Hooray for Hollywood

I started collecting Elvis records as a nine year old in 1968. Back then, I was focused on the bona fide hits and just about neglected everything else. To be sure, I would buy every release - album and 45 - with the goal of building the complete collection, but from a listening perspective, I nearly wore out the greatest hits compilations while paying scant attention to everything else. I especially ignored soundtrack albums (except for whatever reason, "Roustabout") and had several I never even opened. As my listening tastes matured, I continued to ignore the soundtracks because, as everyone knew - and most music critics were quick to point out - Elvis's movie recordings represented the nadir of his career. Over the last few years, thanks in large part to the release of several very good Elvis boxed sets, ("Today, Tomorrow and Forever" and "From Nashville to Memphis" to name a couple) I have gained exposure to a wider selection of Elvis's massive song catalogue. Purchasing this CD from the "Elvis Double Features" collection is a direct result of my expanding musical tastes. After listening, I am left with two conclusions: 1) The music critics who have panned the King's movie soundtrack recordings over the years are clueless and 2) I deprived myself of decades of listening pleasure by ignoring Elvis's movie songs. This CD features three of Presley's less popular outings, 1964's "Kissin' Cousins", 1967's "Clambake", and from 1968, "Stay Away, Joe." Critical lambasting and box office mediocrity aside, each film offers several pleasant musical surprises. "Kissin' Cousins" starts things off with the very upbeat title track and also provides a slower, but equally engaging alternate take. The catchy sing-along, "There's Gold in the Mountains", and exceptional ballads "One Boy, Two Little Girls" and "Tender Feeling" highlight a ten song selection. The obnoxious and hokey "Barefoot Ballad" is the only real miss. The film "Clambake" contributes nine tracks with varying degree of success. "You Don't Know Me", the B-Side of the 1967 single, "Big Boss Man" is reminiscent of the early 1960's Don Robertson ballads ("Anything That's Part of You" and "They Remind Me Too Much of You" to name just two) Elvis sings so well. The title track, "Clambake", is a catchy and harmless tune that could just as easily been a single. "Who Needs Money?" is interesting because it is essentially a duet with the King sharing the stage with a baritone-voiced Ray Walker. Elvis once again scores well with two smooth ballads, "A House That Has Everything" and "The Girl I Never Loved." The adolescent "Confidence" is the only throw away. "Stay Away, Joe", one of Elvis's final films, provides the last five tracks on this CD. All of the songs possess a strong country music foundation. The title track is a raucous offering in the vein of the spontaneous ditties that always seem to break out during movie wedding scenes. "Dominic" is a previously unreleased ballad that unfortunately should have remained unreleased. "All I Needed Was the Rain", another ballad, is not spectacular, but Elvis's rich vocals make it tolerable. "Stay Away" is a fast-paced tune that is actually better than "U.S. Male", the hokey single it served as the B-Side to in 1968. "Goin' Home" (a sweeping quick tempo a la Glenn Yarborough's "Baby the Rain Must Fall) emerges as the best song from the movie, if not the entire CD. Had RCA released it as a single I have little doubt it would have been a hit. For Elvis fans, this CD provides a an enjoyable 90 minute snapshot of the King's movie musical legacy.

More great stuff by Elvis!!

I know I'm probably in the minority,but I enjoy all soundtracks by Elvis.All of the songs are fun and catchy.Kissin' Cousins/Clambake/Stay Away,Joe contains a lot of fun,catchy songs and it's great to hear Elvis.A must for the Elvis fan.

THREE GREAT SOUNDTRACKS

I bougt this CD when it first cameout and I think its great.I'm a big Elvis fan and I enjoyed everything he did.I wish RCA would leave the soundtracks in the catalog.They were a part of his work asmuch as the 68 special was.I have all his stuff on CD.All the movie soundtrack are worth picking up.