Last year you got the review of the first volume. We concluded that review with the fact that we were looking forward to the second volume. That volume is here now and effortlessly meets expectations. Just like the first volume, this album also contains demos (although given the professional performances, this word is not really appropriate here) of new songs that were proposed to Elvis. Songs from which he then chose those that he considered suitable for himself.
Between 1963 and 1968, Randy Starr wrote about seventy songs, of which you get 31 here, which incidentally see the light of day for the first time and can also be heard in excellent sound. In addition to songs that were proposed for Elvis' films, this album also contains proposals for studio recordings. Randy was born in 1930 and can write behind his name that Elvis personally selected no less than 12 of his compositions for the soundtracks of his films. Randy's compositions were sung by himself as well as by Malcolm Dodds, Kenny Karen, Bernie Knee and Mimi Roman. For this, the best studios and musicians were always selected, so that Elvis could form a perfect picture of the direction the songs could take.
The opener is the song ‘Carny Town’ sung by Dodds, which Elvis would sing in the film ‘Roustabout’. Although they are all great songs, they were not always retained by Presley. One of those wonderful recordings is certainly ‘(The) Valley Of Loneliness’, which unfortunately would remain an acetate. The duet ‘You Want What I Want’, performed here by Malcolm Dodds with an unknown female singer, is also beautiful. Another impressive duet that was unfortunately not recorded by the King, is ‘You Can’t Hate Me For That’, here by Kenny Karen and Jean Fox. It is also incomprehensible that the compelling ‘Goodnight Lovers’ was not recorded by Elvis. Yet it is a song that was written for him. The latter also applied to ‘Who Needs Money?’, which fortunately did get a place, namely in the film ‘Clambake’. It is also incomprehensible that ‘Runaway Child’ was rejected. A formidable number that also boasts a sublime guitar part. The same goes for ‘Feelin’ Fine’ that was proposed for the film ‘Speedway’, as well as for ‘(A) Step In The Right Direction’ with a wonderfully sounding guitar in genuine Chuck Berry style and certainly for the captivating ‘People In Love’. Also rejected was ‘Love Is The Name Of The Game’ that would certainly have been in its place in the film ‘Change Of Habit’.
As a bonus track you get the sublime, somewhat jazzy ‘I’ve Got News For You (Read All About It)’ that was sung in the film ‘Girl Happy’ by Nita Talbot and Shelley Fabares. The version that was proposed was sung by Mimi Roman.
The 33-page richly illustrated booklet is by the British Elvis expert Trevor Simpson and is based on interviews he had with Randy. Volume 2 of ‘Randy Starr Presley Style’ is filled with 31 incredibly clever songs. The only question that remains is why certain proposed songs were rejected. Elvis and his entourage must have had a reason for it. Fortunately, we can still enjoy them on this album and again, don’t be discouraged by the term ‘demos’ because these are professional performances.

Soundtrack from a social Mongolian drama with traditional music like overtone singing mixed with western influences like blues and hip-hop.  

120 years ago, on November 14, 1903, Hollywood became an independent community. The famous letters, a Hollywood landmark, were placed 100 years ago. Two anniversaries in one year, inspiring the Bear Family label to create a musical tribute to this legendary place. That tribute resulted in a double CD with no fewer than 61 tracks, spanning the period 1928 to 2011, covering both the period of the 'silent film' and more recent productions. The songs partly consist of recordings made by heroes of the silver screen. Other tracks are by artists from various music genres and there are also a number of fragments of film music that have never before been released on CD. On the first CD, the first songs emphasize Hollywood. Eddy Bell and The Bel-Aires, Gene Ray with Dusty Miller and His Colorado Wranglers, Carl Perkins, The Thunder Rocks and Ray Campi and His Rockabilly Rebels immediately gave Hollywood a rock 'n' roll and rockabilly jacket. Jazz is translated instrumentally here by Chet Baker & Bud Shank in the again appropriate 'Hollywood', after which the tracks that actors recorded on the silver screen follow. There is Johnny Weissmuller with the short but powerful 'Tarzan Call'. From the 'silent film' comes Dolores Del Rio, who later appeared on the silver screen with Presley, with 'Ramona'. Bing Crosby, Laurel & Hardy, Judy Garland, Gene Autry and The Andrew Sisters follow with songs from the first heyday of the 'talking film' of the 1930s and 1940s. When Hollywood in the middle of the last century, partly due to the rise of the rock 'n' roll is once again experiencing its heyday, new artists and actors are also emerging. Naturally, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Landon, Fred Astaire, Kirk Douglas and Anthony Perkins are immortalized here, as well as Errol Flynn and Robert Mitchum who took their place behind the microphone.
On the second CD, Hollywood's success story continues with contributions from, among others, Robert Mitchum, Sophia Loren, John Wayne, Richard Chamberlain, Doris Day, Telly Savalas and Ann-Margret. The latter was also at Presley's side in the film 'Viva Las Vegas'. Great performances are also provided by Henry Mancini's orchestra with 'Moon River Cha Cha', 'Baby Elephant Walk' and 'The Sweetheart Tree' and by the Hugo Montenegro orchestra and 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly'. We end just as we started with a line of rock 'n' roll by Val Kilmer, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, after which the curtain finally falls with the instrumental 'Walk Don't Rango' by Los Lobos, feat . trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.
In the 38-page booklet, in addition to the history of Hollywood, you also get all possible information about the 61 tracks.
Initially, film fans in particular will enjoy this release immensely. However, that does not alter the fact that others with an 'open mind' will also more or less enjoy this release.

​The soundtrack to a new movie.

​A compilation of two albums with film music from the Tv-show ‘Peter Gunn’, that mix jazz with rock. 

​This compilation of 30 hit singles from 1956-1962 is a must for those who wish to (re) discover this talented composer!