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Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas / Roustabout
Of all of Elvis' movies of the '60s, "Viva Las Vegas" remains a cult favorite. Combining the sexual chemistry of Elvis Presley and Ann-Margaret with a light little story and some surprisingly good music made for one of Elvis' better and more watchable movies. More, it made for one of the most listenable soundtracks. While there were rampant rumors about Elvis and Ann-Margaret during filming, from their possible love affair to their prima-donna bickering, there was no denying their powerful on-screen chemistry. Because the movie was an "Elvis Movie," Colonel Parker made sure that Ann-Margaret's singing was sponged off initial releases of the songs from the movie. Here on this disc we regain the duets as they were supposed to be heard, although without the movie version of "C'mon Everybody" and Ann-Margaret's solo "Appreciation."
For nothing else, the entire disc is worth two superior tracks, "Viva Las Vegas" itself, the Doc Pomus homage to Bugsy's "Diamond in the Desert" city, and Elvis' hot-as-fire cover of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say," by far and away the best cover of the song ever done. There is the fun of "You're the Boss" (cut out of the movie) and "The Lady Loves Me," and even the nod to the Lone Star State with "Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas," which aren't great, but always delightful.
The "Roustabout" half is less thrilling, with a number of weak songs presented weakly, as though Elvis was quite aware this music was not up to his standards. As serious a movie as "Roustabout" could have been, with its bittersweet story and the presence of no less than Barbara Stanwyck, the addition of these songs only detracted from it. Elvis himself knew it, as he insisted on the addition of The Jordanaires to his songs even when the director asked him where these backup singers would be, as the song would be in a part of the movie where Elvis was driving down the road on a motorcycle as he sang. "The same place as the band," was Elvis' reply.
Review by Kathy Coleman.
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