Customer Reviews

Roustabout [Soundtrack]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have ALL the new Elvis Sony Special Products soundtrack re-issues, and the sound quality is equal to that of the Follow That Dream special editions! They have all been released in their original mix, and sound MUCH better than the "Double Features" releases from the early '90's, which were just awful in most cases! To make matters even worse, the title song from "Fun In Acapulco" had an unnessasary fade-out at the end (the original release didn't!), "Carny Town" from "Roustabout" had some studio chatter at the end, and the title song from "Clambake" had a silent spot in the song where there originally was a drum beat! Why they tampered with these songs (and the great original mix!) is a complete mystery! On these new releases, you get these songs in their original versions. Just like the FTD releases, these CD's sound just like the original LP's did. They also feature all the original front and back cover artwork. These new releases do not feature any bonus tracks like the FTD versions, but if you're looking for just the original LP's on CD the way they were originally released, then you will certainly want these!

As everyone know, the album went to Number One during the English Invasion of the American Music Industry. As only some know, my buddy's Sister, who did not like Elvis, borrowed my l.p., and played it over and over again. I asked her, how could she like the album if she didn't like Elvis - she said, "I like the album".

Well, that was 45 years ago - and I still mull over that phenomenon. Guess it means, the album was/is pretty solid.

This low-priced reissue sounds great, albeit still in need of a true remix - elvis' voice is still too far forward and the band is still too far back. This can be troubling, as on four numbers Elvis' obvious disdain for the material is apparent - the engineer/power-tha-be should have insisted he recut the endings.

Two of these songs are excellent: the big ballad, "Big Love, Big Heartache", a real gem which Elvis should have actually recut in full (and done in Vegas!); "One Track Heart" (chosen for the movie/album promo), a very catchy, contemporary beat. "Posion Ivy League" works better on film but still has a certain resonance in 2010, a kind of rock 'n folk tune, employing some rarely heard socially conscious but good-natured criticism of those privileged "Ivy Leaguers", who have a free ride, with all the tutors and financial backing one could imagine. Great lyrics but once again, a tune in need of a re-do. "Hard Knocks" is a stone'-50s rocker (check it out by listening only to the left channel!), a hard knockin', hard rockin' back-beat that Big Elvis really gets into. But that last long note! Ouch!!

The best cut is a "cover" of the Coasters' classic, "Little Egypt". A solid novelty rocker, and Elvis really nails it. I think this could have been issued as a single. The movie production number on it wqas so good it could only have helped sales. Mysteriously, this number one album yielded only a 45rpm "promo"!

Another strong entry, though one which could never find a place on a single, is the smooth blues rocker, "Carny Town", not too well mixed, but having alot of the feel of Bo Diddley's "Diddey Wah Diddey", containing one of his sharpest riffs. Some more excellent lyrics, too.

Can't help but wonder what the recently recovered rocker "I'm a Roustabout" could not have found a spot on the soundtrack. Might have ensured another week or so at Number One. (Although, they may have had to put "It's Carnival Time" in mothballs....).

Wonder if Barbara Stanwyck bought a copy?

I love the orignal album/artwork packaging concept. The sound is great and it feels as if I'm listening to these songs for the first time.

This one of Elvis's mid-60's movie soundtracks, not one of his best, but not his worst. The Roustabout soundtrack was originally released in 1964 and went to number 1 on the US album chart (it would be Elvis' last number 1 album in the US until 1973's Aloha from Hawaii). It is mid 60s pop with a little bit of rock (but not much). Only recommended for avid Elvis fans.

Sure, ROUSTABOUT is never going to make an All-Time Greatest Albums list, but it offers a breezy collection of pleasing tunes and ranks among the best of Presley's movie soundtracks. The title cut, "Little Egypt," and especially the dramatic "Big Love, Big Heartache" offer proof not all of Presley's movie recordings can be dismissed without losing some gems along the way.

I'VE BEEN AN ELVIS FAN FOR 33 YEARS, AND BEEN COLLECTING THAT LONG TOO.

first let me make the distinction between Elvis movie soundtracks, and his NON movie soundtracks. The non movie soundtracks are for seeing Elvis as a serious artist. Some movie soundtrcks, especially early ones, are of a high quality, so those are the exceptions. The remainder of soundtracks are a mixed bad of GREAT songs and mediocre.

SONGS LIKE: BIG LOVE; WHEELS ON MY HEELS; HARD KNOCKS; and ONE TRACK MIND are worth the album. But to rate the remaining songs were just filler. Elvis did the best with the material he was given. It's important to note that the remainder are "soundtrack songs" and were situational to the events in the movie. THESE SONGS BELONG IN THAT CONTEXT.

LISTEN ON AMAZON FIRST TO THE CLIPS TO SAMPLE BEFORE YOU BUY ANY ELVIS SOUNDTRACK, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS FROM THE LATE 50'S TO EARLY 60'S.

DEFINITELY WORTH THE PRICE TO BUY IT FOR THE SONGS NOTED, BUT DON'T GET STUCK WITH SONGS YOU DON'T LIKE, SO MY CHOICE IS TO PAY A FEW PENNIES MORE AND NOT BE STUCK WITH THE MEDIOCRE STUFF.

I received this cd from my wife on her account and it brought back memories and the cd itself was a carbon copy of the actual record I owned.
The quality of the cd was exellent and Elvis was given great material to work with this time around, even if it was surrounded round a carnaval.
There are a few pop gems like "One treack mind, One track heart", "Big Love, big heartache", "Hard Knocks", Little Egypt" and the rest are just as good. The film itself was well made and the overall production of the material here was given care and respect and for that, I am very greatful this has been put to cd. Overall, very entertaining, a little short, but you want to hear every track. It reached # 1 back in the day and it was well deserved.

Say what you will about the music...we're here to review the sound quality on this reissue. This is the most important of the new 2010 Elvis soundtrack reissues, simply because it sounds vastly better than the previous release(as part of a "Double Feature" CD back in the 90s). That 90s CD was remixed, and not very well. This seems to be a sound-enhanced remaster from the original mix, and the sound is superb. Most of the other 2010 reissues are of titles already well-remastered by the Follow That Dream label, so I have not heard any others yet. Hard to believe these cheap releases could better the sound of those FTDs (they'd better not!). Kudos to Sony/BMG for doing this one so well. If you like the soundtrack-this is the issue to own.