Shortly after Follow That Dream Records had established the collector's editions of movie soundtracks, they releaed "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" in 2004. It's a compact disc, housed in a 7" digipak and accompanied by an infomative and well designed booklet. Lene Reidel was just allowed to remaster the content of the original album, but the outtakes also had to be mixed before they could be released. Therefore they sound much fresher and more vital than the dull masters. In the late 2000s the tracks were re-worked again for "The Complete Elvis Presley Masters" and in the 2010s once more for "The RCA Album Collection". These versions are the best sounding ones, but at the time of the release of this collector's edition it was the ultimate source. Unfortunately FTD doesn't distribute their products in a modern way and sticks to compact discs and vinyl.

As usual I am only dealing with the tracks that are not on the original album. To read a review of RCA's "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" release just tap HERE.

The ballad is performed from start to finish and already sounds quite good.

After the producer announces the matrix number (which starts with "BO") Elvis sings the letters to the melody of "IO", which he had recorded the previous year in an English version named "Ask Me". Take 4 is a complete performance, at the end the king barks like a dog and sings a line of the national anthem in squeaky voice. On take number 5 Elvis has to laugh and therefore the attempt to record "A Dog's Life" is canceled. The 6th try is a complete performance again.

On take 6 Elvis stumbles upon "wiggle-walking" and has to laugh. The next attempt fails because the king still has to giggle. Now it's obvious that Elvis has to restrain his laughter and of course he doesn't manage to produce a complete performance. The 11th take is announced by the producer with "Speaking to you from the grave..." which doesn't help the situation at all. Once again the king stumbles upon "wiggle-walking" and therefore kills the take. Now he rehearses the part and tries to figure out how to sing it. Take 12 is a complete performance, but still Elvis has trouble to emphasize certain lines.

During the chorus Elvis tries to sing his part different to the choir. But it doesn't work too well and so he would continue to sing it straight on the following takes.

On the 4th take Elvis gets out of step and the playback has to be started again. The next attempt is quite successful, but the king fails on the finale.

The king has trouble with the timing of the tongue twister. The producer advises "Think slow, El, and it'll sound faster" which is replied by "Go back to the other studio".

The first walkthrough sounds much tamer than the master. During the planned fade-out Elvis has to laugh.

The performance works well, just the finale bothers the king. As a joke he intones the last line in operatic voice. After take 3 we hear the a-capella intro that is recorded especially for the movie. Facetiously Elvis claims to have soup in his nose and therefore has to go home.

The recording is faded in while the performance is already under way. Elvis exaggerates the word "USA" and bursts into laughter a little later. The producer continues to run the playback tape, but the king says "That's it, man" and finishes the take. The 4th walkthrough is a serious performance. It isn't faded here and therefore can be heard until the acutal music track runs out.

The first attempt already works surprisingly well.

Elvis has to laugh about the silly lyrics, but continues and sings the rest of the song, too.

This ballad is obviously taken seriously. Everyone is focused and the first take already is a gentle, heartfelt performance.

On the first take Elvis stumbles upon "wiggle-walking", the second try is not much more than the first few bars. Take 3 is canceled because the king has to clear his throat. He excuses himself by saying "I had soup in my throat and burned my nose". The 4th walkthrough is complete.

The first take is nothing but the intro, on the second one Elvis has to clear his throat and so the playback-tape is stopped. Take number 3 is an almost complete performance. At the end the king stumbles upon the timing and sings "Where was that last part".