were:
"DOUBLE TROUBLE"
"BABY, IF YOU GIVE ME ALL YOUR LOVE"
"COULD I FALL IN LOVE"
"LONG LEGGED GIRL"
"CITY BY NIGHT"
"OLD MACDONALD”
"I LOVE ONLY ONE GIRL"
"THERE IS SO MUCH WORLD TO SEE"
"IT WONT BE LONG"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Mike Deasy (guitars), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano),Charlie McCoy (harmonica),Boots Randolph (sax),Michael Henderson, Butch Parker, Richard Noel (horns) the Jordanaires (vocals)
Clambake 1967
The heir to an oil fortune Scott Hayward (Elvis) trades places with a water-ski instructor at a Florida hotel to see if girls will like him for himself, rather than his father's money.
The songs featured in the film were:
"CLAMBAKE"
"WHO NEEDS MONEY"
"A HOUSE THAT HAS EVERYTHING"
"CONFIDENCE"
"YOU DON'T KNOW ME"
"HEY, HEY, HEY"
"THE GIRL I NEVER LOVED"
"HOW CAN YOU LOSE WHAT YOU NEVER HAD"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Chip Young, Charlie McCoy (guitars), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer, Hoyt Hawkins (pianos),Norman Ray (sax), Millie Kirkham and the Jordanaires (vocals)
Stay Away Joe 1968
Joan Blondell who plays Glenda Callahan would appear 10 years later as Vi the waitress in Grease with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Joe Lightcloud (Elvis Presley) returns home after a successful run on the rodeo circuit. He intends to raise cattle for the U.S. government with his father (Burgess Meredith). Beer chugging, brawling and girl chasing are colorful parts of a welcome home barbecue. Elvis is slim, tanned; happy and charming.
The songs featured in the film were:
"STAY AWAY, JOE"
"LOVELY MAMIE"
"DOMINIC"
"ALL I NEEDED WAS THE RAIN"
"STAY AWAY"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Chip Young, Charlie Hodge (guitars), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer, Larry Muhoberac (pianos), Boots Randolph (sax), Charlie McCoy (harmonica), the Jordanaires (vocals).
Speedway 1968
Elvis Presley sings his way around the race circuit as successful speedway driver Steve Grayson. All is fine and dandy until the tax return submitted by a wise-cracking Bill Bixby (as Steve's manager) is scrutinised by the IRS. Will Elvis be able to raise the $145,000 to pay his tax bill? Will he succeed with his advances on the IRS inspector Nancy Sinatra?
The songs featured in the film were:
"SPEEDWAY"
"LET YOURSELF GO"
"YOUR TIME HASN'T COME YET BABY"
"HE'S YOUR UNCLE, NOT YOUR DAD"
"WHO ARE YOU? (WHO AM I?)"
"THERE AIN'T NOTHING LIKE A SONG"
"FIVE SLEEPY HEADS"
"SUPPOSE"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Tiny Timbrell, Donald Owens, Alwin Casey, Tommy Tedesco (guitars), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), Hal Blaine, Buddy Harman (drums), Larry Knechtal, Don Randi, George Cast (pianos), Boots Randolph (sax),Roy Caton, Virgil Evans, Oliver Mitchell (trumpets), the Jordanaires (vocals)
Live a little Love a little 1968
A completely new set of musicians were assembled to record this soundtrack.
It is believed that Elvis dubbed his vocals in the same studios but without the band members.
Greg Nolan meets Bernice, and loses both his job and his apartment. However, Bernice manages to get him a new apartment, but it is so expensive that he has to get two full-time jobs.
Elvis is very convincing as a professional photographer.
The songs featured in the film were:
"WONDERFUL WORLD"
"EDGE OF REALITY"
"A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION"
"ALMOST IN LOVE"
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Joseph Gibbons, Neil Levang, Al Casey, Charles Britz (guitars),Larry Knetchal, Charles Berghofer (bass), Hal Blaine, Gary Coleman (drums), Don Randi (piano)
Charro 1969
Elvis fans were shocked when the publicity stills of Charro were released
showing a bearded Elvis for the first time.
Jess Wade (Elvis) is innocently accused of having stolen a cannon from the Mexican revolutionary forces and throughout the movie he tries to find the real culprits, a gang of criminals, in order to prove is innocence.
A boisterous outlaw he must break free from the notorious gang he once ran with in order to complete his reformation. The gang is not about to let him go that easily, as it seems there are some old scores to settle.
The songs featured in the film were:
CHARRO
LET'S FORGET ABOUT THE STARS
Musicians : Elvis Presley (vocals), Tommy Tedesco, Ralph Grasso, Howard Roberts (guitars), Carl O'Brien (drums), Don Randi (piano), Emile Radocchia (percussion), the Jordanaires (vocals).
The Trouble with Girls 1969
Again, Elvis overdubbed his vocals onto this soundtrack without meeting a
single one of the musicians who accompanied him.
Walter Hale (Elvis Presley) is the manager of a traveling show, a Chautauqua, in the 1920's. Amongst the entertainment, trouble starts to develop. Hale is troubled by a Worker's Union rep, played by the gorgeous Marlyn Mason and a college girl played by Nicole Jaffe, wants to go on the road with the show.
A female citizen kills a man in self defense and becomes the highlight of the Chautauqua.
The songs featured in the film were:
"ALMOST"
"CLEAN UP YOUR OWN BACKYARD"
"SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT"
"VIOLET" (FLOWER OF NYU)"
"SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC"
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Gerald McGee, Morton Marker, Joseph Gibbons (guitars), Max Bennett (bass), Frank Carlson, John Guerin (drums), Don Randi (piano), Marilyn Mason & the Mello Men (vocals).
Change of Habit 1969
The film was originally to have been directed by Evangelist Billy Graham.
Here the Elvis plays a doctor working in an inner-city free clinic, playing host to three Catholic nurses (who are really nuns’ incognito), Elvis gets hung up on one of the nuns, played by Mary Tyler Moore.
Featuring Elvis at the peak of his phenomenal popularity, A Change of Habit is a hilarious romantic comedy.
The songs featured in the film were:
"RUBBERNECKIN"
"HAVE A HAPPY"
"CHANGE OF HABIT LET US PRAY (2 versions)"
Musicians :
Elvis Presley (vocals), Dennis Budimer, Mike Deasy, Howard Roberts, Robert Bain (guitars), Joe Mondragon (bass), Carl O'Brien (drums), Roger Kellaway (piano), the Mello Men (vocals)
This Soundtrack for what was to be Elvis' last feature film found him for one last time dubbing his movie vocals alone in the studio.