When considering the best-selling albums in the United States during the 1960s, many might guess legendary releases like Abbey Road or Led Zeppelin II. However, surpassing most rock giants, and second only to the West Side Story soundtrack, was Elvis Presley’s soundtrack for the film Blue Hawaii. Released in 1961, the Blue Hawaii Album captured a specific moment in time, blending the public’s love for movie musicals—a dominant force in the early decade chart-toppers like Mary Poppins—with the burgeoning power of rock and roll embodied by Presley himself. This fusion proved incredibly successful, cementing the album’s place in music history, albeit with a complex legacy.
The Paradox: Why the Success of Blue Hawaii Harmed Elvis
For many admirers of Elvis Presley as a serious artist, the Blue Hawaii album represents a turning point—and not necessarily for the better. Its immense commercial success, both as a record and a film, inadvertently set Presley on a path that sidelined his artistic development for nearly seven years. This triumph solidified a formula: lightweight movie musicals with accompanying soundtracks. This blueprint led directly to a string of critically panned films and musically weak albums like Harum Scarum, Double Trouble, and Frankie and Johnny. While Elvis’s immense popularity initially kept these releases afloat, eventually even dedicated fans recognized the declining quality, viewing the output as repetitive schlock orchestrated by Presley’s manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker. Parker, often seen as a hindrance to Elvis’s full artistic potential due to his focus on profit over artistry, steered the King towards this lucrative, if creatively stifling, path. The Blue Hawaii album, therefore, stands as the catalyst for this extended detour into movie musical mediocrity.
A Glimmer of “What If?”: Elvis’s Untapped Potential
One can only speculate how Elvis’s career might have unfolded differently had Blue Hawaii not been such a blockbuster. If his non-soundtrack album Something for Everybody, released the same year, had achieved greater success, perhaps the 1960s would have seen a different artistic trajectory for the King. How might he have navigated the British Invasion or the rise of psychedelia without the constraints of formulaic film roles? His powerful late-60s comeback demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and remain contemporary when freed from the movie soundtrack machine. However, his subsequent struggles in the mid-70s, even without the relentless film schedule, suggest that maintaining artistic focus might have been challenging regardless. What remains certain is that the Blue Hawaii soundtrack marked the definitive first step into the movie musical wilderness that would define much of his decade.
Beyond the Backlash: Assessing the Blue Hawaii Album on Merit
Despite its problematic legacy concerning Elvis’s career arc, the Blue Hawaii album itself possesses considerable musical merit. Separated from its consequences, it’s a surprisingly strong collection, arguably far superior to the soundtrack work that followed. Two key factors contribute to its quality: firstly, Elvis sounds fully invested and committed to the material throughout the recording. Secondly, the song selection, while geared towards the film’s theme, was significantly better than the often subpar tracks he would later be given for films like Kissin’ Cousins or Clambake.
Authentic Island Flavors?: The Hawaiian Soundscape
Consider the track “No More.” Elvis delivers a performance that is smooth, emotionally resonant, and showcases his exceptional vocal talent. Furthermore, the album deserves credit for its attempt at incorporating authentic Hawaiian musical elements. Featuring slide guitar, ukuleles, and Polynesian-influenced percussion (some played by the famed Hal Blaine), the arrangements evoke a genuine island feel. While perhaps closer to the commercialized Hawaiian pop sound popularized by artists like Don Ho rather than deeply traditional forms, significant effort was made to create a thematically cohesive, Hawaiian-sounding record. “No More” effectively blends a strong melody and acceptable love song lyrics with these pseudo-Hawaiian motifs, creating a vibe that captures a sense of the islands more convincingly than many contemporary efforts. Elvis himself seemingly retained affection for the song, re-recording it after his 1973 Aloha from Hawaii concert.
Elvis Presley poses with a ukulele on the cover of the Blue Hawaii album soundtrack
The Heart of the Album: Unforgettable Ballads
The true strength of the Blue Hawaii album lies in its ballads. Tracks like “Ku-U-I-Po,” “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” “Hawaiian Sunset,” and “Island of Love” are prime examples of Elvis’s unparalleled ability as a balladeer. He navigates these songs with tenderness, passion, and power, his voice perfectly conveying the shifting emotions within the lyrics. His capacity to inject profound feeling into a song was arguably unmatched during his era.
“Can’t Help Falling in Love”: An All-Time Classic
The absolute pinnacle of the album, and indeed one of the greatest love songs ever recorded, is “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis’s performance is incredibly genuine and heartfelt, possessing a hymn-like, reverent quality that transcends typical pop music. Its stately grace and majesty are rarely equaled. This timeless, iconic track alone arguably justifies the existence of the entire Blue Hawaii soundtrack. It stands in stark contrast to the often overly sentimental and bombastic live versions Elvis performed in the 1970s, which frequently buried the song’s simple beauty under excessive instrumentation and backing vocals.
More Ballad Gems: Capturing the Hawaiian Spirit
While “Can’t Help Falling in Love” casts a long shadow, the other ballads on the album are also noteworthy. They possess strong melodies, emotional depth, and are effectively wrapped in the faux-Hawaiian arrangements. While potentially sentimental, the sincerity of Elvis’s delivery prevents them from feeling manipulative. “Hawaiian Sunset,” for instance, effectively evokes the atmosphere of its namesake. “Island of Love” serves as a touching tribute (perhaps specifically to Kauai). The gentle rhythm of “Moonlight Swim” mimics the ocean waves. Elvis gives “Ku-U-I-Po” a passionate reading, and his respectful rendition of the traditional “Aloha Oe,” complete with its Hawaiian language introduction, treats the cultural piece with dignity. Even the title track, “Blue Hawaii,” with its dreamy slide guitar and relaxed rhythm, successfully conjures images of the islands.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Stumbles: The Album’s Weaker Side
Unfortunately, where the album falters significantly is in its attempts at rock and roll. Given Elvis’s status as the King of Rock and Roll, these tracks are disappointingly weak and toothless. It’s likely that the filmmakers aimed for inoffensive, family-friendly fare, resulting in faster songs that lack genuine energy or edge. “Rock-a-Hula,” despite reaching #23 on the US charts, is widely considered an embarrassing low point, although some intricate guitar work (potentially by Scotty Moore or Hank Garland) offers a minor saving grace. “Slicin’ Sand” comes across as a forced and generic beach song. “Beach Boy Blues” is largely forgettable, and “Ito Eats,” featuring some interesting Polynesian drums but little else, is arguably the weakest track. Elvis’s audible sigh at the end might reflect his own feelings about the material.
Elvis Presley sings and plays ukulele alongside Joan Blackman in a scene related to the Blue Hawaii album
The only up-tempo song that escapes significant criticism is “Almost Always True.” Its slightly clever lyrics and mild rockabilly feel make it somewhat fun and engaging. However, the general rule for the Blue Hawaii album remains: the slower the tempo, the better the song.
Conclusion: Loving the Music, Lamenting the Path
Ultimately, the Blue Hawaii album presents a dichotomy. On one hand, it features some of Elvis Presley’s most beautiful and heartfelt ballad performances, wrapped in charming, if not entirely authentic, Hawaiian arrangements. Elvis sounds engaged and delivers vocally throughout, particularly on iconic tracks like “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” The production effort to create a specific island mood is commendable. On the other hand, its colossal success directly led Elvis down a path of repetitive, artistically unfulfilling movie soundtracks managed by Colonel Parker, sacrificing musical innovation for easy profits for much of the 1960s.
While acknowledging the detrimental impact its success had on Elvis’s artistic journey is crucial, it’s also important to evaluate the Blue Hawaii Album on its own musical terms. Judged solely as a collection of songs, it offers numerous highlights, particularly the stunning ballads. The weaker rock attempts are easily skipped, leaving a core of beautifully performed, melodically rich songs. Despite its role in ushering in Elvis’s Hollywood exile, the music itself, especially the love songs imbued with a touch of island paradise, remains easy to fall in love with.
