FTD 25: Girl Happy

Beskrivelse

The album release contained just an Elvis vocal. The duet was superior and did not surface as an official release until it was added as a CD bonus song decades later. Four more songs conclude the first side of the original LP release. ‘Startin’ Tonight’ ‘Wolf Call’ and even ‘Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce’ are acceptable pop. Elvis seems to be inspired and really trying as the vocals are crisp and the tracks well produced. ‘Do Not Disturb’ is an excellent ballad in the Presley tradition. All in all this six song set remains one of the best of any contained on his movie soundtracks. There were two singles released from the album and both probably deserved better than the re-action they received from the record buying public. ‘Do The Clam’ only reached the top twenty for Elvis.

The song is not as bad as the title implies. It was a bongo (yes bongo) driven up-tempo song that worked. It even came with a picture sleeve that is quite rare today. ‘Puppet On A String’ may not have been as strong but was certainly better than many of the mid-sixties songs that graced Elvis’ soundtrack albums. Elvis slows the tempo down and just allows his smooth baritone voice to carry the song along. Girl Happy remains one of the better Elvis Presley movies ranking just below Viva Las Vegas. The soundtrack is also excellent throughout and holds up well. So for an enjoyable evening, grab some popcorn and watch Girl Happy.

The CD itself contains both previously released and previously unreleased outtakes. It is a standard CD but housed in a deluxe 7″ (17.5 cm) (like a single or EP) triple-fold-out package. It includes a 12 page booklet with information, including photos and images that include some rare movie stills and Cinema lobby cards, related memorabilia and ‘Behind the Scenes’ facts, ‘In And Outtake’ and ‘Off Camera’ pages.

01. Girl Happy
02. Spring Fever
03. Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce
04. Startin’ Tonight
05. Wolf Call
06. Do Not Disturb
07. Cross My Heart And Hope To Die
08. The Meanest Girl In Town
09. Do The Clam
10. Puppet On A String
11. I’ve Got To Find My Baby
12. You’ll Be Gone

The alternate takes:
13. Puppet On A String (takes 5,6,7)
14. The Meanest Girl In Town (takes 7,8,9)
15. Spring Fever (take 4)
16. Do Not Disturb (takes 24,25,26,27)
17. Cross My Heart And Hope To Die (take 4)
18. Girl Happy (takes 1,2,3,4)
19. Puppet On A String (take 10)
20. Spring Fever (takes 18,19,21)
21. The Meanest Girl In Town (take 11)
22. Do Not Disturb (take 35)
23. Cross My Heart And Hope To Die (take 9,10,11)
24. Girl Happy (take 13 and take 4 of ending).

Compilation produced by Ernst Mikael Jørgensen & Roger Semon, Mastered by Lene Reidel at Tocano, Original engineer: Dave Weichman, Recorded June 10-12, 1964 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood.

Musicians: Scotty Moore: Guitar, Tiny Timbrell: Guitar, Tommy Tedesco: Guitar, Bob Moore: Bass, D.J.Fontana: Drums, Buddy Harman: Drums, Frank Carlson: Drums, Floyd Cramer: Piano, Boots Randolph: Sax, The Jordanaires: Vocals, The Jubilee Four (‘Do The Clam’ & ‘Wolf Call’): Vocals, The Carole Lombard Trio (‘Do The Clam’): Vocals. Track 12: Recorded March 19, 1962 at RCA’s studio B, Nashville. Musicians at session: Scotty Moore: Guitar, Harold Bradley: Guitar, Grady Martin: Guitar and Vibes, Bob Moore: Bass, D.J. Fontana: Drums, Buddy Harman: Drums, Floyd Cramer: Piano, Boots Randolph: Sax and Vibes, Millie Kirkham: Vocals, The Jordanaires: Vocals Original engineer: Bill Porter. Original A&R: Steve Sholes.