Blue Hawaii | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | October 20, 1961 | |||
Recorded | March 21–23, 1961 | |||
Studio | Radio Recorders (Hollywood) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 32:02 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer | Steve Sholes | |||
Elvis Presley chronology | ||||
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Singles from Blue Hawaii | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
MusicHound | [2] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
Rough Guides | [4] |
Uncut | [5] |
Blue Hawaii is the fourth soundtrack album by the American singer Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2426, on October 20, 1961. [6] It is the soundtrack to the 1961 film of the same name starring Presley. In the United States, the album spent 20 weeks at the number one slot and 39 weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Pop LPs chart. It was certified Gold on December 21, 1961, Platinum and 2× Platinum on March 27, 1992, and 3× Platinum on July 30, 2002, by the Recording Industry Association of America. [7] In the UK, the album spent 18 weeks at no. 1 on the Record Retailers (RR) album chart. On the US Top Pop Albums chart, Blue Hawaii is second only to the soundtrack of West Side Story as the most successful soundtrack album of the 1960s.
RCA and Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had initially planned a schedule of one soundtrack and one popular music release per year for Presley, in addition to the requisite four singles. [8] To coincide with the location of the film, touches of Hawaiian music were included, from instrumentation to the traditional song "Aloha 'Oe". [9]
The title song was taken from the 1937 Bing Crosby film Waikiki Wedding , and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" dates from a 1926 operetta. [10]
The song "No More" is based on the melody of the Spanish song "La paloma", "Almost Always True" on the Quebecois song "Alouette", and "Can't Help Falling in Love" on the eighteenth-century French song "Plaisir d'amour".
Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on March 21, 22, and 23, 1961. [11] The songs "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Rock-A-Hula Baby" were pulled off the album for two sides of a single released on November 21, 1961. [12] The A-side "Can't Help Falling in Love," which became the standard closer for a Presley concert in the 1970s, went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, while the b-side charted independently at number 23. [13]
The Blue Hawaii soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1961 in the category of Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Original Cast from a Motion Picture or Television. [14]
The success of this soundtrack and its predecessor G. I. Blues , both of which sold in much greater quantity than Presley's recent studio albums of the time, Elvis Is Back! and Something for Everybody , set the pace for the rest of the decade. [15] Parker and Presley would focus almost exclusively on film work for much of the 1960s. This formula, though initially lucrative, soon led to Presley's career becoming stagnant and his cultural relevance declining amidst a changing musical landscape.[ citation needed ]
Blue Hawaii was reissued on compact disc in 1997 and again in 2008. The latter edition was a deluxe two-disc release on the Follow That Dream label that featured numerous alternate takes. It also corrected the error with the 1997 issue that incorrectly reversed the stereo channels. [16] Five songs from this album appear on the 1995 compendium soundtrack box set Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II : "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Rock-a-Hula Baby", "Blue Hawaii," "Hawaiian Wedding Song," and "Beach Boy Blues." [17]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Blue Hawaii" | Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger | March 22, 1961 | 2:36 |
2. | "Almost Always True" | Ben Weisman and Fred Wise | March 22, 1961 | 2:25 |
3. | "Aloha ʻOe" | Queen Liliʻuokalani | March 21, 1961 | 1:53 |
4. | "No More" | Don Robertson, Hal Blair, Sebastián Iradier | March 21, 1961 | 2:22 |
5. | "Can't Help Falling in Love" | George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore | March 23, 1961 | 3:01 |
6. | "Rock-A-Hula Baby" | Ben Weisman, Fred Wise, Dolores Fuller | March 23, 1961 | 1:59 |
7. | "Moonlight Swim" | Ben Weisman and Sylvia Dee | March 22, 1961 | 2:20 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ku-U-I-Po" | George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, and Luigi Creatore | March 21, 1961 | 2:23 |
2. | "Ito Eats" | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 22, 1961 | 1:23 |
3. | "Slicin' Sand" | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 21, 1961 | 1:36 |
4. | "Hawaiian Sunset" | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 21, 1961 | 2:32 |
5. | "Beach Boy Blues" | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 23, 1961 | 2:03 |
6. | "Island of Love" | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 22, 1961 | 2:41 |
7. | "Hawaiian Wedding Song" | Al Hoffman, Charles E. King, Dick Manning | March 22, 1961 | 2:48 |
On April 29, 1997, RCA released a remastered and expanded version for compact disc. Tracks 1-7 were the seven songs from side one of the original LP and tracks 8-14 were from side two. Tracks 15-22 are bonus tracks, all of which had been recorded during the original album sessions and were previously unreleased except for "Steppin' Out of Line" which had originally appeared on the LP Pot Luck with Elvis (1962).
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Steppin' Out of Line" (originally issued on the Pot Luck With Elvis LP) | Ben Weisman, Fred Wise, Dolores Fuller | March 22, 1961 | 1:53 |
16. | "Can't Help Falling in Love" (movie version) | George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore | March 23, 1961 | 1:54 |
17. | "Slicin' Sand" (alternate take 4) | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 21, 1961 | 1:45 |
18. | "No More" (alternate take 7) | Don Robertson, Hal Blair and Sebastián Iradier | March 21, 1961 | 2:35 |
19. | "Rock-A-Hula Baby" (alternate take 1) | Ben Weisman, Fred Wise, Dolores Fuller | March 23, 1961 | 2:15 |
20. | "Beach Boy Blues" (movie version) | Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett | March 23, 1961 | 1:58 |
21. | "Steppin' Out of Line" (movie version) | Ben Weisman, Fred Wise, Dolores Fuller | March 22, 1961 | 1:54 |
22. | "Blue Hawaii" (alternate take 3) | Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger | March 22, 1961 | 2:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Blue Hawaii" | 2:37 |
2. | "Almost Always True" | 2:24 |
3. | "Aloha Oe" | 1:55 |
4. | "No More" | 2:24 |
5. | "Can't Help Falling In Love" | 3:04 |
6. | "Rock-A-Hula Baby" | 2:01 |
7. | "Moonlight Swim" | 2:22 |
8. | "Ku-U-I-Po" | 2:23 |
9. | "Ito Eats" | 1:25 |
10. | "Slicin' Sand" | 1:37 |
11. | "Hawaiian Sunset" | 2:35 |
12. | "Beach Boy Blues" | 2:05 |
13. | "Island Of Love" | 2:41 |
14. | "Hawaiian Wedding Song" | 2:53 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Steppin' Out Of Line" (movie version) | 1:56 |
16. | "Beach Boy Blues" (movie version) | 1:59 |
17. | "Can't Help Falling In Love" (movie version) | 1:54 |
18. | "Moonlight Swim" (undubbed master) | 2:25 |
19. | "Steppin' Out Of Line" (record version) | 1:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
20. | "Blue Hawaii" (takes 1,2,3) | 3:54 |
21. | "Almost Always True" (take 3) | 2:33 |
22. | "Aloha Oe" ([section 2] take 1) | 1:20 |
23. | "No More" (take 7) | 2:36 |
24. | "Can't Help Falling In Love" (take 13) | 2:38 |
25. | "Rock-A-Hula Baby" (takes 1, 2, 3) | 3:41 |
26. | "Moonlight Swim" (take 2) | 2:38 |
27. | "Ku-U-I-Po" (take 1) | 2:34 |
28. | "Ito Eats" (takes 1, 2) | 2:36 |
29. | "Slicin' Sand" (takes 1, 2, 3) | 2:59 |
30. | "Hawaiian Sunset" (take 1) | 2:42 |
31. | "Island Of Love" (take 8) | 3:02 |
32. | "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (take 1) | 3:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Hawaiian Sunset" (take 2) | 2:46 |
2. | "Hawaiian Sunset" (takes 6, 3) | 3:18 |
3. | "Aloha Oe" ([section 2] take 6) | 1:19 |
4. | "Aloha Oe" ([section 2] takes 7/5) | 0:55 |
5. | "Ku-U-I-Po" (takes 2, 4, 5) | 3:55 |
6. | "Ku-U-I-Po" (takes 6, 7) | 2:51 |
7. | "No More" (takes 1, 2, 4, 8) | 6:15 |
8. | "No More" (takes 11, 15 [insert ending]) | 3:16 |
9. | "Slicin' Sand" (take 4) | 1:43 |
10. | "Slicin' Sand" (takes 5, 6, 7) | 3:32 |
11. | "Slicin Sand" (takes 8, 13, 15, 16, 14) | 4:06 |
12. | "Blue Hawaii" (takes 4, 5, 6) | 4:39 |
13. | "Ito Eats" (takes 4, 6, 5) | 2:21 |
14. | "Island Of Love" (takes 1, 2, 4, 6) | 4:31 |
15. | "Island Of Love" (takes 7, 9) | 3:16 |
16. | "Steppin' Out Of Line" ([movie version] takes 4, 5, 7/8) | 3:22 |
17. | "Steppin' Out Of Line" ([record version] takes 10, 11, 16, 15) | 4:08 |
18. | "Steppin' Out Of Line" ([tag for movie] takes 18/19) | 1:15 |
19. | "Always Almost True" (takes 2, 4, 5) | 5:11 |
20. | "Almost Always True" (takes 7, 6) | 2:52 |
21. | "Moonlight Swim" (takes 1, 4) | 3:54 |
22. | "Can't Help Falling In Love" (takes 14, 15, 16) | 3:08 |
23. | "Can't Help Falling In Love" (takes 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24) | 4:27 |
24. | "Can't Help Falling In Love" (takes 25, 26) | 2:15 |
Sourced from Keith Flynn's analysis of RCA and AFM paperwork. [18] [19] [20] [21]
Chart (1962–1977) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [22] | 63 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [23] | 17 |
Italian Albums (HitParadeItalia) [24] | 1 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [25] | 39 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [26] | 46 |
UK Albums (OCC) [27] | 1 |
US Billboard 200 [28] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [29] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [30] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Blue Hawaii is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy drama film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The film opened at number two in box-office receipts for that week and, despite mixed reviews from critics, finished as the 10th top-grossing film of 1961 and 14th for 1962 in the Variety national box office survey, earning $5 million. The film won a fourth place prize Laurel Award in the category of Top Musical of 1961.
Elvis in Concert is the live album released by RCA Records in October 1977 in conjunction with the television special of the same name which featured some of the final performances of American singer and musician Elvis Presley. Videotaped and recorded in June 1977, both the special and album were broadcast and released on October 3, six weeks after Presley's death. The album peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard chart in late 1977. It was certified Gold and Platinum on October 14 and 3× Platinum on August 1, 2002, by the RIAA.
"Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" is a popular song written by Scotty Wiseman for the 1944 musical film, Sing, Neighbor, Sing and performed by Lulu Belle and Scotty. It was their greatest hit and one of the first country music songs to attract major attention in the pop music field. Although the song was featured in the movie, it was not released by Lulu Belle and Scotty until 1947. The first released version of this song was by Gene Autry in 1945.
Elvis is the second studio album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor on October 19, 1956 in mono. Recording sessions took place on September 1, September 2, and September 3 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, with one track left over from the sessions for Presley's debut album at the RCA Victor recording studios on January 30 in New York. It spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart that year, making Presley the first recording artist to have both albums go straight to number one in the same year. It would go on to spend 5 weeks at #1 in total. It was certified Gold on February 17, 1960, and Platinum on August 10, 2011, by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Something for Everybody is the sixth studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2370, in May 1961. Recording sessions took place on November 8, 1960, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, and on March 12, 1961 at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. In the United States, it peaked at number 1 on Billboard's Top Pop LPs chart. It was certified Gold on July 15, 1999 by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album remained at #1 for three weeks.
Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3 is a greatest hits album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor as LPM/LSP-2765 on August 12, 1963. The album was the third volume of an eventual five volume collection, and his eighteenth altogether. It is a compilation of hit singles released in 1960, 1961, and 1962.
Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4 is a greatest hits album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, issued by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3921, in January 1968, with recording sessions taking place over an eight-year span at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and at RCA Studios and Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It is a compilation of hit singles released between 1961 and 1967, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Gold on March 27, 1992, by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Pot Luck with Elvis is the seventh studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2523, in May 18, 1962. Recording sessions took place on March 22, 1961, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, and on June 25 and October 15, 1961, and March 18 and March 19, 1962, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Top LP's chart.
Loving You is the first soundtrack album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. It was released by RCA Victor in mono, LPM 1515, in June 1957 to accompany his film, Loving You (1957). Recording sessions took place on January 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1957, at the Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage, and on January 12, 13, 19, and February 23 and 24, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. These are the first sessions where Steve Sholes is officially listed as producer. It spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. It was certified Gold on April 9, 1968 by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II is a two-disc compilation of studio master recordings by American singer and musician Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1960s, released in 1995 on RCA Records, catalogue number 66601-2. It also includes a booklet with session details and an essay by Susan M. Doll.
G.I. Blues is the third soundtrack album and seventh (overall) album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2256, in October 1960. It is the soundtrack to the 1960 film of the same name in which he starred. Recording sessions took place on April 27 and 28, and May 6, 1960, at RCA Victor Studio C and Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. The album topped the Billboard Top Pop Album chart. It was certified gold on March 13, 1963 and platinum on March 27, 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album remained at the #1 spot for ten weeks.
Girls! Girls! Girls! is the fifth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2426, in November 1962. It accompanied the 1962 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on March 26, 27, and 28, and May 23, 1962. It peaked at number three on the Top LPs chart. It was certified Gold on August 13, 1963, by the Recording Industry Association of America.
It Happened at the World's Fair is the sixth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2697, in April 1963. It is the soundtrack to the 1963 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on August 30 and September 22, 1962. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.
Fun in Acapulco is the seventh soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2756, in November 1963. It is the soundtrack to the 1963 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on January 22 and 23 and February 27, 1963; and at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 26 and 28, 1963. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.
Girl Happy is the tenth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3338, in March 1965 – the March 1 date is disputed. It is the soundtrack to the 1965 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California, on June 10, 11, 12, and vocal overdubs by Presley on June 15, 1964. It peaked at number eight on the Top LP's chart. It was certified Gold on July 15, 1999 by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Harum Scarum is the eleventh soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3468, in November 1965. It is the soundtrack to the 1965 film of the same name starring Presley. It peaked at number eight on the Top LP's chart.
Paradise, Hawaiian Style is the thirteenth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3643, in June 1966. It is the soundtrack to the 1966 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California, on July 26 and 27, and August 2, 1965. It peaked at number 15 on the Top LP's chart.
Spinout is the 14th soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3702, on October 31, 1966. It is the soundtrack to the 1966 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions for the film songs took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California, on February 16 and 17, 1966. The album was augmented with three non-film songs recorded earlier in the year. It peaked at number 18 on the Top Pop Albums chart.
Clambake is the sixteenth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3893, in October 1967. It is the soundtrack to the 1967 film of the same name starring Presley. He entered RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee on February 21, 1967, for recording sessions for his twenty-fifth film. Supplemental material sessions took place on September 10 and 11, 1967. It peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200.
The albums discography of Elvis Presley began in 1956 with the release of his debut album, Elvis Presley.