Viva Las Vegas/Roustabout

Artist: Elvis Presley
Label: Bmg
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Soundtrack
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 743211343220
EAN: 0743211343220
ASIN: B000025MQI

Release Date: 2003-03-04

Viva Las Vegas/Roustabout

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Tracks:

Viva Las Vegas
If You Think I Don't Need You
I Need Somebody to Lean On
You're the Boss - Ann-Margret, Elvis Presley
What'd I Say
Do the Vega
C'mon Everybody
Lady Loves Me - Ann-Margret, Elvis Presley
Night Life
Today, Tomorrow and Forever
Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas
Santa Lucia
Roustabout
Little Egypt
Poison Ivy League
Hard Knocks
It's a Wonderful World
Big Love, Big Heartache
One Track Heart
It's Carnival Time
Carny Town
There's a Brand New Day on the Horizon
Wheels on My Heels

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Album Description

Remastered UK twofer combines two soundtracks, 'Viva Las Vega' & 'Roustabout', originally released in 1964. Includes 16 page booklet with photos, behind the scenes notes & credits. RCA. 1993.

Album Details

2lps on One CD

Customer Reviews:

Elvis Rocks "Hard Knocks".......2006-03-09

Unlike many fans of "The King", I was too young to appreciate his early music (Hound Dog, etc.) and too old to get into the overweight, jumpsuit Elvis. I found my niche at 10 when I saw Roustabout at a Saturday matinee. I was hooked. Every time I had a few dollars saved up I'd head to my local record shop and order (Elvis soundtracks aren't normally something they carried in stock)one of his movie tracks. Viva Las Vegas, Kissin Cousins, Roustabout, Girl Happy, and on and on. I have his greatest hits. etc, but when I want to rock out, it's always an Elvis soundtrack I drop in. How can you beat "Hard Knocks", "Big Love(big heartache)", "Viva Las Vegas" and "Come On Everybody"? Oh no doubt there are some clunkers amongst the gems ("Do the Vega" for example) but the bulk of these songs are really fun to listen to (and sing along) and I think capture Elvis in his prime.

I'm just a devil with love to spare........2005-04-29

This CD features the soundtracks to two Elvis movies released in 1964.

Viva Las Vegas is one of the best Elvis soundtracks of the '60s. The title song is an absolute classic, although it was one of his least successful singles at the time (the flip side, "What'd I Say", actually charted higher). The other songs on the soundtrack are also pretty good. There are two cute duets with co-star Ann-Margret. "I Need Somebody to Lean On" and "Today, Tomorrow and Forever" are good ballads. And "If You Think I Don't Need You" and "C'Mon Everybody" are fun, lightweight rockers. But there are a few clunkers here. "Do the Vega" is mediocre and the "Texas Medley" is downright awful. Overall, I would give this soundtrack 4 stars.

Roustabout, on the other hand, is not a good soundtrack. Most of the songs are terrible. It's worth noting that none of these songs were considered good enough to be released as a single. "Poison Ivy League" and "Big Love Big Heartache" are typical of the junk Elvis was often coerced into recording for soundtracks. But I do kind of like "Roustabout, "One Track Heart" and the cover of the Coasters' "Little Egypt". Those songs save the soundtrack from being totally worthless. I would give this soundtrack 2 stars.

Average out the 4 stars Viva Las Vegas soundtrack and the 2 stars Roustabout soundtrack, and you get a 3 stars CD.

Worth a listen for the open minded.......2001-09-03

Elvis' soundtrack recordings are generally considered the nadir of his career but the truth is that his singing until at least 1965 was generally superb and whenever he was given half a chance he always came through. This CD is exhibit "A".

On the "Viva Las Vegas" end, Presley is given a few decent tunes for once and turns in what would have been one of the period's most interesting albums,if this had been released as an album. You would never guess it from the film's camp reputation but Presley tries new things here. "Viva Las Vegas", which contains some of his most dramatic singing, is as good a mixture of swing and rock and roll as anything Bobby Darin ever did. That it's often dismissed as just another goofy movie song is unforgiveable. For Doc Pomus' lyrics, alone that capture the essence of the city, the song is a classic. The best ever remake of "What'd I Say" features the largest arrangement Presley had ever used up to that time. Driven by furious drumming from Hal Blaine who pounds his tom toms in a high speed endless roll and an ecstatic vocal by Presley, this is the only version that even comes close to Ray Charles. "I Need Someone to Lean On" is an intimate Frank Sinatra style saloon tune, also new territory for Presley. In more familiar areas "C'mon Everybody" and "If You Think I Don't Need You" are first-rate dance numbers and the duet with Ann Margaret on "You're the Boss" is thrillingly raunchy(you can feel their chemistry), far better than the original by Jimmy Ricks and Laven Baker. Much of the rest is standard movie fare but delivered with Presley's usual aplomb.

Roustabout is a bit of a different story. The material is weak, some of Presley's vocals seem a little rushed and it sounds like it was recorded in a canyon. Still, even here there are moments including a first-rate pop rock number in "One Track Heart" and a fine but very close to the original remake of the Coasters' "Little Egypt". Plus "Hard Knocks" and "Big Big Love Heartache" are better than passable.

Making all of the material a little more acceptable is the packaging which contains photos from the films (though not many) and session information. It's intelligent but not all it could be. The sound throughout features a little too much echo. (On Roustabout this can be attributed to the original recording conditions.) Also more detail in the liner notes would have been appreciated. Finally, it wouldn't have killed BMG to stuff a few hooks in here for collectors. Except for the previously released duets there are no rarities. Given the brief length of the album (53 minutes) there was plenty room for an alternate take or two especially the terrific movie version of "C'mon Everybody" which is still unreleased.
Overall though this is a must for fans, while the casual listener will be challenged but also rewarded.

Totally purchase worthy!.......2001-02-23

I purchased this CD years ago as a total Elvis hater turned appreciator after seeing the video and hearing the music. Elvis and Ann-Margret have an excellent chemistry and the Viva Las Vegas part of this CD is practically worn out! Buy this CD just for You're the Boss and The Lady Loves Me and you'll be happy. Buy the video, buy the CD and sing along! ...in the middle of the night when the moon is shining bright, you're the boss...

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