![]() As a tropical paradise, Hawaii was the perfect setting for romance, and it represented an escape from the mundane everyday world of most viewers. The scenery provided more than just beautiful cinematography. The exotic locale was a key element in the promotion of Blue Hawaii and in its success. Elvis' personal time in Hawaii was anything but the fun-filled, action-packed adventure portrayed in the film. ![]() Finally, a 24-hour guard was posted outside Elvis' room, and Elvis curtailed his off-set activities. A few pretended to be mail messengers with special delivery packages that only Elvis could sign for others managed to climb the fire escape.įans gathered on the beach by his hotel and scratched messages in the sand that Elvis could see from his window. Hawaiian fans were as enthusiastic as those on the mainland, persistently trying to get into Elvis' hotel to see their idol. Blue Hawaii remained on the albums chart for 79 weeks and was awarded double platinum status by the RIAA in March 1992.Īfter the soundtrack was recorded, Elvis and his entourage flew to Honolulu for a month's worth of location shooting. 1 album in the country for 20 weeks, which set a record for a rock performer or group that lasted until 1977 when Fleetwood Mac's Rumors broke it. It topped the Billboard albums chart two months after its October 1961 release. Steel guitar and ukelele players were also added.īlue Hawaii became Elvis' biggest-selling movie soundtrack. Percussionist Hal Blaine, whose expertise involved Hawaiian instruments, joined drummers D.J. To capture a Hawaiian-style sound, special musicians were employed for the recording sessions. The songs composed for the film were not rock 'n' roll either, although "Rock-a-Hula Baby" is a playful pastiche of rock 'n' roll dance crazes. The title tune and the song "Aloha Oe" had been recorded in the 1930s by Bing Crosby during a craze for the allure of the tropical isles. Some of these were not written for the film but had been recorded and released previously, including "Moonlight Swim," "Blue Hawaii," and "Hawaiian Wedding Song." "Aloha Oe" was composed by Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii in 1878. Most of the 14 songs on the album are pop-style tunes. Unfortunately, as the 1960s wore on, the movie material declined in quality, reflecting poorly on all the soundtracks. This and other soundtrack albums were meant to serve a different purpose and to appeal to different audiences. They were less concerned with the impact of his music or his role as a musical innovator. Elvis' management was interested in appealing to the mainstream audience and generating spectacular sales. Blue Hawaii - the album and the movie - was aimed at a far wider audience than his studio recordings. The material was not particularly creative, nor did it have the mix of sounds found on Elvis Is Back!, but it is a solid example of that blend of pop and rock that defined Elvis' movie music. The soundtrack to Blue Hawaii may have been miles away from rock 'n' roll or rhythm-and-blues, but it gave Elvis the song with which he would close most of his 1970s concerts: "Can't Help Falling in Love." Recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood in 1961, Blue Hawaii featured 14 songs, more than any other Elvis soundtrack. As the decade progressed, all other Elvis recordings took a backseat to the music for the movies. Because it was Elvis' highest-grossing film at the box office, it became the model for the type of musical comedy associated with him during the 1960s. ![]() His management team, made up of Colonel Parker, Elvis, Hal Wallis, and Abe Lastfogel, Elvis' William Morris agent, had already determined that movies should be the focus of his career, but Blue Hawaii would narrow that focus further. While this was business as usual for Presley that year, in retrospect it marks a juncture in his career. ![]() Elvis recorded the tunes for the modestly budgeted musical comedy in Hollywood as opposed to Nashville, where much of his nonsoundtrack music was produced. Afterward, he buckled down to record the songs that would comprise the soundtrack. Upon his arrival, he spent a few fun-filled days with friends Juliet Prowse, Joan Blackman, and Pat Fackethal, a real-life stewardess selected to play a bit part as a stewardess in the film. On March 14, 1961, Elvis and assorted friends, assistants, and bodyguards flew to Los Angeles so he could begin production on his next film, Blue Hawaii. Blue Hawaii was the first in a string of movies dubbed the "Elvis Presley travelogues."
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |