Harem Holiday/My Desert Serenade/Go East Young Man/Mirage/Kismet/Shake That Tambourine/Hey Little Girl/ Golden Coins/So Close Yet So Far/Animal Instinct/Wisdom Of The Ages
Harum Scarum was Elvis's second soundtrack album released in 1965. The continued release of sub par soundtracks significantly dented his reputation during the mid to late sixties. (US:8 UK:11)
"Sure, most of Presley's films were fluffy stuff. No matter, the songs were written by men at the peak of their craft and performed by musicians who were masters of their instruments."
"One major characteristic of Elvis Presley's films and soundtracks is that they all travel around the globe. The soundtracks in particular, based on the given locale, tend to mix international ethnic orchestrations with the unmistakeable Elvis sound. Who else can master a tune with Middle Eastern feeling and make it western to our ears."
"We do have some typical rockers like Shake That Tambourine and Hey Little Girl that could be easily placed on any other Presley soundtrack. Basic yet effective ballads such as Kismet and the now to be recognized as the most eastern in feeling and delivery from Presley, Golden Coins. Do listen to the overall slow tempo, and the flute accompaniment, to Presley's soft yet solid performance."
"Harum Scarum was knocked down by many as the worst Elvis film. However, the soundtrack is fantastic with a great desert beat and fine songs such as Go East Young Man and Shake That Tambourine."
"So, how is the music? Not very good, actually. RCA Records thought so little of the soundtrack that they didn't even bother to release a single from the album. The only song that I would call 'good' is So Close Yet So Far, and it's not that good. Most of the other songs are pretty bad, although a few of them, like Shake That Tambourine and Hey Little Girl have a certain energy."
"These pictures, pure formula and hardly distinguishable from each other in terms of plot or characterizations, produced a handful of good songs and barrels of bad ones. Overall, the music was a million miles from the sizzling electricity of the pre-army days."
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