Demos for Elvis

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Can’t help fallin’ in love – in the final script dated 23 february 1961 no songtitle was mentioned for scene 85. Selected around 20 march 1961 track RTD-1 (= track RO take 23); sung to Maile’s grandmother after giving her a musicbox for her birthday. The movie version has additional instruments overdubbed.


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Rock a hula baby – in the final script dated 23 february 1961 no songtitle was mentioned for scene 119. Selected around 20 march 1961 track TTD-1 ; sung at a party. The movie version has additional instruments overdubbed.


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Moonlight swim – in the final script dated 23 february 1961 no songtitle was mentioned for scene 130. Selected around 20 march 1961 track NTD-1 ; sung in a car with the radio on.




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Hawaiian wedding song – in the final script dated 23 february 1961 no songtitle was mentioned for scene 250. Selected around 20 march 1961 track JTD-1 ; sung ath marrige ceremony at the end of the film.
The movie version has additional vocals overdubbed.
The extra vocals were recorded on 28 march 1961 at Paramount studio.

Originally selected for this scene I’m yours – written by Don Robertson. See scan from acetate but this song was rejected in a pre-selection. Later on recorded in the studio on 26 june 1961.


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Beach boy blues – in the final script dated 23 february 1961 no songtitle was mentioned for scene 172. Selected around 20 march 1961 track STD-1.


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[colonel snow]

Due to another topic at the present time about the movie Roustabout is here an updated list with demos / rejected versions:

A 1- Roustabout - written by Bob Tubert & Margie Singleton.
Publisher Raleigh Music Inc. copyright 15 april 1964

A 2 – Roustabout
Another rejected version was written by Fred Wise-Randy Starr.
(source Kevan Budd)

B - Poison ivy league - written by Bob Tubert & Margie Singleton.
Publisher Raleigh Music Inc. copyright 11 march 1964

C 1 – Hard knocks - written by Dolores Fuller & Mark Barkan (Trousdale Music Inc) – copyright 27-08-64

C 2 - Hard knocks - written by Jerry Kennedy & Margie Singleton.
Publisher Raleigh Music Inc. copyright 11 march 1964

D 1 – I never had it so good
Demo version written by Tepper-Bennett but not used.

D 2 – I never had it so good
Demo version written by Fuller-Morris-Barkan but not recorded.

E – Shout it out (Giant-Baum-Kaye)
The song was rejected but later on recorded for the movie Frankie & Johnny.

F – Carnival of dreams
Written by: lyrics Sid Wayne / music Ben Weisman.
Demo version sung by P.J. Proby was not recorded.

G – There’s a brand new day on the horizon
The demo acetate on the tune of “Glory glory halleluh” ** is rejected (by director John Rich) during a pre-selection on 13 january 1964 because it’s not a dixieland marchin’ song. The song was too "religious" for that scene. Replaced by the song with different lyrics / dixieland tune.
(source: book Elvis frame by frame P 335/226)

** The demo is adapted from an old Civil War song “John Brown’s Body” aka John Brown’s song.

H 1 – Don’t knock it (Charles Singleton) was selected for scene 74 (27 january 1964); at the final song selection (19 february 1964) replaced by Hard knocks (sung on stage at the girlie show).A demo version was recorded on 20 november 1963 by Joey Castle.

H 2 - Don’t knock it - written by Jerry Kennedy & Margie Singleton.
Publisher Raleigh Music Inc. - copyright 11 march 1964

I – (I’m a / The) Phantom lover (Blackwell-Scott) was selected for scene 161 (27 january 1964) ; at the final song selection (19 february 1964) replaced by Little Egypt (scene 139 - Carver’s combined show).
The demo version was recorded in 1963 by Joey Castle.
Publisher Hill & Range – copyright 05-05-66.

J – The biggest little show on earth (no songwriter known) – considered for scene at Cat rack – replaced by It’s carnival time (first version)

K – Trouble is my middle name (Joy Byers) – considered for scene # 150 – Carver’s combined show = rejected

L – I'll keep your secret
According to the "official" P.J. Proby fanclub-site this demo version is written by Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman for an unknown Elvis' movie in 1961/1962 but rejected. It's released on a P.J. Proby fanclub CD release in 2011.
The song isn't registered at ASCAP by the songwriter/composer.

M – Magarita
The song is written by Sid Wayne and Ben Weisman.
Publisher Holly-Hill Inc. copyright 09-04-64
No other information known

N – Carnival world (Giant-Baum-Kaye)
The demo is sung by Bill Giant.

O – I’m ready
The song is written by Jerry Kennedy & Margie Singleton.
Publisher Raleigh Music Inc. copyright 11 march 1964

P - Remember that baby
The song is written by Billy Swan & Margie Singleton.
Publisher Raleigh Music Inc. copyright 11 march 1964

Q – For you my love
The song is written by Fred Wise and Ben Weisman
Publisher: Les John Music – Blen Music – Trafalgar Music. copyright 09-04-64

R – Pre-selection of songs 13 january 1964 (by Freddie Bienstock) but rejected:
Dear upsilon – no information known.

I’m gonna throw away what’s left – no information known.

That’s me – no information known.

I wanta be there – no information known.

You can make the magic start
(Dolores Fuller-Mark Barkan-Lee Morris) >> (source: Kevan Budd)

Carnival world
(Giant-Baum-Kaye) >> (source: Kevan Budd)

Let’s do it
(Pomus-Shuman) >> (source: Kevan Budd)

No means yes
(Ruth Batchelor) >> (source: Kevan Budd)

It’s hard but it’s fair – no information known.


From CD Silver screen treasures 1962/65:
Hard knocks (Dolores Fuller – unused demo)
You can’t hate me for that (unused demo) = Easy come easy go

Without doubt for some scenes (including title song) more demo versions were submitted but the information is hidden in the dark vaults.

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Concerto 4 Elvis (see tape box # 28)
The song was written by Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman.
The track was NOT included on CD Glen Campbell sings for the king.

I’ve no information about a recording session



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Come hell come sundown
This was a working title for the movie Charro.
The demo version was written by Tepper- Bennett but not used
(source Kevan Budd)

According to an interview with the songwriter Randy Starr he has sent in a version too.
Due to the change of the movie title into Charro the track wasn‘t used.


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Charro – written by Giant-Baum-Kaye; the demo version is sung by Bill Giant.
The demo wasn’t used (see scan).

Charro (Starr)
According to an interview with the songwriter two different versions (sung by Kenny Karen) were submitted for the movie but not used.


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Pray (see tape box # 26)
The song was written by Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman.
Publisher Holly Hill; copyright 02-11-65.
The track was NOT included on CD Glen Campbell sings for the king.
I’ve no information about a recording session




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[colonel snow]

The (Hawaii or Hawaiian) beach boy
The song was written by Fuller-Weisman-Wise; when the title from the movie changed from The beach boy (script 17 october 1960) into Blue Hawaii (final script 23 february 1961) the song was rejected in the pre-selection.


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[colonel snow]

Blue Hawaii – scene 149 sung at the luau:
In the final script dated 23 february 1961 no songtitles were mentioned for this scene.
Selected around 20 march 1961:
track CTD-1 Hawaiian sweet heart = Ku u I po; for the movie version the male voices were errased. On 28 march 1961 new female vocals were recorded at Paramount studio. The movie version is edited.

track GTD-1 Ito eats;
segues into track ETD-1 Slicin’ sand - sung at luau while putting out campfire;


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Addition to previous post:

According to production call sheet from 20-04-61 scene 149 was shot on location:

Ito eats was shot on 03-05-61;

Hawaiian sweetheart = Ku u i po was shot on 03-05-61.


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Perhaps it’s nice to know: the preparation for the movie Blue Hawaii already started early march 1961.
(see production call sheet with stand-in for various characters in the movie)

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Gumbo ya ya (Jumbo ya ya)
This a working title for the movie Girls girls girls. On 5 march 1962 announced as the new movie.
There are various songs with this title registered at ASCAP and BMI but none from the well-known songwriting teams. I don’t have information about demo versions.

Sometimes the song Jambalaya (well known country song) is mentioned too as a working title. I doubt this information is right.


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Another working title for the movie GGG was Welcome aboard. There are various songs registered at ASCAP and BMI but none from the well-known songwriting teams.
I don’t have information about demo versions.


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[colonel snow]

Rumoured to be selected in 1962 for the movie GGG
Don’t forget I’m still here
No more information.

Loving one
Various songs registered at ASCAP later on. No more information.

Ready for love
Various songs registered at ASCAP later on. No more information

There’s my town
Also referred to That’s my town or My kinda town
No more information.



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Return to sender (don’t want your letters)
The song was written by Ben Raleigh (words) and Otis Blackwell-Winfield Scott (music); we know the song with new lyrics as Return to sender (Blackwell-Scott).



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We’re gonna have a good time (West-Hodge) – rejected in pre-selection
For unknown reasons the songwriting team Giant-Baum-Kaye took over and we know the song with rewritten lyrics as “Plantation rock”.



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Live a little love a little
According to Kevan Budd there exists a demo version with “Live a little love a little” written by Tepper-Bennett.
Another version was written by Giant-Baum-Kaye (see scan). I don’t have more information.
The background music for the movie was written by Billy Strange.



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Poison ivy league – written by Otis Blackwell & Winfield Scott
I’ve no other information (see Songview).

They wrote the original deleted version of Roustabout (track GO) for the movie too.

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Signs of the Zodiac – tape box # 23 & box 24
The song was written by Buddy Kaye & Ben Weisman for the movie The trouble with girls.
The track was not included on CD Glen Campbell sings for the king.

It’s known various versions with differences in the lyrics were tried out (see lyrics & tape boxes)

Lines changed in Elvis’ recording track 2004 take 9:

You’ll get them if you let your hair curls down a little bit – replaced

and other differences.




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It’s happening
The song was written by Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman.
Publisher Holly Hill; copyright 02-11-65.

The song has same copyright date as Bitter sweet – Pray (see tape legend & tapebox 26).
A few tape boxes are not marked / no information known.

I don’t mention other unused tracks from these songwriters here because it’s unknown the songs were written for an Elvis - recording session.


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[Gerrit]

Thanks for this scan which shows that "I'll Never Know" was obviously already written in 1966 and submitted for "Spinout" and probably rejected in favour of "All That I Am" or "Am I Ready".

[colonel snow]

Thanks for this scan which shows that "I'll Never Know" was obviously already written in 1966 and submitted for "Spinout" and probably rejected in favour of "All That I Am" or "Am I Ready".

I’ll never know (Karger-Wayne-Weisman) (copyright 27-04-66)

There’s no information known / no demo acetate about a final selection for the movie Spinout.

The song was selected for recording again for 22-23 august 1967 cancelled recording session.


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