I have written a brief guide of the Elvis movie soundtracks in a separate post (I provide the link below). There I take the films in chronological order. Here, I present a survey in the manner of a countdown from the worst/least best to least worst/best. (Excuse the evasive language. Elvis fans will see this as a countdown from the least best to the best; Elvis haters will see it as an ascent from the worst to the least worst. I am very generous and cater for all tastes). I am hugely sceptical of rankings. They tend to mean little beyond personal preference. The right approach, the approach of all true lovers, is to value each thing for its own unique and innate qualities. I do this in the main. All comparisons are invidious and draw attention from the thing being examined. And the judgements tend to be range from the subjective to the plain arbitrary. But it’s fun, excites interest and debate, and draws a crowd. And I am nothing if not a crowd pleaser. And let's be honest, some things are most certainly better than others. Anyone who sees "Old MacDonald" on the same level as "King Creole" is seriously undiscerning.
I will rank the soundtracks, though, for no other reason than it is fun; people love to see a list, and it gives me another excuse to write about Elvis. I shall proceed from worst/least best to best/least worst.
31. Tickle Me (1965)
The songs here are not film songs. The cheap and cheerless approach of management decided to do without songs written for the film (a merciful relief some may think), and so managed to traduce the standing of some fine studio material released on previous albums. As an indication of how lazy the approach to Elvis' career had become, some very decent material is made to look very tacky and tawdry indeed in the way they are showcased in this bizarre film. I exclude this soundtrack from consideration, for the not inconsiderable reason that it is not a soundtrack.
30. Clambake (1967)
A couple of decent songs competing against a lot of awful songs. Even a couple of great songs couldn't erase the abomination that is 'Confidence.'
29. Flaming Star (1960)
Fine title track, but nothing else beyond an idle ditty. It doesn't count as a soundtrack, then. It's worth pointing out that 'Summer Kisses, Winter Tears' was recorded for the movie but not used.
28. Charro! (1969)
Fine title track, with the Hugo Montenegro Orchestra, but nothing else. Which at least spares us from the mediocre. But it hardly qualifies as a soundtrack, for the not inconsiderable reason it has no songs. In which case I ought to mention 'Let's Forget about the Stars,' a beautiful ballad recorded for the movie but not used. I place this and its predecessors this high because they contain no embarrassing abominations as bad as 'Confidence.'
27. Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
This soundtrack contains three contenders for the worst ever Elvis song. 'This is My Heaven' is beautiful, but the rest ranges from the average to the mediocre to the teeth grindingly awful. As hard as this may be to believe, 'Queenie Wahine's Papaya' is not the worst song in this film. 'Drums of the Island' is memorable, though.
26. Spinout (1966)
Good title track, but much is forced and uninspired on this soundtrack. Elvis' writers seem to be attempting to 'get with it,' little realizing that the 'it' they are in pursuit of has moved light years away. 'Am I Ready?' is a warm and romantic ballad, though. Two good tracks.
25. Girl Happy (1965)
A couple of decent tunes, the standout being the gentle 'Puppet on a String' (hardly likely to stem Beatlemania), but many of the songs are contrived. 'Do the Clam' is not quite as bad as its reputation, but it's not good. The fact that it was the single selection shows how short of high standards this soundtrack is. 'Cross My Heart and Hope to Die' is an overlooked gem, mind.
24. Speedway (1968)
Average. Elvis fans can tolerate it, non-Elvis fans will be bored rigid within minutes. Of the seven songs, one is sung by Nancy Sinatra and one is an average duet with Nancy Sinatra. 'Let Yourself Go' is a good contemporary sounding groover, but the next best track, the title track, sounds dated.
23. Stay Away, Joe (1968)
'Stay Away' and 'All I Needed was the Rain' are good. In fact, the latter is very good indeed. There's not much else. 'Dominic' has to be seen and heard, and still not believed. It is said that Elvis hated this song about an impotent bull, sung as Elvis pursued two women stripping off their clothes up the hills. Not Elvis' finest hour, but probably not his worst either. The country swamp soul of 'Rain' pulls this higher than its meagre contents would normally allow.
22. Wild In the Country (1961)
The title track is a lovely ballad, and 'In My Way' is a little beauty. But it's a dramatic film and not a musical and songs are thin on the ground.
21. Harum Scarum (1965)
There are a lot of songs here, making this a proper soundtrack. Unfortunately, many of them of a decidedly dubious nature. But the exotic sound of this album is appealing, at least to those who with a taste for exotica. This really is something you will only find in the World of Elvis. It has a timeless quality. Which is to say that it had nothing whatsoever to do with 1965. I rather like 'Mirage,' 'Kismet,' and 'Go East Young Man,' whilst 'So Close Yet So Far (from Paradise)' is a minor classic awaiting discover. I acknowledge that my view may be considered somewhat eccentric.
20. Kissin' Cousins (1964)
A few decent tunes undermined by a lot of desperately bad ones. The title track is fine (both versions), and 'There's Gold in the Mountains' infectious. 'Once is Enough' is a catchy rhythm number, in the manner of 'Return to Sender.' 'Barefoot Ballad' is truly appalling.
19. Roustabout (1964)
It's a full soundtrack, but contains nothing of outstanding quality, hence the absence of a single release to promote the movie. The standout track is 'Little Egypt,' but it is far from vintage Elvis singing Leiber and Stoller. 'Big Love, Big Heartache' is moodily showcased, whilst 'It's a Wonderful World' received preliminary consideration for an Academy Award for Best Song. The songs on the album are either decent, average or film filler. It's not bad, and forms a coherent whole. But there's nothing to get excited about, no classics.
18. Double Trouble (1967)
Some good songs up against a lot of poor ones. The quality of ‘City By Night’ and ‘Could I Fall in Love’ raise it above more substantial soundtracks padded with the average and mediocre. That said, it does contain the truly execrable 'Old MacDonald had a Farm' and the irritating 'I Love only one Girl.'
17. The Trouble With Girls (1969)
The genius of 'Clean Up Your Own Back Yard' raises this one above soundtracks which contain much more material. There are just not enough songs here to raise it higher. But that track is an absolute cracker.
16. Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
This may strike some as much too high a placing for a much maligned film and soundtrack. I think the songs are pretty decent attempts to get 'with it,' showing the promise of better things to come. Sometimes, failures are much more interesting than well-done predictability. There are only six songs, including 'Yoga is as Yoga Does' and the dubious 'The Love Machine'. But the title track is a decent rocker and 'I'll Take Love' is catchy. The revivalist 'Sing You Children Sing' is uplifing. It has a good sound.
15. Love Me Tender (1956)
The title track is one of the great Elvis songs, 'Poor Boy' is infectious if slight, the final two songs are slighter still, pure Hollywood Hillbilly. The all-time classic title track backed by the joyous 'Poor Boy' pulls this higher than its fairly filmsy contents properly allow.
14. Change of Habit (1969)
The rock'n'soul of the title track and 'Rubberneckin' set alongside the handful of very decent tracks raise this higher than soundtracks boasting many more songs. Whils there are not many songs, there are signs of better days ahead in Elvis' music. The title track is a belter, signalling to the world that Elvis is back!
13. Frankie and Johnny (1966)
A lot of songs, a lot of film fodder, but a handful of decent tunes, and a very colourful overall theme. Harry Nilsson cited this soundtrack as an influence on his own music, reaching back into pre-rock'n'roll. It all depends on what you think of 'Petunia, the Gardener's Daughter.'
12. It Happened At the World's Fair (1963)
This is a very average soundtrack, and one which met with relative commercial failure. Much here is disposable. The slide in Elvis' career was first noticeable here. It's four good songs raise it higher than its mean. And 'They Remind Me Too Much of You,' 'I'm Falling in Love Tonight,' 'One Broken Heart for Sale,' and 'A World of Our Own' are very good. And whilst 'Relax' is a lesser copy of 'Fever', it's not bad, especially if you have a soft spot for Yvonne Craig (who didn't seem to have a soft spot for Elvis). 'Happy Ending' does what it says on the tin.
11. Follow That Dream (1962)
There are not many songs here, but what there are are good and joyous. I place this very highly for the amiable mood, for the great title track, the theme song of my life, and for the beautiful 'Angel,' who is, no doubt, part of the dream I'm still following in hope if not expectation. 'What a Wonderful Life.'
10. Fun In Acapulco (1963)
Entertaining! On a Mexican theme. The overall feel is lively and romantic, and Elvis acquits himself well with the language. There are some standout performances ('Bossa Nova Baby' and 'Guadalajara') and some peculiar moments ('There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sport's Car'). It's infectious and there's a lot of it. If you like Herp Albert ... Elvis and the Tijuana Brass.
9. Kid Galahad (1962)
Good catchy numbers and nice ballads, all performed to a high overall standard. 'I Got Lucky' is a neglected classic, a gentle little twister. 'King of the Whole Wide World' is a rocker with real hit potential. 'Home is Where the Heart is' is a beautiful ballad. All good.
8. Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
A rich and varied soundtrack, boasting lots of songs in lots of styles. The great title track is a Leiber and Stoller R&B number, the brilliant 'Return to Sender' is from Otis Blackwell, and there is all manner of other things besides. For those with eclectic musical tastes.
7. Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
This is a controversial placing this, since there are only four songs in the film. Each song is very different and I rate each one of them very highly. 'A Little Less Conversation' is a rock'n'soul number whose qualities were only discovered in 2002, when it became a worldwide #1 smash hit; 'Edge of Reality' is a psychedelic rock ballad (the flip side of the great 'If I Can Dream', and the A-side in Australia, where it hit #5 in the charts); 'Almost in Love' is a romantic bossa nova ballad; 'Wonderful Life' is a life-affirming waltz. I love a waltz.
6. G.I. Blues (1960)
It's impossible for me not to place this highly. 'G.I. Blues' was the first Elvis film I saw, and for many years I considered this to be peak Elvis. In time, you come to see it for what it is - entertainment for all the family. There are some very good songs on here all the same, songs that could find a place on any good Elvis album - 'Pocketful of Rainbows,' 'Doin' the Best I Can,' and 'Wooden Heart.' The film songs are entertaining in context. The title track is delivered with panache and flair. There are also a few film fodder songs, songs written to fill a scene and move a plot on. But overall it is very good value.
5. Blue Hawaii (1961)
Sumptuous and exotic. The film is easy on the eye and on the ear. Much here is pleasant and warming. It's undemanding, and does contain a few numbers which work only in the film. But there are some standout classic songs too - 'Can't Help Falling in Love,' 'No More,' and 'Hawaiian Wedding Song.' Elvis sang all three, and 'Ku-U-I-Po,' at his 1973 Aloha from Hawaii concert. I have a soft spot for 'Moonlight Swim', also.
4. Viva Las Vegas (1964)
With the addition of all the songs which were cut from the film, this makes for a very substantial soundtrack. If there are few absolutely outstanding tracks here - although the title track is a real Elvis classic - the standard is high. The piano jazz blues of 'I Need Somebody to Lean On' is a neglected gem in a style not typical for Elvis. Good rhythm numbers, good ballads, fantastic duets with Ann-Margret. The only question is why so many excellent songs were cut and why there was no soundtrack album. Over to Elvis' miscreant mismanager, the parasite Parker.
3. King Creole (1958)
This could easily have been number one. What I look for in a top soundtrack is coherence in shape and sound, quality in song, and quantity in number. Six or seven tracks of uniform good quality makes for a good soundtrack. 'King Creole' boasts a number of outstanding tracks on a theme. The only reason I place it at #3 instead of #1 is that Dixieland jazz - blended wonderfully with rock - isn't quite Elvis' style. But it is super all the same.
2. Loving You (1957)
Definitive Elvis. This is where Elvis expressed his authentic self on film for the first time. What 'Poor Boy' attempted to do in 'Love Me Tender,' 'Party,' 'Got a lot of livin to do,' 'Teddy Bear,' 'Mean Woman Blues,' and 'Hot Dog' more than pulled off. For many, this stamped the image of Elvis worldwide. The only issue I have with the film is that, in truth, it isn't quite authentic Elvis at all. Elvis was distinguished by his 'black' style in country areas, sporting all manner of garish pink and green colours and eschewing blue denim. Through the great music and great performances of this film, Elvis came to be associated with blue jeans. That wasn't actually him at all. But it's a great soundtrack all the same.
1. Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Six tracks, every one a winner. I'd say at five of these tracks are contenders for the all-time Elvis top fifty. Four were written by Leiber and Stoller and are classic - the immense 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Treat Me Nice' (which Elvis considered better), the boundless 'I Want to Be Free,' and the cool rocker '(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care.' 'Young and Beautiful' is the essence of purity and simplicity. The final song, 'Don't Leave Me Now,' is merely good. Taken pound for pound, this is the best Elvis soundtrack. Here is where Elvis never looked and sounded cooler.
For a closer look at the Elvis soundtracks and their songs, see A Brief Guide to the Elvis Movie Soundtracks elsewhere on this site.