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This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the FAQ section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 60 items |
| 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. |
| Creator | Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
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Biographical Information
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.
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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.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Blue Hawaii.
Arrangement: By matrix number.
The materials in this collection are masters of recordings related to Presley's 1961 movie for Paramount Pictures, Blue Hawaii. Item FD-1165 contains a track from the 1960 film G.I. Blues.
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Series 2. Double Trouble.
Arrangement: Chronological, and reflects arrangement of recording sessions as documented in Ernst Jorgensen's Elvis: A Life in Music when appropriate.
This series contains masters related to the 1967 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie Double Trouble.
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Series 3. G.I. Blues.
Arrangement: Reflects arrangement of recording sessions as documented in Ernst Jorgensen's Elvis: A Life in Music.
This series contains materials related to the 1960 Paramount Pictures film G.I. Blues, the first film Presley made after his time in the Army. The master recorded as "Tales from Vienna Woods" and "Vienna Woods Rock and Roll" was later renamed "Tonight's All Right for Love".
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Series 4. It Happened at the World's Fair.
Arrangement: Chronological, then by matrix number.
This series contains masters related to the 1963 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film It Happened at the World's Fair.
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Series 5. Live a Little, Love a Little.
One master related to the 1968 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Live a Little, Love a Little.
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Series 6. Speedway.
Arrangement: By type of material.
This series contains masters and sheet music related to the 1968 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Speedway.
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Subseries 6.1. Speedway Master Recordings.
Arrangement: Chronological, then by matrix number.
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Subseries 6.2. Speedway Sheet Music.
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Series 7. Spinout.
Arrangement: By matrix number.
Masters related to the 1966 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Spinout.
Processed by: Alison Waldenberg, June 2006.
Encoded by: Alison Waldenberg, June 2006.
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