Girl Happy Songs speeded up

Anything about Elvis
More than 100 Million visitors can't be wrong

Moderators: Moderator5, Moderator3, FECC-Moderator, Site Mechanic

Post Reply


Topic author
stevelecher
Posts: 7378
Registered for: 20 years 10 months
Has thanked: 756 times
Been thanked: 1403 times

Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519512

Post by stevelecher »

Everyone knows that "Girl Happy," the title track, was speeded up. What about some of the other songs on that soundtrack?

To me, it sounds like "Do the Clam," "Startin' Tonight," "Wolf Call," and to a lesser extent, "The Meanest Girl in Town," "Fort Lauderdale," and "Gotta Find My Baby" have speeded up vocals. On the ballads, Elvis sounds as good as ever, but on these fast songs, he sounds different, as on "Girl Happy."

Years ago, my friend, Lucio, had a turntable that could play at slower speeds and he slowed all these songs down and they all sounded like the slowed down versions of "Girl Happy"... terrific.

What do you all think?

Steve Lecher



User avatar

drjohncarpenter
Posts: 107019
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: United States of America
Has thanked: 11700 times
Been thanked: 33635 times
Age: 89

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519523

Post by drjohncarpenter »

stevelecher wrote:Everyone knows that "Girl Happy," the title track, was speeded up. What about some of the other songs on that soundtrack?
Only the title track was tampered with.


.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!


Topic author
stevelecher
Posts: 7378
Registered for: 20 years 10 months
Has thanked: 756 times
Been thanked: 1403 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519525

Post by stevelecher »

You don't think "Startin' Tonight" just sounds weird?

Steve



User avatar

drjohncarpenter
Posts: 107019
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: United States of America
Has thanked: 11700 times
Been thanked: 33635 times
Age: 89

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519527

Post by drjohncarpenter »

This session was Presley's first since the explosion of the Beatles and the British Invasion upon the American consciousness March - May 1964. Some of what you're hearing is embarrassment.

The material was almost all garbage, and Elvis knew it. In fact, he ditched the session midway through and ended up overdubbing his vocals on the tracks made in his absence the following week.

Read the details here ->

Soundtrack Sessions for M.G.M.: Girl Happy, June 10-12, 1964
http://www.elvisrecordings.com/s640610.htm

Soundtrack Sessions for M.G.M.: Girl Happy, June 15, 1964
http://www.elvisrecordings.com/s640615.htm

In the next two years it would almost seem like he had forgotten how to sing!


.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!

User avatar

Tony Trout
Posts: 4896
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: Brasstown/Murphy, North Carolina (USA)
Has thanked: 436 times
Been thanked: 328 times
Age: 47
Contact:

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519551

Post by Tony Trout »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
stevelecher wrote:Everyone knows that "Girl Happy," the title track, was speeded up. What about some of the other songs on that soundtrack?
Only the title track was tampered with.

Why did they tamper with it in the first place?


"If the songs don't go over, we can do a medley of costumes!" - Elvis Presley (August 10, 1970 backstage in his dressing room before the first show of the August, 10, 1970/September 8, 1970 season in Vegas).

User avatar

KiwiAlan
Posts: 11660
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519562

Post by KiwiAlan »

Tony Trout wrote:
drjohncarpenter wrote:
stevelecher wrote:Everyone knows that "Girl Happy," the title track, was speeded up. What about some of the other songs on that soundtrack?
Only the title track was tampered with.

Why did they tamper with it in the first place?
Very good question. I can only assume it was in error?


When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete


ekenee
Banned: VERY angry previously returning member. Banned for abuse of the forum. ****Same Member as Mississippi1935****
Banned: VERY angry previously returning member. Banned for abuse of the forum. ****Same Member as Mississippi1935****
Posts: 9807
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 98 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519565

Post by ekenee »

Speeding up a vocal is a way to make the artist sound "younger".
By 1964-65, Elvis' voice had deepened a bit.
And by the How great thou art sessions you can just hear how full his voice was, and compare that to his early RCA records which was a mere 10 years earlier.

As far as the Girl happy soundtrack goes, there are several songs that sound speeded up.

"Officially" only Girl Happy has been labeled as such, but anyone with a good set of ears can tell the recordings are not on pitch.

FLC of Commerce
Startin tonight
Wolf call

all sound too fast.



User avatar

JohnnyByeBye
Posts: 329
Registered for: 16 years
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 49 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519572

Post by JohnnyByeBye »

Yep, speeding up the title song was meant make it more 'commercial' or 'hip' or whatever. Big brains in RCA were really working hard that time... ;)



User avatar

thefunkyangel
Posts: 8908
Registered for: 19 years 6 months
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Has thanked: 193 times
Been thanked: 1032 times
Age: 55

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519575

Post by thefunkyangel »

JonRomanovich' version (without the vocal overdubs) is better than Presley's!



User avatar

Keith Richards, Jr.
Posts: 4616
Registered for: 20 years 10 months
Location: Sweden
Has thanked: 37 times
Been thanked: 648 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519576

Post by Keith Richards, Jr. »

JohnnyByeBye wrote:Yep, speeding up the title song was meant make it more 'commercial' or 'hip' or whatever. Big brains in RCA were really working hard that time... ;)
Too true. A great pop record.

"Giiiiiiiirl happy, yes I'm giiiiiirl happy, can't you see!
Girl happy! Girl, girl happy!"

That song is so full of F-U-N it would make a square like Eric Clapton smile.

Keith Richards, Jr.


Dedicated member of The Official Harum Scarum Appreciation Society!

User avatar

thefunkyangel
Posts: 8908
Registered for: 19 years 6 months
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Has thanked: 193 times
Been thanked: 1032 times
Age: 55

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519578

Post by thefunkyangel »

thefunkyangel wrote:JonRomanovich' version of GH (without the vocal overdubs) is better than Presley's!



User avatar

thefunkyangel
Posts: 8908
Registered for: 19 years 6 months
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Has thanked: 193 times
Been thanked: 1032 times
Age: 55

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519586

Post by thefunkyangel »

Carolyn, maybe you could do the 'Girl Happy, Girl, Girl Happy' vocal overdubs for Jon :lol:! Yes, his version is excellent!



User avatar

JohnnyByeBye
Posts: 329
Registered for: 16 years
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 49 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519591

Post by JohnnyByeBye »

Keith Richards, Jr. wrote: That song is so full of F-U-N it would make a square like Eric Clapton smile.
I'd have to disagree, Keef. The guy didn't smile at the clothes he & his fellow musicians were wearing in the late 60's, so why would he do such a thing because of just one song. :D



User avatar

KiwiAlan
Posts: 11660
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519595

Post by KiwiAlan »

I don't see why RCA would speed up the only confirmed track to increase sales when as it was not a single so had no airplay.

Where was the speeding up done?

Was it done by the film studio before being sent to RCA?


When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete

User avatar

lucio
Posts: 1078
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Has thanked: 359 times
Been thanked: 517 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519655

Post by lucio »

Nice post Steve. I agree that all the songs you mention sound speeded up. Seems hard to believe that Elvis would purposely make himself sing at a higher pitch to sound younger. Even some of the outtakes like 'I Got To Find My Baby' sounds strange to me.
Since Elvis sings to the speeded up versions in the movie, it must have been done right after the recording session and before the actual filming of the songs. Perhaps someone could ask Ernst...
Lucio




ekenee
Banned: VERY angry previously returning member. Banned for abuse of the forum. ****Same Member as Mississippi1935****
Banned: VERY angry previously returning member. Banned for abuse of the forum. ****Same Member as Mississippi1935****
Posts: 9807
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 98 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519696

Post by ekenee »

Two things.

THere is the possibitility that these were recorded at a higher speed by accident, and with the low budget, they figured, what the heck, no one will notice.

Another things is if you notice, many outtakes on the soundtrack were never found, thus some outtkes were not on the FTD release, including un-edited masters, that should have been there.



User avatar

Suspicious Minds
Posts: 3093
Registered for: 16 years 11 months
Location: Bideford, England.
Age: 68

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519710

Post by Suspicious Minds »

I thought I've Got To Find My Baby was speeded up or recorded on a different speed.


Frank

Every man has a Flaming Star

ImageImageImage

User avatar

drjohncarpenter
Posts: 107019
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: United States of America
Has thanked: 11700 times
Been thanked: 33635 times
Age: 89

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519819

Post by drjohncarpenter »

ekenee wrote:"Officially" only Girl Happy has been labeled as such, but anyone with a good set of ears can tell the recordings are not on pitch.

FLC of Commerce
Startin tonight
Wolf call

all sound too fast.
And you are mistaken. As noted, only the title track was altered.

Tony Trout wrote:Why did they tamper with it in the first place?
The main reason?

February 9, 1964


.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!

User avatar

KiwiAlan
Posts: 11660
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519880

Post by KiwiAlan »

The Beatles...I don't see the connection.


When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete

User avatar

drjohncarpenter
Posts: 107019
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: United States of America
Has thanked: 11700 times
Been thanked: 33635 times
Age: 89

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519898

Post by drjohncarpenter »

KiwiAlan wrote:The Beatles...I don't see the connection.
Try harder.


.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!

User avatar

KiwiAlan
Posts: 11660
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519979

Post by KiwiAlan »

Are you trying to suggest Elvis sounding like Mickey Mouse would somehow top the Beatles?


When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete

User avatar

drjohncarpenter
Posts: 107019
Registered for: 20 years 11 months
Location: United States of America
Has thanked: 11700 times
Been thanked: 33635 times
Age: 89

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#519990

Post by drjohncarpenter »

KiwiAlan wrote:Are you trying to suggest Elvis sounding like Mickey Mouse would somehow top the Beatles?
Oh, I would never dare suggest such a notion.

But Elvis Presley had visionary management -- no doubt the idea originated there.

As further evidence, please review his output for 1964, that classic year in pop music:

January 12, 1964
Memphis, Tennessee
Ask Me
It Hurts Me

March 2-3, 1964
Little Egypt
Poison Ivy League
Hard Knocks
It's A Wonderful World
Big Love, Big Heartache
One Track Heart
Roustabout (Blackwell -- unissued)
It's Carnival Time
Carny Town
There's A Brand New Day On The Horizon
Wheels On My Heels

May 14, 1964
Roustabout (Giant/Baum/Kaye)

June 10-15, 1964
Puppet On A String
The Meanest Girl In Town
Girl Happy
Cross My Heart And Hope To Die
Spring Fever
Do Not Disturb
I've Got To Find My Baby
Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce
Startin' Tonight
Do The Clam
Wolf Call

---

And notice Elvis did not tape a single note after June 15 -- the white flag was up, and waving.


.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!


Topic author
stevelecher
Posts: 7378
Registered for: 20 years 10 months
Has thanked: 756 times
Been thanked: 1403 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#520503

Post by stevelecher »

Doc:

At least we had the 1965 recordings to look forward to.

Seriously, we get the point that this material is sub-par, and that buttresses my original point that even if the paperwork doesn't acknowledge it, Elvis' forward looking management speeded up several of the faster songs on "Girl Happy" to make the songs seem more rockin' and to make his voice higher/younger.

I trust my ears and "Startin' Tonight" and "Wolf Call" sound like "Girl Happy."

Thanks.... Steve Lecher



User avatar

JohnnyByeBye
Posts: 329
Registered for: 16 years
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 49 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#520510

Post by JohnnyByeBye »

stevelecher wrote:Doc:

I trust my ears and "Startin' Tonight" and "Wolf Call" sound like "Girl Happy."
A person with guitar or piano tuned to the normal pitch of 440 that those recording were made can test this fairly easily. If some songs in Girl Happy (not mentioned as 'possibly speeded up' above) are in the 440 and the 'speeded up' ones are above that, then the latter have been tampered with 99% sure. I just might test this out one of these evenings.

If the songs were somehow recorded using a faster speed it's a very easy task to correct that afterwards if desired.



User avatar

bc55
Posts: 954
Registered for: 18 years 3 months
Location: Germany
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Girl Happy Songs speeded up

#520586

Post by bc55 »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
KiwiAlan wrote:Are you trying to suggest Elvis sounding like Mickey Mouse would somehow top the Beatles?
Oh, I would never dare suggest such a notion.

But Elvis Presley had visionary management -- no doubt the idea originated there.
Similar things have been done frequently in the history of music, to make an artists sound younger or speed the song up a notch, because the tempo was dragging.

An example that springs to mind is Carl Perkins' classic recording of YOUR TRUE LOVE, which was made in 1956 at SUN records. Rumour has it that Elvis dropped in on that exact same day, as they were warapping the session up, and the now legendary MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET jam session happened, December 4th.

The Bear Family box set CLASSIC CARL PERKINS features the unaltered master, and it is quite a bit slower, to a point of almost going nowhere. I guess Sam was hoping to make it more bouncy, which he succeeded with, but he turned Carl & his brothers' voices into Alvin & The Chipmunks in the process ( LOL ).

Still a brlliant song .....


Cheers

Sven
Post Reply