I've Got To Find My Baby :(

[LSP-4445]

While listening to a radio show today I "discovered" this Girl Happy song again and must say its a awful song&performance by Elvis
I dont like the melody or Elvis` voice on this at all and its just as bad as Confidence,Old Mcdonald and Dominic imo
Another track played today that I dislike a lot is Hey,Hey,Hey
When hearing the songs mentioned here...among others.... Im a little embarrassed beeing an Elvis fan and if they were played on radio it would damage Elvis reputation a lot for the listeners that didnt know Elvis was recording this c-r-a-p
Poor Elvis.

[Scarre]

While listening to a radio show today I "discovered" this Girl Happy song again and must say its a awful song&performance by Elvis
I dont like the melody or Elvis` voice on this at all and its just as bad as Confidence,Old Mcdonald and Dominic imo
Another track played today that I dislike a lot is Hey,Hey,Hey
When hearing the songs mentioned here...among others.... Im a little embarrassed beeing an Elvis fan and if they were played on radio it would damage Elvis reputation a lot for the listeners that didnt know Elvis was recording this c-r-a-p
Poor Elvis.

It's not his best song...but why would you be embarrassed? It was what it was.

[Troubleman]

He did 30 movies that needed songs in them (the only exception was Charro) so not all of them could be gems. I would say that there's probably between 20-25 soundtrack songs that are truly awful, most are fair to good for what they were (film songs) and a few were outstanding.

[ale]

I always liked this song....I think is a fine rocker from his movies
If he would have done it in the 50's many would consider a good song but as it is associated to a mediocre movie it's underrated.
I think the same happens to a lot of 60's movie songs......if they would have been recorded in the 50's they would be considered great ....just because is the 50's

[Scarre]

I always liked this song....I think is a fine rocker from his movies
If he would have done it in the 50's many would consider a good song but as it is associated to a mediocre movie it's underrated.
I think the same happens to a lot of 60's movie songs......if they would have been recorded in the 50's they would be considered great ....just because is the 50's

I disagree, but that is fine. You like what you like. I like what I like.

[EPA4368]

It's okay imo and Elvis does seem to be enjoying the sequence...

..

[drjohncarpenter]

While listening to a radio show today I "discovered" this Girl Happy song again and must say its a awful song&performance by Elvis

I dont like the melody or Elvis` voice on this at all and its just as bad as Confidence,Old Mcdonald and Dominic imo

Another track played today that I dislike a lot is Hey,Hey,Hey

When hearing the songs mentioned here...among others.... Im a little embarrassed beeing an Elvis fan and if they were played on radio it would damage Elvis reputation a lot for the listeners that didnt know Elvis was recording this c-r-a-p

Poor Elvis.

Well, it couldn't have impressed too many when it appeared in the spring of 1965 on record and in movie theaters. Fans who knew better probably asked themselves, "What in the hell is going on with Elvis?"

"I've Got To Find My Baby" is kind of fake rock 'n' roll, an attempt to echo the Beatles and their rising "ahhs" heard in their killer cover of "Twist and Shout," when Elvis and the Jordanaires sing "gone ..." but it's not nearly enough.

As shown in the movie sequence, we find Elvis leading a rock quartet, again a la the Beatles, but it is clear not one of the actors can even fake playing their bass, guitar, drums or sax.

Ack.



..


"Twist and Shout" hit #1 on the Cash Box "Top 100" on April 4, 1964, and #2 on Billboard's "Hot 100," mere weeks before the Presley soundtrack session in June. In fact, the Beatles held the TOP FIVE slots that week in both charts!


http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19640404.html
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1964-04-04


Few are aware that a verse was excised from the master take before released on record, or seen in the film.

It did not improve the song.


..

Elvis Presley "I've Got To Find My Baby" (unedited MONO master - Monday, June 15, 1964)
Sourced from an MGM acetate.

[Hard Rocker]

"I've Got To Find My Baby" is kind of fake rock 'n' roll, an attempt to echo the Beatles rising "ahhs" heard in their killer cover of "Twist and Shout," when Elvis and the Jordanaires sing "gone ..." but it's not nearly enough.

It's interesting that this observation only came to you within the past 2 months via member RnB. Surely any Elvis / Beatles man of your age with even a rudimentary knowledge of musical composition would've realised this decades ago?!?!?!?!

Right.

At least the music still feature a sax (which Elvis should have kept forever IMO). I Gotta Find My Baby always reminded me of trying to ape The Beatles Twist & Shout with the singers doing 'my baby's gone, gone, gone' going up in the scale. It just wasnt quite as effective or good

Boy, that's an understatement.

I never thought about the Joy Byers song aping the Beatles, but you're absolutely right!

You try waaaaaaaaay too hard, Johnny. You really do.

[drjohncarpenter]

"I've Got To Find My Baby" is kind of fake rock 'n' roll, an attempt to echo the Beatles rising "ahhs" heard in their killer cover of "Twist and Shout," when Elvis and the Jordanaires sing "gone ..." but it's not nearly enough.

It's interesting that this observation only came to you within the past 2 months via member RnB. Surely any Elvis / Beatles man of your age with even a rudimentary knowledge of musical composition would've realised this decades ago?!?!?!?!

Actually, I've known about this for years, and posted about it on this forum back in 2013, almost SIXTY months ago. I just forgot when I replied to r&b.

Interestingly, the MGM film is the first attempt by Hollywood to acknowledge the massive popularity and influence of the Fab Four in a Presley film, from Elvis being a member of a quartet in matching suits, to songs like "I've Got To Find My Baby," which apes the chorus of the Beatles' stunning cover of "Twist and Shout."

Again, you enjoy Elvis' film, but the reality is ... it's crap.

Your obsession with attacking every post I make is an annoyance that no one here appreciates or advocates. You're lucky you haven't earned yet another suspension for the unending and unwanted harassment. Food for thought.

[jurasic1968]

This song it's not great, but it's better than Confidence and Old McDonald, no doubt about it. I can't consider it "awful".

[colonel snow]

This song it's not great, but it's better than Confidence and Old McDonald, no doubt about it. I can't consider it "awful".

It seems that Elvis fans only dislike the song Old MacDonald. Even Frank Sinatra and other well-known artists recorded the song. Note: It's not one of my top-favorites too.

Confidence is another story: Parts of songs used in production number >> instrumentals:

London bridge is fallin’ down;
Here we go in the mulberry bush;
Frére Jacques;
Row row row your boat;
Skip to my Lou;
Melodically.
And these parts are regular songs (see ASCAP or BMI registers).

Maybe Confidence is inspired by the song High hopes by Frank Sinatra (1959)?.


Most of the movie-tracks are album fillers because these songs were needed in certain scenes in a movie; they can't be compared with studio recordings.

colonel snow

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

Few are aware that a verse was excised from the master take before released on record, or seen in the film.

It did not improve the song.

..

Elvis Presley "I've Got To Find My Baby" (unedited MONO master acetate - Monday, June 15, 1964)

How is that few are aware that the Girl Happy Masters were shortened when you posted just yesterday what follows here below? . Bye for now .

This member (Mike Windgren) has made innumerable posts for many years about these 1964 acetates found on YouTube to other discussion forums as well .

P.S: Do you check other Elvis forums as well or others do it for you? .

[EPA4368]

Confidence is certainly a reworking of Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn’s Oscar-winning song (which was previously reworked on Sinatra’s first Timex special and as a J.F.K. campaign song) from Frank Sinatra/Frank Capra’s 1959 film, A Hole in the Head, although it's not uncommon to find songs from Elvis’s films that are based on other songs or musical compositions, as you're undoubtedly aware, colonel snow. From Who Needs Money, which is another slant on Cole Porter’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to Clambake playing on Shortnin’ Bread, It's Carnival Time drawing inspiration from Fucick’s Entry of the Gladiators, Today, Tomorrow and Forever utilises the melody from Liszt’s Liebestraum, Tender Feeling is based on Shenandoah, Five Sleepy Heads is sung to the melody from Brahm’s Lullaby, and so on and so forth.

But I disagree with the notion that recordings for movies or musicals can't, don't, or shouldn't compare with studio recordings. It's just the standards became very low with regards to Elvis, which was both reflected in his efforts and many of his films. Although, as mentioned, there are moments of inspiration, attempts to be creative and some effort in spite of the material in all of his films. Even the least of them. Which doesn't make for a better film or change what was simply wrong with Elvis and his acting career by the mid-sixties, but it's rare to find a film with absolutely no redeeming qualities.

Good post, Greystoke

Gotta give Elvis credit for trying to make the scene work with "I've Got To Find My Baby". The theater was full when I saw "Girl Happy" when it was originally released and didn't notice anyone, walking out before film ended like with Kissin' Cousins.

[Hard Rocker]

Not the greatest song he ever recorded and let down by the production and the arrangement. As well as this, the tempo is too fast IMO.
However... it's not a complete failure but when you compare it to what he was capable of, then fair enough, it falls short. Fortunately a strong return to form was not too far ahead.

[stevelecher]

Girl Happy made me ask, "What's going on with Elvis?" It was more about his voice than the material. The album opening with the speeded up title song didn't help but his voice was weird on about half the songs. I was 12 and didn't realize the songs were substandard. I just really wondered about that marked tonal change.

[colonel snow]

For the German fans



colonel snow

[MaestroDavros]

Girl Happy made me ask, "What's going on with Elvis?" It was more about his voice than the material. The album opening with the speeded up title song didn't help but his voice was weird on about half the songs. I was 12 and didn't realize the songs were substandard. I just really wondered about that marked tonal change.

I think a lack of better interest and effort on Elvis’s part marked the tonal change we hear in his voice during the mid-sixties. Elvis wasn't engaged or stimulated by the material he was recording, which was insipid and banal for the most part, and he obviously knew that. Although his voice was, quite naturally, changing as he matured. But his singing lacked the vibrancy and dedication that not only marked his best work from earlier in the decade, it also elevated some lesser material through style and personality. Two ingredients I've Got to Find My Baby completely lacks.

This is something I've always noticed as well. A major problem with material from around 1965 is that Elvis could no longer reach those upper notes with the clarity and ease he could only a few years prior, and the arrangements still expected 1961 Elvis, not the new Elvis that was developing. The strain hurts already poor material.

[rlj4ep]

Girl Happy was he first Elvis movie I saw, although I was a small kid, so there is a special place in my heart for it.
As for the song "I've Got to Find My Baby," I enjoy it and it's place in the movie. To be sure, it was probably not recorded to be a single release or to challenge for a Grammy award. It was simply placed in this particular movie and shows Elvis as still "rocking." That said, it serves it's purpose. Can me naïve and out-of-touch musically, but I enjoyed it as a kid and still enjoy hearing it. It's bouncy and fun.

rlj

[stevelecher]

Girl Happy made me ask, "What's going on with Elvis?" It was more about his voice than the material. The album opening with the speeded up title song didn't help but his voice was weird on about half the songs. I was 12 and didn't realize the songs were substandard. I just really wondered about that marked tonal change.

I think a lack of better interest and effort on Elvis’s part marked the tonal change we hear in his voice during the mid-sixties. Elvis wasn't engaged or stimulated by the material he was recording, which was insipid and banal for the most part, and he obviously knew that. Although his voice was, quite naturally, changing as he matured. But his singing lacked the vibrancy and dedication that not only marked his best work from earlier in the decade, it also elevated some lesser material through style and personality. Two ingredients I've Got to Find My Baby completely lacks.

This is something I've always noticed as well. A major problem with material from around 1965 is that Elvis could no longer reach those upper notes with the clarity and ease he could only a few years prior, and the arrangements still expected 1961 Elvis, not the new Elvis that was developing. The strain hurts already poor material.

There was no reason 1964 Elvis'voice, at 29 years old, should have been any different from 28 years old Elvis, that we would have known at the time. I will say that this FTD's outtakes revealed to me the first time I think he may have been impaired.

[colonel snow]

From former Yugoslavia



colonel snow

[colonel snow]

From France



colonel snow

[colonel snow]

I don't collect these posters but here from Argentina



colonel snow

[colonel snow]

For the fans of the movie: here is a time line from script to screenplay for the movie

21-05-63 – outline script - written by R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock – title Where the girls are (41 pages)

23-05-63 – script written by R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock – title Where the girls are (50 pages)

12-06-63 – script written by R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock – title Where the girls are (72 pages)

12-07-63 – script with changes till 12 august 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) – title The only way to love (140 pages)

12-07-63 – script with changes till 12 august 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) – title The only way to love (126 pages)

11-09-63 – script with changes till 27 september 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) – title The only way to love (170 pages)

11-09-63 – script with changes till 27 september 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) – title The only way to love (117 pages)

07-10-63 – screenplay with changes till 11 october 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) (160 pages)

07-10-63 – sceenplay with changes till 11 october 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) (130 pages)

07-10-63 – screenplay with changes till 11 october 1963 (R.S. Allan & Harvey Bullock) (117 pages)

17-03-64 – screenplay with changes till 25 march 1964 (150 pages)

31-03-64 – revised screenplay with changes till 18 june 1964 (170 pages)

31-03-64 – revised screenplay with changes till 18 june 1964 (140 pages)

31-03-64 – revised screenplay with changes till 18 june 1964 (102 pages)

18-11-64 – dialogue cutting continuity and footage (125 pages & 10 pages)

22-01-65 – trailer dialogue cutting and footage (10 pages)

25-02-65 – revised trailer dialogue cutting and footage (4 pages)

26-02-65 – revised domestic trailer dialogue cutting and footage (10 pages)

colonel snow

[joekro1977]

Girl Happy isn't too bad, certainly better than dreck like Old Macdonald or Britches.

[Mike C]

Despite all the criticism, Girl Happy does provide us with the only visual evidence of Elvis holding and using a 1950s Telecaster.



Perhaps, a young man from Freehold, New Jersey saw the film upon its release in 1965!