Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS gets deluxe movie soundtrack and it’s more than worth the wait
Just under a year after the release of Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS, this film continues to make headlines and impact the greater film and music industries. Whether it be Austin Butler’s awards and nominations or the promise of an extended cut in the future, fans continue to be satisfied by the success of the film and the crew’s continued support. Nothing shows this more clearly than the release of the ELVIS: DELUXE EDITION movie soundtrack last month, and as someone who listened to the movie soundtrack on repeat since its release, I can say it was more than worth the wait.
The original soundtrack was impressive on its own and will still go down as one of the best movie soundtracks ever. With 37 songs and two hours of music, there was plenty for any type of fan whether they wanted Butler’s covers, Presley’s originals, remixes, film mixes, or brand-new pieces. Compared to the soundtrack of other musical biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, which both had 22 songs, ELVIS was nothing to laugh at—the new deluxe album boasts 52 songs with over two and a half hours of content, releasing a number of songs that were mysteriously absent from the original release.
The song I was most excited for was thankfully released—Butler’s rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes” as well as a very short rendition of “Heartbreak Hotel.” Two other Butler covers were released as well— “Crawfish” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” —which does wonders to modernize the Presley classics.
Speaking of those classics, the 9/M edition of “Blue Moon” and a live performance of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” arrive on the deluxe edition as well. Other remixes were added, such as the famous JXL remix of “A Little Less Conversation” and a Paul Oakenfold remix of “Rubberneckin.’” Even more exciting, the “Viva Las Vegas” and “Toxic” remix now has an official release, as well as the “Bossa Nova Baby” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” remix.
New songs were released as well, most notably “Fly Away Weave,” which acts as the Black music that inspires Presley in the film. “How Do You Think I Feel” was released as well, sung by Kodi Smit-McPhee, who played Jimmie Rogers Snow in the film.
The only negative of the deluxe release is the reliance on “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” As much as I love the song, six of the 52 songs on the album are renditions of the classic, which inevitably overstays its welcome. This was a problem on the original release as well, with repeats of “Suspicious Minds,” “In the Ghetto,” and “Hound Dog”; however, with 52 songs to choose from, the repeats become less obvious.
Hopefully the release of ELVIS: DELUXE EDITION is a way for the studio to hold over fans until the extended release of the film, which director Baz Luhrmann has stated on the record as being a very real possibility after the film’s success. While no official confirmation has been announced, this hypothetical release would include the full performances of each song which were originally cut to fit the three-hour mark. Some of these songs would include “Polk Salad Annie,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and “Hound Dog,” and the cut would run around four hours—but again, no official confirmation has been made.
Whether you’re a fan of the movie, a fan of Butler’s performance, of Presley’s original music, or want to see what modernized mid-20th century music looks like, there’s no better place than ELVIS: DELUXE EDITION.