Shoppin' Around

[MikeFromHolland]

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Always loved this neat sing-a-long tune from GI Blues. And I always thought it was written for this movie by writers trio Bennett, Schroeder and Tepper. But to my surprise I just discovered that it was recorded in 1957 already by Joel Grey. Joel Grey's original was released in December 1957 on Capitol 3866, according to http://davidneale.eu/elvis/originals/list8.html#S1444.

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More on this in this informative topic from 2011:

Shoppin' Around
http://elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59694#p885642




A 1964 version by Eden Kane from his album It's Eden:
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Ever heard this neat French version of the song? As recorded and sung by Hédika in 1961. Translated "He will be a dredger":
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Or by Dany Fischer, as sung in 1961 as well. Translated "I want to be a dredger":
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The Movie Version:
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[r&b]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

[jurasic1968]

Right.

[brian]

I already knew Joel Grey had recorded the song because someone had posted info on that a couple of years ago.
It's a good song that could have been a #1 hit for Elvis in 1960 or 1961.

I suppose if RCA had released Wooden heart as a single in the states during 1960-1961 ''Shoppin around'' would have been the best song to pair it with as the B side. If that had happened the song would have likely peaked at #20.

[brian]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

Must you always go on these rants about songs that you don't like.

[norrie]

Hardly a rant.
I quite like the GI Blues soundtrack but recognise it's lightweight musical fluff that along with Blue Hawaii created the formula that choked the life out of Elvis' musical creativity for the best part of the decade.

norrie

[brian]

Hardly a rant.
I quite like the GI Blues soundtrack but recognise it's lightweight musical fluff that along with Blue Hawaii created the formula that choked the life out of Elvis' musical creativity for the best part of the decade.

GI Blues kicks ass.

[r&b]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

Must you always go on these rants about songs that you don't like.

Where is the rant? Topic was Shpooin Around, and thats my opinion of it. If you dont hear a difference between Elvis of 1958 and Elvis of 1960, so be it. I miss the 1958 version. Sorry I dont love SA it as I know I should have. I do like GI Blues however. Much better song.

[brian]

Where is the rant? Topic was Shpooin Around, and thats my opinion of it. If you dont hear a difference between Elvis of 1958 and Elvis of 1960, so be it. I miss the 1958 version. Sorry I dont love SA it as I know I should have. I do like GI Blues however. Much better song.

You can say what you want just asking.

[drjohncarpenter]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

Elvis shouldn't have been covering Joel Grey, or Rusty Draper, for that matter.

But this was the standard of material in front of him for his first movie project of the new decade. It was a foreshadowing of things to come. On the plus side, his performance is outstanding, although I far prefer the outtake which came out in 1980 on Elvis Aron Presley, where he is playing guitar and driving the band. There is more rock 'n' roll spirit there. But someone decided it needed to be remade at a session a week later, something kinder and gentler. Too bad.

[r&b]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

Elvis shouldn't have been covering Joel Grey, or Rusty Draper, for that matter.

But this was the standard of material in front of him for his first movie project of the new decade. It was a foreshadowing of things to come. On the plus side, his performance is outstanding, although I far prefer the outtake which came out in 1980 on Elvis Aron Presley, where he is playing guitar and driving the band. There is more rock 'n' roll spirit there. But someone decided it needed to be remade at a session a week later, something kinder and gentler. Too bad.

Yes that version is better, and more driving thanks to Elvis but Leiber & Stoller were sorely missed. The material for the movies really took a slide

[Chucky99]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

But still, another part of Elvis recorded Reconsider Baby, A mess of blues,I feel so bad, Little sister, His latest flame,....

[r&b]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

But still, another part of Elvis recorded Reconsider Baby, A mess of blues,I feel so bad, Little sister, His latest flame,....

Yes, and that was all in 1960-61, then than was about it except for a lone song here & there. So again, a big portion of who he was and what made him a 20th Century icon, that had started a cultural & musical revolution, was for the most part gone after the army until June 1968 and I think thats kind of sad. I didnt mind he changed his style so much, everyone does, but it would have been nice to have had a return to his roots in an album between 1962-68. Just one. Just for old times sake as the song says. Even Darin had an album called For Teenagers Only, for his fans who became fans prior to Mack The Knife. Soundtrack after soundtrack with worsening songs. Its for sure he stayed as popular a figure for 2 reasons. What he accomplished musically prior to those movies , and for his looks. Image was a big part of it All one has to do is watch any of the documentaries to see that the music was secondary to a lot of the ladies. 'I got ever picture,' ,,,,

[Pete Dube]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

While I grant your point about the general watering down of Elvis' post-army rock & roll sound, I think Shoppin' Around was intended to be a soft rocker in the All Shook Up mold.

[r&b]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

While I grant your point about the general watering down of Elvis' post-army rock & roll sound, I think Shoppin' Around was intended to be a soft rocker in the All Shook Up mold.

Intention not achieved. All Shook Up is a stone solid classic. Shoppin Around is ,as what has been pointed out, a Joel Grey cover. Not even close IMO.

[Eggrert]

I love the entire GI Blues soundtrack (OK, I could live without the limp remake of BSS), and Shoppin' Around is a highlight. Sure, it's tame compared to, say, the Army session in the 50s, but so what? It's fun, and catchy, and energetic, and sometimes that's all one needs.

(Actually, I prefer Shoppin' Around to most of the 50s rockers. I just find it more pleasurable to listen to.)

[King Volcano]

That Hédika version is astonishing ! It's so bizarre and frantic, her voice so weird ! I'm hypnotised but am not sure whether I like or loathe it

And what on earth is Dany Fischer up to on his LP sleeve...

I like the song on GI Blues. It's kind of cute and musically inoffensive. The lyrics are terrible though.

[jeanno]

With the single exception of the title song, the "G.I.Blues" soundtrack is an incredible letdown. Leiber & Stoller were out of the story, most of the tracks were soft/fluffy pop stuff and the too few rockers were lame and uninspired. In her book, Priscilla remembers how frustrated Elvis felt about those recordings and it is easy to understand why. None of those songs were meant to become "classic Elvis". Worst: " blue suede shoes " was Elvis'most insipid rendition to the date.

Of course the lp sold extremely well but I bet that most of early fans felt at least disappointed, if not completely betrayed.

[brian]

Does anyone like ''Doin the best I can'' and ''Pocketful of Rainbows?

[KHoots]

Good vocal but was never a big fan of this watered down sort of rock and roll song. Listen to stuff he cut in June 1958 , and the King Creole soundtrack, then put this on. Even worse was the remake of Blue Suede Shoes. Lennon was right. A part of Elvis died in the Army,

While I grant your point about the general watering down of Elvis' post-army rock & roll sound, I think Shoppin' Around was intended to be a soft rocker in the All Shook Up mold.

Yup. I agree, Mr. Dube. I had not heard the Joel Gray version prior to today, but have been a fan of Elvis's version since I was a little bitty kid. I like it as much today as I ever did.

[King Volcano]

With the single exception of the title song, the "G.I.Blues" soundtrack is an incredible letdown. Leiber & Stoller were out of the story, most of the tracks were soft/fluffy pop stuff and the too few rockers were lame and uninspired. In her book, Priscilla remembers how frustrated Elvis felt about those recordings and it is easy to understand why. None of those songs were meant to become "classic Elvis". Worst: " blue suede shoes " was Elvis'most insipid rendition to the date.

Of course the lp sold extremely well but I bet that most of early fans felt at least disappointed, if not completely betrayed.

I guess it could have been a turning point for quite a few fans, as Elvis was so hugely popular at that time he could lose a certain amount of fans and not even notice, financially?

Or was Blue Hawaii the real point where some jumped off. Both movies are fun in hindsight, but it's easy to imagine quite a few pissed off fans around the world post GI / BH.

[KHoots]

Does anyone like ''Doin the best I can'' and ''Pocketful of Rainbows?

Only on the first Monday of each month.

[MikeFromHolland]

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MOVIE REVIEW


Screen: Elvis -- A Reformed Wriggler:Presley Drops Swivel for 'G.I. Blues' Role He Is Clean-Cut Type in Show at Victoria

By BOSLEY CROWTHER
Published: November 5, 1960


WHATEVER else the Army has done for Elvis Presley, it has taken that indecent swivel out of his hips and turned him into a good, clean, trustworthy, upstanding American young man. At least, that's the cinematic image projected in the first post-service picture of 1958's most celebrated draftee, the Hal Wallis production, "G. I. Blues."

Honest, you'd hardly know Elvis — the pre-Army Elvis, that is—in the sweet-natured, morally straight young soldier now to be seen on the Victoria's screen. Gone is that rock 'n' roll wriggle, that ludicrously lecherous leer, that precocious country-bumpkin swagger, that unruly mop of oily hair. Almost gone are those droopy eyelids and that hillbilly manner of speech. Elvis has become sophisticated. He's a man of the world—almost.

To be sure, he still sings a brand of music that, to many adult ears, is downright Greek, while he whomps a guitar clamped to his pelvis and rhythmically cracks his knees. And he still gets off solemn aphorisms which are not likely to be attributed to Voltaire, such as, "Ef people got t' know each other better, ever-thin'll be better all aroun'."

But his hairbrush haircut is trim and tidy, his G.I. uniform is crisp and neat and his attitude is cheerful. Elvis is now a fellow you can almost stand.

Even the script writers of his picture, Henry Garson and Edmund Beloin, have conspired (perhaps with the people in the Army) to show him as a model young man. They have put him forth as a singing G. I., recently arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, who is picked by his gambling buddies as their champion to win a date with a notoriously undatable girl. (Honestly, the challenge is as literal and innocent as that — a far cry from the obvious inspiration of the whole thing, the old play, "Sailor Beware!")

The fact that the girl is a night club dancer, (performed by the shimmering Juliet Prowse, whose long-legged sleekness was the one pure thing in "Can Can") only renders the challenge more intense.

And how do you think they've arranged it for Elvis to win the bets? (You'll never believe this, knowing the old Elvis!) By being a good, clean Joe! First, they have him rescue the young lady from a grabby old guy at the club. Then they have him behave with the politeness and deference of a modern Galahad. They have him take her for a ride on a Rhine steamer, on a scenic cable car and to a pretty little park where cheery Elvis becomes a singing participant in a kiddies' puppet show.

But the critical invasion of her apartment is accomplished (shuddering shades of "Jailhouse Rock"!) when Elvis, doing a job of baby sitting for a tardily marrying friend, has to take the baby there to get her help. He hasn't the slightest ulterior motive. How do you like that for being good?

Well, it's not a question of how you like it—you older, quieter people, that is—you who will naturally like the pretty color and the occasional pleasant scenery of this film. It's a question of how those squealing youngsters, Elvis' erstwhile fans, are going to take to a rock 'n' roll singer with honey in his veins instead of blood.

Miss Prowse makes a pleasant companion—a little unreal, but nice — and James Douglas, Robert Ivers and Arch Johnson make conventionally amusing G. I. pals. Sigrid Maier and Leticia Roman are other attractive girls, and the music—if that's what you call it—is frequent, energetic and loud.

It is nice to see that Elvis has become such a fine young man. But he doesn't have to overdo it. There are limits to everything.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D06EFDF1431EF3ABC4D53DFB767838B679EDE

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[jeanno]

With the single exception of the title song, the "G.I.Blues" soundtrack is an incredible letdown. Leiber & Stoller were out of the story, most of the tracks were soft/fluffy pop stuff and the too few rockers were lame and uninspired. In her book, Priscilla remembers how frustrated Elvis felt about those recordings and it is easy to understand why. None of those songs were meant to become "classic Elvis". Worst: " blue suede shoes " was Elvis'most insipid rendition to the date.

Of course the lp sold extremely well but I bet that most of early fans felt at least disappointed, if not completely betrayed.

I guess it could have been a turning point for quite a few fans, as Elvis was so hugely popular at that time he could lose a certain amount of fans and not even notice, financially?

Or was Blue Hawaii the real point where some jumped off. Both movies are fun in hindsight, but it's easy to imagine quite a few pissed off fans around the world post GI / BH.

I guess there was still hope after "ifeel so bad" and the magnificent "his latest flame/little sister". But the BH soundtrack confirmed that the king of rock and roll had definitely changed.

[poormadpeter2]

.

MOVIE REVIEW


Screen: Elvis -- A Reformed Wriggler:Presley Drops Swivel for 'G.I. Blues' Role He Is Clean-Cut Type in Show at Victoria

By BOSLEY CROWTHER
Published: November 5, 1960


WHATEVER else the Army has done for Elvis Presley, it has taken that indecent swivel out of his hips and turned him into a good, clean, trustworthy, upstanding American young man. At least, that's the cinematic image projected in the first post-service picture of 1958's most celebrated draftee, the Hal Wallis production, "G. I. Blues."

Honest, you'd hardly know Elvis — the pre-Army Elvis, that is—in the sweet-natured, morally straight young soldier now to be seen on the Victoria's screen. Gone is that rock 'n' roll wriggle, that ludicrously lecherous leer, that precocious country-bumpkin swagger, that unruly mop of oily hair. Almost gone are those droopy eyelids and that hillbilly manner of speech. Elvis has become sophisticated. He's a man of the world—almost.

To be sure, he still sings a brand of music that, to many adult ears, is downright Greek, while he whomps a guitar clamped to his pelvis and rhythmically cracks his knees. And he still gets off solemn aphorisms which are not likely to be attributed to Voltaire, such as, "Ef people got t' know each other better, ever-thin'll be better all aroun'."

But his hairbrush haircut is trim and tidy, his G.I. uniform is crisp and neat and his attitude is cheerful. Elvis is now a fellow you can almost stand.

Even the script writers of his picture, Henry Garson and Edmund Beloin, have conspired (perhaps with the people in the Army) to show him as a model young man. They have put him forth as a singing G. I., recently arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, who is picked by his gambling buddies as their champion to win a date with a notoriously undatable girl. (Honestly, the challenge is as literal and innocent as that — a far cry from the obvious inspiration of the whole thing, the old play, "Sailor Beware!")

The fact that the girl is a night club dancer, (performed by the shimmering Juliet Prowse, whose long-legged sleekness was the one pure thing in "Can Can") only renders the challenge more intense.

And how do you think they've arranged it for Elvis to win the bets? (You'll never believe this, knowing the old Elvis!) By being a good, clean Joe! First, they have him rescue the young lady from a grabby old guy at the club. Then they have him behave with the politeness and deference of a modern Galahad. They have him take her for a ride on a Rhine steamer, on a scenic cable car and to a pretty little park where cheery Elvis becomes a singing participant in a kiddies' puppet show.

But the critical invasion of her apartment is accomplished (shuddering shades of "Jailhouse Rock"!) when Elvis, doing a job of baby sitting for a tardily marrying friend, has to take the baby there to get her help. He hasn't the slightest ulterior motive. How do you like that for being good?

Well, it's not a question of how you like it—you older, quieter people, that is—you who will naturally like the pretty color and the occasional pleasant scenery of this film. It's a question of how those squealing youngsters, Elvis' erstwhile fans, are going to take to a rock 'n' roll singer with honey in his veins instead of blood.

Miss Prowse makes a pleasant companion—a little unreal, but nice — and James Douglas, Robert Ivers and Arch Johnson make conventionally amusing G. I. pals. Sigrid Maier and Leticia Roman are other attractive girls, and the music—if that's what you call it—is frequent, energetic and loud.

It is nice to see that Elvis has become such a fine young man. But he doesn't have to overdo it. There are limits to everything.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D06EFDF1431EF3ABC4D53DFB767838B679EDE

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And that view of a reformed wriggler was exactly what Parker set out to do in 1960 - to ensure that Elvis had a career despite the softening of the rock n roll sound in the pop charts. He knew that teenagers grew up and wouldn't follow him forever - for Elvis to continue his career he now had to appeal to a wider audience, and G I Blues achieved some of that. Crowther's review of the film certainly reflects that. Crowther was one of the most curmudgeonly film critics of period, and it's telling reading the G I Blues review with the one he wrote for Love Me Tender, where he said "the picture itself is a slight case of horse opera with the heaves, and Mr. Presley's contribution is not a great deal more impressive than that of the slavering nags." By 1960, Elvis was at least palatable to middle America.

As for Shoppin' Around, it's perfectly pleasant, but little else. Yes, as others have said, it's watered down rock n roll, but it's in a film that was never intended to be aimed just at Elvis's fanbase. Needs must.