Elvis Presley‘s “Rock-a-Hula Baby” was released alongside one of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll‘s most famous songs. “Rock-a-Hula Baby” suffers by comparison, but it also fails on its own. It’s a strange fusion that never quite comes together. Here’s a look at why it a B-movie actor wrote the track.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Rock-a-Hula Baby’ was part of a forgotten trend
Elvis’ Blue Hawaii typified a specific point in American history. Hawaii became a state in 1959. Around that time, the rest of the United States showed a strong interest in Hawaii. The late 1950s and 1960s gave us Gidget Goes Hawaiian, the Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka,” and a lot of tacky tiki bars. Elvis jumped on the bandwagon with a trio of movies: Blue Hawaii, Girls! Girls! Girls!, and Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
According to Elvis Australia, songwriter Ben Weisman revealed the origin of “Rock-a-Hula Baby.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Rock-a-Hula Baby’ was part of a forgotten trend
Elvis’ Blue Hawaii typified a specific point in American history. Hawaii became a state in 1959. Around that time, the rest of the United States showed a strong interest in Hawaii. The late 1950s and 1960s gave us Gidget Goes Hawaiian, the Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka,” and a lot of tacky tiki bars. Elvis jumped on the bandwagon with a trio of movies: Blue Hawaii, Girls! Girls! Girls!, and Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
According to Elvis Australia, songwriter Ben Weisman revealed the origin of “Rock-a-Hula Baby.
- 2/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In June 1970, Elvis Presley made the trip east from his Graceland home in Memphis to Nashville, where he holed up in RCA Studio B on Music Row for five days of recording. Presley, who was in the midst of his Las Vegas comeback at the International Hotel, was joined by Music City sessions players like Charlie McCoy and Norbert Putnam — the legendary “Nashville Cats.” The result came to be known among fans as the “marathon sessions.”
Now, a new four-disc compilation assembles the masters from those halcyon days and captures Presley at his energetic best.
Now, a new four-disc compilation assembles the masters from those halcyon days and captures Presley at his energetic best.
- 8/7/2020
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
In 1966, two of the most important and influential entertainers of their generation were at very different points in their respective careers. Elvis Presley, who changed the course of music history with explosive rock & roll, had settled into the role of Hollywood movie star, with varying degrees of success and critical derision accompanying each new music-driven celluloid effort.
Born some 300 miles from Presley’s Tupelo, Mississippi, birthplace in Delight, Arkansas, Glen Campbell also made his way to Los Angeles after a stint living in New Mexico. By 1960, he had begun toiling...
Born some 300 miles from Presley’s Tupelo, Mississippi, birthplace in Delight, Arkansas, Glen Campbell also made his way to Los Angeles after a stint living in New Mexico. By 1960, he had begun toiling...
- 11/1/2018
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
A collection of songs Glen Campbell originally recorded as a demo singer for Elvis Presley to hear will soon see the light of day, as the lost album Sings for the King will be released November 16th via Capitol/UMe.
In the years between 1964 and 1968, during which he’d score his first hits as a solo artist, Campbell recorded studio versions of songs written with Presley as the intended artist, as he could skillfully imitate Presley’s delivery. Many of those songs were penned by songwriters Ben Weisman and Sid Wayne,...
In the years between 1964 and 1968, during which he’d score his first hits as a solo artist, Campbell recorded studio versions of songs written with Presley as the intended artist, as he could skillfully imitate Presley’s delivery. Many of those songs were penned by songwriters Ben Weisman and Sid Wayne,...
- 10/10/2018
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
Hollywood actor known for her roles in the so-bad-they're-good films of Ed Wood
There are artists in various fields whose fame rests solely on how bad their work is alleged to be. Among them are the poet William McGonagall, the novelist Amanda McKittrick Ros, the soprano Florence Foster Jenkins and the film director Ed Wood. The latter's reputation as the world's worst film-maker rubbed off on Dolores Fuller, his muse, lover and leading lady, who has died aged 88.
It would be unfair to pick on Fuller for her stiff posture and stilted delivery in Wood's movies when the others in the casts were equally awkward, mainly because of the minimum amount of takes and the lack of strong direction. The "peak" of Wood and Fuller's collaboration was the camp classic Glen or Glenda (aka I Led Two Lives, 1953), an unintentionally hilarious, well-meaning film on transvestism. The theme was particularly close...
There are artists in various fields whose fame rests solely on how bad their work is alleged to be. Among them are the poet William McGonagall, the novelist Amanda McKittrick Ros, the soprano Florence Foster Jenkins and the film director Ed Wood. The latter's reputation as the world's worst film-maker rubbed off on Dolores Fuller, his muse, lover and leading lady, who has died aged 88.
It would be unfair to pick on Fuller for her stiff posture and stilted delivery in Wood's movies when the others in the casts were equally awkward, mainly because of the minimum amount of takes and the lack of strong direction. The "peak" of Wood and Fuller's collaboration was the camp classic Glen or Glenda (aka I Led Two Lives, 1953), an unintentionally hilarious, well-meaning film on transvestism. The theme was particularly close...
- 5/22/2011
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
The Los Angeles Times reports that actress Dolores Fuller, the angora-clad muse of legendarily bad director Edward D. Wood Jr., died in her home on Monday after a long illness, at the age of 88.
Fuller was a successful model and TV actress (she appeared regularly on "Queen For a Day") when she met Wood at a casting call. From The Times' obituary:
"When I got to the casting call and first laid eyes on the young Edward, I just thought he was extremely handsome, and his personality was bubbly and fun," Fuller recalled in a 1994 interview with Tom Weaver for Fangoria magazine. "Then when I found out he was also a director and writer as well as a producer and actor, I was very impressed. ... I knew immediately that he liked me, too."
Wood cast her as the lead in his infamous first film, "Glen or Glenda" (1953). The deeply personal (and,...
Fuller was a successful model and TV actress (she appeared regularly on "Queen For a Day") when she met Wood at a casting call. From The Times' obituary:
"When I got to the casting call and first laid eyes on the young Edward, I just thought he was extremely handsome, and his personality was bubbly and fun," Fuller recalled in a 1994 interview with Tom Weaver for Fangoria magazine. "Then when I found out he was also a director and writer as well as a producer and actor, I was very impressed. ... I knew immediately that he liked me, too."
Wood cast her as the lead in his infamous first film, "Glen or Glenda" (1953). The deeply personal (and,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
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