Hybrid-SACD - UDSACD 2226 Read more.
1. Blue Hawaii
2. Almost Always True
3. Aloha Oe
4. No More
5. Can't Help Falling in Love
6. Rock-a-Hula Baby
7. Moonlight Swim
8. Ku-U-I-Po
9. Ito Eats
10. Slicin' Sand
11. Hawaiian Sunset
12. Beach Boy Blues
13. Island of Love
14. Hawaiian Wedding Song
It was often said about Elvis Presley that his soundtracks could never hold a candle to his studio albums. Although that is true in most cases, this notion is disproved by the music from the film Blue Hawaii, in which Presley played the leading role. Released in 1961 alongside the film, the triple-platinum LP remained at the top of the Billboard album charts for almost five months. And now the album has received a sonic treatment worthy of a rock star.
Remastered anew and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity’s hybrid SACD transports the listener both to the carefree, innocent world of the early 1960s and to the soothing, airy atmosphere of the famous Pacific islands. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to have Presley living in your room, this reissue makes it possible through its lifelike presence, clarity, immediacy, and transparency.
Blue Hawaii was recorded before the King entered a creative downward spiral, and it presents him with an incredible voice. Presley’s warm crooning alone deserves undivided attention. It is no coincidence that this record — packed with momentum, mood, romance, and sincerity — changed the course of his career.
Like the film itself, the music on Blue Hawaii is devoted to a feel-good aesthetic. Presley throws himself into stylistic depths with a mixture of fearlessness and fun. He dives into early rock ’n’ roll (Rock-A-Hula Baby), touching ballads (Hawaiian Wedding Song), playful rumba (Beach Boy Blues), relaxing luaus (Hawaiian Sunset), and, of course, island-inspired fare (Ku-U-I-Po). It is immediately clear that the King is enjoying himself. Is Blue Hawaii purely serious art? No, but that was never the intention. Rather, it serves as a showcase for Presley’s chameleon-like ability to take on different roles and entertain.
