Elvis Presley Instantaneous Discs and Sheet Music, 1960-1968

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Summary

Creator:
Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977.
Abstract:

Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was a highly influential musician and actor. Between 1956 and 1969, he starred in 31 films. Each film included songs by the actor, although not all were performed on-screen.

The collection is chiefly 33-1/3 and 78 rpm instantaneous discs created as soundtracks for films starring Elvis Presley that were produced by Paramount and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer between 1960 and 1968. Films include G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii, It Happened at the World's Fair, Spinout, Double Trouble, Speedway, and Live a Little, Love a Little. The majority of the songs were sung by Presley. Some music, however, appears to have been created to accompany specific scenes, and one song, "Your Groovy Self" by Lee Hazlewood, was performed by Nancy Sinatra. Sheet music for that song is also included.

Extent:
60 items
Language:
Materials in English
Library Catalog Link:
View UNC library catalog record for this item

Background

Biographical / historical:

Elvis Presley (1935-1977), musician and actor, is famously known as the "King of Rock and Roll." He was born in Tupelo, Miss., on January 8, 1935, to Vernon and Gladys Presley; the family moved to Memphis, Tenn., in 1948. In 1953, Presley recorded his first demos at Sun Records, a recording studio owned by Sam Phillips, who is largely credited for influencing American popular music and inventing the rockabilly sound that Presley made famous. Presley recorded more demos in 1954; his career took off quickly, and in November, 1955 Sun sold his contract to RCA in a deal arranged by Presley's new manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Presley quickly achieved iconic status after provocative national television appearances and hits such as "Heartbreak Hotel," which had sold one million copies by March, 1956, and "Hound Dog." Presley soon began to appear in motion pictures, and recorded songs for the films in which he starred.

As an actor, Presley appeared in 31 films between 1956 and 1969. While some roles were more serious than others, every film Presley appeared in featured several songs recorded by him, even if not performed in the movie. Presley completed four movies, including Love Me Tender and Jailhouse Rock, before joining the United States Army in 1958. He completed his tour of duty in 1960, and immediately began to make films again. His first movie after the army was G.I. Blues (1960), which produced a platinum album; other films include Blue Hawaii (1961), which featured the hit song "Can't Help Falling in Love,"Viva Las Vegas (1964), and Change of Habit (1969). Presley's recordings during this time were predominantly for movie soundtracks.

By the late 1960s, the films Presley acted in were neither commercially nor critically successful, causing his recording career to falter as well. Turning his attention back to singing and recording, Presley made his first live appearance since 1961 for a 1968 NBC television special. Shortly thereafter, he began to produce more successful records, including "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds," and performed live on a regular basis. Presley was married in 1967 to Priscilla Beaulieu; their daughter Lisa Marie was born in 1968. In 1973, the couple divorced. Presley died in 1977 at his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tenn.

Scope and content:

The collection is chiefly 33-1/3 and 78 rpm instantaneous discs created as soundtracks for films starring Elvis Presley that were produced by Paramount and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer between 1960 and 1968. Films include G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii, It Happened at the World's Fair, Spinout, Double Trouble, Speedway, and Live a Little, Love a Little. The majority of the songs were sung by Presley. Some music, however, appears to have been created to accompany specific scenes, and one song, "Your Groovy Self" by Lee Hazlewood, was performed by Nancy Sinatra. Sheet music for that song is also included.

Acquisition information:

None available.

Processing information:

Processed by: Alison Waldenberg, June 2006.

Encoded by: Alison Waldenberg, June 2006.

Sensitive materials statement:

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Access and use

Restrictions to access:

Use of audio or visual materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.

Restrictions to use:

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

No usage restrictions.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], in the Elvis Presley Instantaneous Discs and Sheet Music #20411, Southern Folklife Collection, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Location of this collection:
Louis Round Wilson Library
200 South Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Contact:
(919) 962-3765
wilsonlibrary@unc.edu