Customer Reviews

Paradise Hawaiian Style

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This is the second soundtrack album referring to Presley's most favorite movie set locale that is Hawaii. Still, Elvis Presley, apart from the "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" movie did a couple more movies in the past that take place in the 50th state: "Blue Hawaii" and "Girls! Girls! Girls!"

The first one's soundtrack is filled memorable tunes and pure Hawaiian sound in terms of use of instruments and arrangements, while the latter one's soundtrack is a departure from the Polynesian sound.

Now this third album, as far as sound goes, stands somewhere in between. Does this in the middle road approach combine the effects of the two previous albums? Not in every level. Elvis Presley contemplates with songs that any other singer would make them far out disinteresting. The material is not the best in Presley's career. Still, some clever arrangements along with a surprisingly inventive Presley performance give us the reason to not overall neglect this album.

Do pay attention to the out-takes which demonstrate a Presley in fun mood that competes his similar mood during the "Spinout" recording sessions. Apart form that, the out-takes showcase Presley's voice agility and unique performance that once again both characteristics place him on the pantheon of male lead singers.

In July 1965, a recording session was scheduled for Elvis Presley's next movie, Paradise, Hawaiian Style. Elvis didn't show up for the session, claiming he had a cold. So, the musicians and the backup singers recorded the tracks without him. About a week later, Elvis showed up and recorded his vocals to the previously recorded backing tracks. This is one of the weaker Elvis albums. It has more novelty songs than any other Elvis soundtrack. There is a total of one good song, which is "This is My Heaven". It is a very short album, with only ten songs. But this CD adds a whole lot of alternate takes to bring the playing time up to almost 70 minutes. The alternate takes are actually more enjoyable to listen to than the actual album, since you get to here Elvis joking around and laughing at how bad the songs are. You don't need to get this unless you are a hardcore Elvis fan (like me).

I LOVE ELVIS. I have since the 1950's. His voice is beyond belief. Not many singers have the vocal range of Elvis. Everything he did was magic. Even when he is no longer with us, he ROCKS our world.

This album is FUN!! Just silly super fun, much like the movie. Lets face it folks, Elvis had great comic timing. These tunes will make you smile (seeing the movie will make the music more enjoyable)

So pick up the flick and have twice the fun.

HIGH price, = near $3.14c per song; ain't heard it yet, got the VHS, my favorite song: A Dogs' Life, only in this title, but $30.00-for a CD? It's from the U.K., NOT DREAM, it's DERAM, one subsidery of the London/DECCA group. Since the movie was shot here, in Hawai'i, O'ahu/Honolulu, I'll take a guess that the U.K. CD may be in STEREO, so fake sound. No information at CDNOW

>divide the $30.00 + outlay, and it's only 10 tracks = near $3.50 per song. Due to online lack of CD information, mono/Stereo, I'd suggest: buy the VHS. Some nice on site pictures showing the 1960s' Honolulu on O'ahu, now deleted from the island of O'ahu. It was nice here, the video shows the way it WAS. Price WAY too HIGH! *2 Stars* too High a price!

I started in musicology from 1954. Any Q&A <apa_musica@yahoo.com>