'King Creole - Original Soundtrack'

When released in September 1958 Elvis’ second soundtrack album ‘King Creole’ reached #2 in the US Billboard charts. The album featured 11 tracks but the high chart position was possibly surprising since ten tracks had already been previously released via the RCA ‘Hard Headed Woman’ single and the two ‘King Creole’ EPs. 
The original vinyl LP ran 22 minutes in total. 

Released at the end of 2024, my personal highlight of Anthony Stuchbury’s RDM ‘Presley: The Essential 50's Masters’ box-set was his Mono-II-Stereo versions of the King Creole soundtrack. (See EIN review)

While others companies have previously released DES Stereo versions of ‘King Creole’, their attempted separation of The Jordanaires, as well as the New-Orleans brass section, never satisfactorily worked.

Thankfully for fans of ‘King Creole’ the french label RDM Edition has recently released “by Popular Demand” a standalone CD & Vinyl set ‘King Creole - An Original Soundtrack Recording’.

The CD features 16 tracks, five newly created ‘movie versions’ plus the original eleven record versions. It runs 33 minutes.

The Package The fold-out digipack with a 4-page booklet features some great photos of Elvis – the cover image captures Elvis with a lovely sparkle in his eyes. The booklet has a similarly stunning photo of Elvis and co-star Carolyn Jones while the back cover shows three images of Elvis in the studio at the January 1958 soundtrack sessions. A short essay by David Parker explains the interest behind Elvis' first departure into a 'jazz influenced' movie soundtrack recording as well as the decision to release this particular set. The design also features some cool international movie posters.

The Music.
Over the years keen collectors ('hello!') have been able to buy soundtrack versions copied from the actual movie on various bootlegs. But of course these annoyingly featured the dialogue interruptions as well as applause! 

In 2025 finally we get the ultimate movie version and remastered as very well-engineered DES stereo.

With the songs presented in the same order as the actual film, it is a lovely alternate version to the original mono album.

The CD starts off with the highlight of ‘Turtles, Berries and Gumbo - King Creole instrumental – Crawfish’ in stereo. While Stuchbury also worked on the audio-upgrade of the newly discovered acetate of the same track for the FTD ‘Making of King Creole’ release this is not the same version. 

As Stuchbury explained in his interview with EIN back in June 2025, this was reconstructed from four different audio sources and it sounds fabulous. (see EIN Anthony Stuchbury interview)

The stereo mix, with the overdubbed orchestra and Scotty Moore’s guitar, sounds exactly as you imagine an original stereo soundtrack recording would have sounded. When Bill Black’s double-bass kicks in left channel at the start of ‘Crawfish’ - with Scotty Moore strumming right channel, percussion centre - it sounds so, so good. 
And, just as in the movie, Kitty White’s “crawfish” call begins left-of-screen and then progresses to the middle to join in with Elvis – above on the balcony! 

It’s these touches, and his understanding of Elvis’ legacy, that makes Stuchbury’s work so enjoyable.

In contrast the second film song ‘Steadfast, Loyal and True’ Movie Version displays Elvis sounding very raw and exposed – with no Jordanaires as support - as he was in the movie. 

‘Lover Doll’ Movie Version is super-cute and a surprising highlight. Scotty Moore’s neat acoustic left channel, Bill Black right and with no percussion this sounds very different to the original album version. In stereo you can clearly hear Elvis’ finger-snaps driving the song along. 

‘Trouble’ (same as the record version) is so good in stereo with Elvis’ vocal, separated from the musicians, demonstrating even more fury. Elvis’ solo “If you’re gonna’ start a rumble, don’t you try it all alone” sounds even more angry before the band bursts back in.

‘Dixieland Rock’ is similarly impressive.

For some reason the lesser song ‘Young Dreams’ captured my attention on this set. The middle-section “I have young arms that wanna’ hold you” in stereo truly reveals Elvis trying overly-hard to make this song work. With The Jordanaires, on the right channel, it proves that it is their abysmally simple backing-vocals that ruin the song. A better arrangement would have helped.

‘New Orleans’ Movie Version, a favourite of mine, restores the power of the Dixieland jazz theme and the soundtrack. “You've never seen those cupid doll queens, Like they got 'em - “Where?” - in New Orleans”. This version features extra backing vocals from the Jordanaires which here work rather well.

The raucous ‘Hard Headed Woman’ sounds so fine in stereo. DJ and Bill Black drive the beat with Scotty Moore on the right channel and the brass section placed across the mix. It’s as if Elvis and the band were standing in front of the horn-section, which in the movie they were! 

‘King Creole’ Movie Version – another alternate version with the extra ‘tommy gun’ drum roll and “He bends a string and that’s all she wrote” all present and correct. 

‘Don't Ask Me Why’ with great Jordanaires harmonies right channel is impressive while ‘As Long As I Have You’ - a track Elvis thought worthy of single release – is so good that it deserves a replay. In stereo Elvis’ vocal sounds even more exquisite and Dudley Brooks piano (left channel) is amazingly similar to the future ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love.’ 

Finally the ‘record masters’ of the five alternate movie versions Crawfish, Steadfast, Loyal and True, Lover Doll, New Orleans, King Creole wrap up the set.

The only disappointment for me is that the discarded potential title song ‘Danny’ could not be included in this release since it is not yet in the Public Domain. 

Overall Verdict: Having already noted that Stuchbury’s ‘Stereo’ versions of Elvis’ King Creole soundtrack were my favourite section of his impressive ‘Essential 50's Masters’ box-set it is no surprise how much I enjoyed this new 16-track single CD version. It would be hard to guess how many times I have previously bought various versions of Elvis’ King Creole soundtrack but this truly enjoyable 'stereo' set has been on regular replay these past few weeks. While I understand that some fans only want to listen to the original ‘mono versions’ - for other fans, if you missed out on the now sold-out ‘Essential 50's Masters’ box-set, then this ‘King Creole- Original Soundtrack Recording' is truly worth investigating. 

CD Review by Piers Beagley.
-Copyright EIN October 2025
EIN Website content ©
Copyright the Elvis Information Network.

Click here to comment on this CD Review -

Anthony Stuchbury interview about the new RDM 'King Creole' soundtrack release: In September 2025, RDM are releasing the King Creole soundtrack in stereo on VINYL & CD. RDM first announced their mono-II-Stereo'King Creole' 10” vinyl and later on the 16 track special King Creole original soundtrack CD. This release - which includes movie versions of five songs which haven’t officially been available elsewhere - was remixed and sequenced by producer Anthony Stuchbury. It was produced in collaboration with David Parker and RDM-Edition. The original RCA King Creole album tracks were previously released in stereo on the RDM set 'Essential '50s Masters' and so EIN wanted to know more about this brand new set and what fans can expect... EIN's Piers Beagley asked the questions.. (Interview, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

'Elvis: From Florida To Hawaii' RDM Stereo Remaster In-depth CD review: From the RDM label 'From Florida To Hawaii' features the 'Follow That Dream' masters in Stereo remade to match the session Stereo outakes. Plus the 'Girls!, Girls!, Girls!' album remixed at last to give a more authentic and immersive stereo listening experience. In the original stereo RCA album tracks like 'Return To Sender' always sounded very week in the original stereo mix. This has at last been rectified. There is an explanation as to why so many of Elvis’ movie soundtracks lacked real production values (and Col Parker is to blame!). But with the rhythm section blasting the track along from the centre, everything now sounds so much better. This will surely be the STEREO version that fans will play from now on... EIN's Piers Beagley and Elvis Day By Day’s Kees Mouwen get together to discuss in-depth why this new 60's "Stereo" movie release is a major achievement.. (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork;EDayByDay)

'The Mono to Stereo Interview with Anthony Stuchbury': The new STEREO Elvis box-set 'PRESLEY The Essential '50's Masters' from producer Anthony Stuchbury will be released by the french RDM label next week. The question of whether Elvis' mono fifties classic recordings should be re-released in "new stereo" is hotly debated among hard-core collectors and this box-set includes all of Elvis' 50's mono masters in STEREO! So this week is the perfect time to talk to the man behind the mixing desk, for the backstory behind this recent development of mixing Elvis’ original Mono recordings into STEREO. Tony talks about working with RDM, Memphis Mansion, Ernst Jorgensen, the FTD label ... and much much more.. EIN's Piers Beagley and Elvis Day By Day's Kees Mouwen combined forces to ask "Mono II Stereo" producer Anthony Stuchbury some tricky questions. (Interview, Source;Elvis Day By Day/ElvisInfoNetwork)

'The Essential 50's Masters' Mono>Stereo box-set In-depth Review:  From the RDM label 'Presley : The Essential 50's Masters - Mono II Stereo', featuring 109 tracks from The King with a new STEREO mix! This 4 CD box-set brings together the essential tracks of the 50s. Tracks from Elvis' albums, but also soundtracks from his films, including some rarities such as versions used for the films and different from the versions released on album. The box-set is limited edition with 8-page booklet and slipcase. Producer Anthony Stuchbury noted, "When producing these 1950s mono to stereo masters, I tried to make the mixes consistent with how they would have been mixed at the time, had they been originally recorded in stereo. I hope these four discs will take you on a journey through Elvis's 1950s era and that you will enjoy the transformation of audio and mixes." EIN's Piers Beagley celebrated Elvis' birthday with Elvis' in the 50s - over 4 1/2 hours - and checked out what delights fans can discover. What a great way to spend The King's Birthday - VIVA ELVIS! (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

‘Golden Elvis!' Mono II Stereo CD review: In the fifties when Scotty, Bill and D.J were in RCA studios with Elvis they were of course playing in “stereo”. It was RCA’s engineers who mixed the multiple microphone feeds down to MONO. In this 4-year period Elvis changed the very world we live in with his unprecedented success and it was his almighty RCA 45 rpms that rocked the world. 'Elvis’ first two Golden Records LPs encapsulated this stunning creativity and the two albums are neatly combined here in Anthony Stuchbury’s new RDM release ‘Golden Elvis!’ Mono to Stereo. And it is a sensational compilation. From the almighty blast of ‘Hound Dog’, via ‘Jailhouse Rock’, ‘Too Much’, I Need Your Love Tonight’, through to ‘Doncha’ Think It’s Time’ Elvis in the fifties doesn’t get much better. EIN's Piers Beagley turns the "HiFi high and the lights down low" for this in-depth review (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

‘For LP Fans Only’ ‘A Date With Elvis’ Mono II Stereo' CD review: From the RDM label, "Two classic 1959 Elvis albums, for the first time in stereo". 'For LP Fans Only' brought together songs previously released on 45rpm or on EPs, such as the classics 'That's All Right', 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy', 'Mystery Train' or the song 'Poor Boy'. 'A Date with Elvis' was based on the same principle of compiling previously published 45rpm or 'Extended Play' songs from Elvis' past. It contained other Elvis SUN classics plus 'Baby, I Don't Care' and the haunting 'Is It So Strange'. Looking back, these two 1959 albums were a strange compilation with their short running time and odd track selection.. The stereo mixes created by producer Anthony Stuchbury, are authentic to original Mono releases but now sound more like the original studio sessions. Featuring  twenty fabulous 50's tracks, EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this intriguing Stereo compilation.. (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

Elvis artefact on display in 2010 Liverpool Beatles Exhibition: EIN contributor Tony Stuchbury recently paid a visit to Liverpool and visited The Beatles Story exhibition. There they found on display an artefact on loan from EPE, a BEAUTIFUL shirt of Elvis’s. Coinciding with our 'Elvis Meet The Beatles' Spotlight below, click here to see Tony's great photos.   (Spotlight, Source;TonyStuchbury)

Jesse D Presley - 'The Forgotten Presley': Born in 1896, Elvis' Grandfather Jessie D Presley was often regarded as the 'bad apple' of his family and with a reputation for being 'mean as hell'. Elvis supposedly had little connection with his Grandfather - which is not surprising since his ex-wife, Minnie Mae, lived with Elvis at Graceland. However with such a passing of time, all may not be as it seems. EIN contributor Tony Stuchbury recently investigated the stories of Elvis' Grandfather and decided that after all he may have been unfairly mis-represented within the Elvis history.  Go here for the full story and some wonderful photos exclusive to EIN. (Source;TonyStuchbury/ElvisInfoNet, Dec 2008)

'Elvis Meets The Beatles': An EIN spotlight on this famous night in 1965 when the Fab Four finally met the King. In 1965 The Beatles manager Brian Epstein initiated contact with Colonel Parker, and the decision was made that on the night of August 27, the Beatles would come to Elvis’ home for an informal get-together. Intensive security arrangements were worked out, and it was agreed that no press would be involved and no pictures would be taken or recordings made of whatever happened. "So many things could have gone wrong," says Jerry Schilling, "If Colonel and Brian hadn’t gotten along, it wouldn’t have gotten past the phone-call stage. But there were no ego battles, and from the start it was approached as a pair of music greats coming together out of admiration for each other." Piers Beagley and LA writer Chuck Crisafulli tell the story of this amazing night. (Spotlight, Source;EIN)