Davelee wrote:"Slicin' Sand (any number of Rock'n'Roll numbers)" -- Could you elaborate on this?
I'll try (if you don't mind) - if you change lyrics, it can be any other Rock'n'Roll song. As simple as that. There in nothing, apart from text text, to link the song with Hawaiian scenery.
Exactly. It has the stop-start verse of Blue Suede Shoes, and the melody line for the verse is almost the same as well - but the whole thing is watered down, and a pale imitation of the real thing. Perhaps in this case, the watering down was intentional. Blue Hawaii wasn't a film aimed at 20 year old rock n roll fans, but a general audience who wanted to go to the cinema to see a lighthearted romantic comedy with pretty scenery, pretty songs, pretty girls and/or Elvis with his shirt off. All of those elements had to be palatable to a general audience, particularly the songs as there was a soundtrack album just waiting for people to go out and buy after seeing the movie.
Most of the so called 'rock and roll' movie songs were of this nature since King Creole. Just pale imitations of the real thing.
It worked well with movies - Elvis wasn't the real deal himself either...
But a lot of them turn gold (or at least did shine a little bit)
They wrote several weak ones. But they fit the scenes in the movies well.
I like:
Shoppin' Around (alt. take 11)
G.I. Blues (One of the best title songs)
Angel (A beautiful original).
A Boy Like Me, A Girl Like You (My fav ballad from the movie)
Western Union (Good, but not great)
The Lady Loves Me (Beautiful duet recording) though I prefer "You're the Boss"
Once is Enough (A pleasant mid tempo song, I like the rythm)
Puppet on a String (A lovely ballad)
Kismet (A ballad I enjoyed after buying the Double Features CD in the 90's)
Smorgasbord (Fun sexist lyrics. Not a great song by any stretch, but I like the scene in the movie).
Am I Ready (A pleasant ballad)
I Love Only One Girl (a silly song, but I like it nonetheless)
A House That Has Everything (A nice, sad, ballad, but I prefer "The Girl I Never Loved" by Randy Starr)
Stay Away (Steals the lovely melody of "Greensleeves". I prefer Greensleeves sung by The Brothers Four.)
Young Hearts / Two Shadows On Your Window by Jim Reeves was released as a single in 1957. It was not a posthumous release.
. Bye for now 
.
. 
