Guadalajara

[MikeFromHolland]

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Federico Arturo Guízar Tolentino was born on April 8, 1908, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Though his father objected, he trained early as a singer and, as such, was sent to New York in 1929 to record the songs of Agustín Lara.

While in New York he had a radio show, "Tito Guízar y su Guitar", and studied opera. Tito Guízar was his name as an artist. In 1932 he married another Mexican singer, Carmen Noriega. He performed both operatic and Mexican cowboy songs at Carnegie Hall.

The movie Allá en el Rancho Grande (1936) - in which he played and sang - launched the singing cowboy film in Mexico and succeeded as well in the United States. From there he went to Hollywood, playing with such stars as Roy Rogers, Dorothy Lamour and Mae West.

He continued playing series parts in Mexican television well into the 1990s. Tito Guízar died at age 91, survived by a son, two daughters and five grandchildren.


His uncle, Pepe Guízar, wrote the song Guadalajara as a tribute to the place where he was born. Freely translated he sings about its clean smell, the many pigeons, the river, hills and unforgettable afternoons when raining. It’s uplifting and turned into a Mexican classic, covered by many great artists in its original language. Pepe recorded the original version in 1936:




Tito himself recorded the song Guadalajara in early 1937, with just his voice and guitar:




One of the most famous renditions in Mexico itself is that of Guadalajara-born ranchera icon Vicente Fernández:





Percy Faith and his orchestra covered the song in 1957, Nat King Cole in 1962 and Elvis in 1963. The Eartha Kitt version is from 1965:





On January 23, 1963 the track was recorded as part of the Fun In Acapulco soundtrack, and on February 27 Elvis added his voice to this in 10 takes. The Master is a splice of takes 2 and 6. Still not many native Mexicans could understand what he was singing. His Spanish wasn’t that well…




In Mexico it was released as a single, backed by Fun In Acapulco. The single had a re-release in 1975:

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Sources:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350268/
https://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/630227.html#01
https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/1055278/originals#nav-entity

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[colonel snow]

Addition:

The original version was recorded in 1936 by Pepe Guizar (Peerless 1905).
Next year in 1937 recorded by Tito Guizar and released on Peerless 2840 / Victor 32858.


From the script:
song spot # 11 - page 124 – scene 232 - LA PERLA NIGHT CLUB – PRODUCTION NUMBER - Mike sings reprise of THE TITLE SONG;

Finally selected and recorded: Guadalajara.


colonel snow

[Delors21]

In Spain it was released on EPE in 1964. My record, a gift from a friend, is from October 10, 1965. Not only the native Mexicans could not understand it, the same thing happened to me and still happens.
I am unable to understand what he says in this stanza. Try to listen to him by reading it:
Ay, Colomitos lejanos
Ay, ojitos de agua hermanos
Ay colomitos inolvidables
Inolvidables como las tardes
En que la llúvia desde la loma
No nos dejaba ir a Zapopan

[JimmyCool]

Nat "King" Cole's version is much better:

[FredAistair]

Nat "King" Cole's version is much better:

How?

[JimmyCool]

Nat "King" Cole's version is much better:

How?

You can understand what he's saying.

[MikeFromHolland]

Addition:

The original version was recorded in 1936 by Pepe Guizar (Peerless 1905).
Next year in 1937 recorded by Tito Guizar and released on Peerless 2840 / Victor 32858.


From the script:
song spot # 11 - page 124 – scene 232 - LA PERLA NIGHT CLUB – PRODUCTION NUMBER - Mike sings reprise of THE TITLE SONG;

Finally selected and recorded: Guadalajara.


colonel snow

Corrected the OP. Thank you!

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[MikeFromHolland]

Nat "King" Cole's version is much better:

It’s wonderful indeed. Not only because you can understand him, his voice is marvelous as well. Thanks!

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[Quadraphonic]

Correct...I still do not understand some parts of the song... some words are clear but others hard to understand. Always wondered for German speakers how "Wooden Heart" pronunciation sounds like....

[Buddy]

Nat "King" Cole's version is much better:

Better than which version?

[Christopher Brown]

It's one of those Elvis songs I wish I had never heard -- that is, that it wasn't recorded by Elvis.

[colonel snow]

It's one of those Elvis songs I wish I had never heard -- that is, that it wasn't recorded by Elvis.

You like a song in a movie or you don’t like it but don’t forget these songs are written for a special scene in a movie. These songs don’t steal the show and these songs are fillers on the soundtrack album ($$$).

colonel snow

[Christopher Brown]

There are many specially written movie songs I like -- some I REALLY like. This is not one of them. Others may.

[vbgt]

I am reminded from that video of Elvis singing Guadalajara that Elvis NEVER looked better than he did during the filming of FIA. So thin, fit and handsome

[jurasic1968]

He looked better one year before during the film GGG.

[Rob]

I first heard this song on the classic Elvis album, "Burning Love and hits from his movies, volume 2".....

Pretty sure that's where I first heard it, too. I was just a lad.

But my life was forever changed by it.

[eric c]

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i love the fun in acapulco album.
one of his best "sounding" albums.
the music behind the lyrics...is perfect.
and to my ears you can tell Elvis was really into it.
fun album.
fun movie.