Randy Starr : "Presley Style - Lost Elvis Songwriter Demos Vol. 1"

[Mister Moon]

From Bear Family, to be released March 1, 2024 :

https://www.bear-family.com/detail/index/sArticle/570389

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[JimmyCool]

I will definitely get this!
Thanks, Mr. Moon

[colonel snow]

Thanks Mister Moon; I'm curious.


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

In a quick view I notice some interesting demo versions are included; I recommend the CD for collectors of these kind of tracks.



colonel snow

[cadillac-elvis]

I admit that this is interesting, but this guy wrote some of Elvis' worst ever movie songs.

[colonel snow]

I admit that this is interesting, but this wrote some of Elvis' worst ever movie songs.

These movie songs are not written to steal the show on an album or in the movie; these songs were written for a certain scene in the movie and are fillers on the soundtrack albums.

By the way it happened that rejected songs are “better” quality comparing with the chosen songs for recording sessions but that’s a personal taste.


colonel snow

[Rickeap]

That would be interesting to hear

[cadillac-elvis]

I admit that this is interesting, but this wrote some of Elvis' worst ever movie songs.

These movie songs are not written to steal the show on an album or in the movie; these songs were written for a certain scene in the movie and are fillers on the soundtrack albums.

By the way it happened that rejected songs are “better” quality comparing with the chosen songs for recording sessions but that’s a personal taste.


colonel snow

Well, there are different degrees of "filler" then isn't there?

For example:

"Angel"
"I got Lucky"
"Shoppin around"
"Steppin out of line"
"They remind me too much of You"

Are examples of good filler.....but songs like.....

"who needs money"
"Petunia the gardeners daughter"
"Golden coins"
"old macdonald"
"Stop where you are"

Are examples of bad filler. those should never have been considered or recorded by Elvis.

[colonel snow]

We all know after 1962/1963 Elvis’ movie career went downhill; poor scripts / poor songs etc..
The policy was to earn much money as quick as could be.

colonel snow

[Mike C]

I admit that this is interesting, but this wrote some of Elvis' worst ever movie songs.

By the way it happened that rejected songs are “better” quality comparing with the chosen songs for recording sessions but that’s a personal taste.


colonel snow

I agree. The Winfield Scott version of Clambake (found on FTD's Writing for the Kind) is a much better song than actual title song cut for the film.

[DarylR]

So, by my count, there are eleven songs written by Randy Starr that Elvis actually recorded. These eleven are:

1. Yellow Rose Of Texas (from "Viva Las Vegas")*
2. Kissin' Cousins (from "Kissin' Cousins")*
3. Carny Town (from "Roustabout")
4. Look Out, Broadway (from "Frankie And Johnny")*
5. Datin' (from "Paradise, Hawaiian Style")*
6. Adam And Evil (from "Spinout")*
7. Could I Fall In Love (from "Double Trouble")
8. Old MacDonald (from "Double Trouble")
9. The Girl I Never Loved (from "Clambake")*
10. Who Needs Money? (from "Clambake")
11. Almost In Love (from "Live A Little, Love A Little")

I put asterisks after the song titles that have the demos featured on this CD.

Anyone want to guess a breakdown of the demos on this CD and which film or films they were submitted for?

[cadillac-elvis]

So, by my count, there are eleven songs written by Randy Starr that Elvis actually recorded. These eleven are:

1. Yellow Rose Of Texas (from "Viva Las Vegas")*
2. Kissin' Cousins (from "Kissin' Cousins")*
3. Carny Town (from "Roustabout")
4. Look Out, Broadway (from "Frankie And Johnny")*
5. Datin' (from "Paradise, Hawaiian Style")*
6. Adam And Evil (from "Spinout")*
7. Could I Fall In Love (from "Double Trouble")
8. Old MacDonald (from "Double Trouble")
9. The Girl I Never Loved (from "Clambake")*
10. Who Needs Money? (from "Clambake")
11. Almost In Love (from "Live A Little, Love A Little")

I put asterisks after the song titles that have the demos featured on this CD.

Anyone want to guess a breakdown of the demos on this CD and which film or films they were submitted for?

Many songs were resubmitted to several Elvis movies, but I will take some educated guesses.

#4 frankie and johnny
#10 Paradise hawaiian style
#13 spinout
#15 Easy come easy go
#24 harem scarem
#25 Harem scarem
#26 Roustabout
#27 Kissin cousins'
#29 Charro
#31 the trouble with girls
#32 Change of habit, or possibly submitted for the "how great thou art" album.

Many of the titles could fit any one of a dozen of his movies in various scenes. of course hearing all the lyrics could narrow it down somewhat.

[colonel snow]

So, by my count, there are eleven songs written by Randy Starr that Elvis actually recorded. These eleven are:

1. Yellow Rose Of Texas (from "Viva Las Vegas")*
2. Kissin' Cousins (from "Kissin' Cousins")*
3. Carny Town (from "Roustabout")
4. Look Out, Broadway (from "Frankie And Johnny")*
5. Datin' (from "Paradise, Hawaiian Style")*
6. Adam And Evil (from "Spinout")*
7. Could I Fall In Love (from "Double Trouble")
8. Old MacDonald (from "Double Trouble")
9. The Girl I Never Loved (from "Clambake")*
10. Who Needs Money? (from "Clambake")
11. Almost In Love (from "Live A Little, Love A Little")

I put asterisks after the song titles that have the demos featured on this CD.

Anyone want to guess a breakdown of the demos on this CD and which film or films they were submitted for?

As far as I know the mentioned tracks by you numbers 3-7-8-10-11 will be included in volume 2.


According to an interview around 2011 with songwriter Randy Starr he submitted the next demos for the movie Speedway:
Speedway – A step in the right direction – Feelin’ fine – From riches to rags – Hard drivin’ man – Little girl – Something special.
No more information known. All these versions were rejected.


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

So, by my count, there are eleven songs written by Randy Starr that Elvis actually recorded. These eleven are:

1. Yellow Rose Of Texas (from "Viva Las Vegas")*
2. Kissin' Cousins (from "Kissin' Cousins")*
3. Carny Town (from "Roustabout")
4. Look Out, Broadway (from "Frankie And Johnny")*
5. Datin' (from "Paradise, Hawaiian Style")*
6. Adam And Evil (from "Spinout")*
7. Could I Fall In Love (from "Double Trouble")
8. Old MacDonald (from "Double Trouble")
9. The Girl I Never Loved (from "Clambake")*
10. Who Needs Money? (from "Clambake")
11. Almost In Love (from "Live A Little, Love A Little")

I put asterisks after the song titles that have the demos featured on this CD.

Anyone want to guess a breakdown of the demos on this CD and which film or films they were submitted for?

Between march 1966 – august 1966 55 demos for the movie Easy come easy go were sent in including from Fred Wise / Randy Starr:

Easy come easy go (Wise Starr)

Wheel of love (Wise-Star)

Love on the rocks (Wise-Starr) version # 1;
Love on the rocks (Wise-Starr) version # 2;

You can’t hate me for that (Wise-Starr)

I’ll take love (Starr)


After pre-selection (around 27 september 1966) 12 demos were selected for possible recording during the next days.

colonel snow

[colonel snow]

Many songs were resubmitted to several Elvis movies, but I will take some educated guesses.

#4 frankie and johnny
#10 Paradise hawaiian style
#13 spinout
#15 Easy come easy go
#24 harem scarem
#25 Harem scarem
#26 Roustabout
#27 Kissin cousins'
#29 Charro
#31 the trouble with girls
#32 Change of habit, or possibly submitted for the "how great thou art" album.

Many of the titles could fit any one of a dozen of his movies in various scenes. of course hearing all the lyrics could narrow it down somewhat.

27 – Head for the hills was submitted for the movie Live a little love a little in stead of Kissin’ cousins as mentioned.

colonel snow