ELVIS BMG CD REVIEWS

This CD was one of the first 4 Double feature CD’s to be released in 1993. RCA decided to put most of Elvis’ 60’s movie soundtracks out on CD, usually two soundtracks on one CD. The series would end up with a total of ten CD’s. As far as I know most of the series is deleted. The US version of this CD had two pictures on the front cover, showing scenes from both films. As with all movie soundtracks these songs were not ment for record release. The original 3 track tapes were used on this CD and mastered to sound as if it were recorded in the 1990’s and not the 1960’s. I like the sound, but I don’t have anything to compare it with. It would mark the first time that the Kid Galahad soundtrack was available in stereo.

The booklet contained information on the recording sessions themselves and the movies. It also contained some pictures.

KID GALAHAD
Work on the Kid Galahad Soundtrack lasted two days October 26 & 27, 1961. The CD starts off with one of the movies better songs “King of the Whole wide World” The first attempt of the song, not on this CD, was the song that kicked off the Kid Galahad session, Elvis could not get the lyrics right and by the next day it had been altered and this is the version that was released on this CD. When first released on the Extended Play soundtrack “King of the Whole wide World” faded out. In 1986 RCA had released the complete master of “King of the Whole wide World” which ended with a sax solo by Boots Randolph. In the Double Features book states that this CD was the first time it was released, when in reality it was released on “The Rocker Returns” CD. 

“This is Living” and “Riding the Rainbow” are very short, but uptempo songs. They are released here for the first time in Stereo.

“Home is where the heart is” is a very pretty ballad, one I find myself humming along to a lot. I first heard the song on the I Got Lucky LP. It is released here for the first time in stereo.

“I Got Lucky” was used in a dance scene in the movie. It is a good dance number, and here it’s released Unedited and in stereo. Basically all that was cut was a few seconds of the introduction, but still nice to here.

“A Whistling Tune” was originally recorded at the Follow that Dream session in July. It was rejected for the movie and shelved until 1991’s Collectors Gold. Elvis re-recorded the song for this movie. This song is released unedited and in Stereo on this CD. 

With the release of this CD it marked the first time the Kid Galahad soundtrack was released with unedited masters and in stereo. 

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!
This is one of my least favorite movies. However the soundtrack is one of my favorites. The Girls! Girls! Girls! soundtrack was recorded March 26 - 30, 1962. 
The title song starts out this portion of the disc and it ‘s really uptempo and it kind of rocks. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, so that might have something to do with it. The rockin’ doesn’t stop though. “ I don’t want to be tied” is up next and it’s one of those get up and dance numbers.

“Where do you Come from” is next. The song was cut from the film and I could almost guess where it would fit in the movie. When Elvis is walking Laurel to her hotel and he asks her “where do you come from”. The song was released on the flip side of “Return to sender.”

“I don’t want to” was also cut from the film at the last second. It was still in the Theatrical trailer. It’s a very slow song but pretty.

“We’ll be Together” along with being released on the soundtrack was also released on the Burning Love and Hits From His Movies, Volume 2 LP in 1972. This is where I first heard the song. He does a good job but it’s not one of the best songs from the movie.

“A Boy Like Me A Girl Like You” is a slow ballad. Elvis sang this to Laurel in the movie while sailing to Paradise cove. Good song for the movie, but not for commercial record released. “Earth Boy” was sung when he was at paradise and was singing with the little girls. Two versions of the song were recorded on for the movie and one for the record, the record version was released here.

The next song was a huge hit. “Return to Sender” hit the top 10 in the U.S. “Where do you Come from” was released on it’s flip side. “Return to Sender” became number one overseas. “Because of Love” was sung after “Return to Sender” in the movie and unlike the other songs they were sung on a stage setting.

“Thanks to Rolling Sea” Elvis sings this on a fishing boat. I like the drums that open up the song. “Song of the Shrimp” is a story song. It tells about a shrimp leaving for new Orleans. It’s got a Cuban feel to it. “The Walls Have Ears” should never have seen the light of day. It fit in appropriately on the bootleg “ELVIS’ GREATEST SH--”.

“We’re Coming in Loaded” compared to “The Walls Have Ears” is a gem. I like this song, however I do not consider it a highlight. That was the last song on the original LP. RCA/BMG decided to add on the remaining songs that did not make the LP.

“Mama” was first released on the LET’S BE FRIENDS album in 1970. However it was extended to over 2 minutes. Here we got the original unedited / unextended song. Nice to have it unaltered, but nothing special. “Plantation Rock” was cut from the film. It reached the light of day after Elvis’ death on the Legendary Performer, Volume 4 LP released in 1983. However this is a different edit from that release. It’s supposedly spliced to sound like the acetate version. The last two songs are “Dainty Little Moonbeams” and “Girls! Girls! Girls!” these two songs were spliced together at the end of the film. 
This is the first complete release of everything recorded for the film.

2003/02/24 George Nelson / Ep.Gold.Com.