Between his famed charity concert for the USS Arizona and filming three movies in the island paradise, Hawaii become an important place for Elvis in the 1960s. The first film shot there, and later released in November 1961, the award-winning Blue Hawaii, the musical romantic comedy, starred Elvis as Chadwick Gates, a man just returning from the Army to his home in Hawaii. Producer Hal Wallis wanted to show what life was like for servicemen when they returned. The soundtrack for Blue Hawaii, released by RCA in October 1961, spent 20 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard pop album charts, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Soundtrack from a Motion Picture in 1961, and was certified gold by RIAA in December 1961. The single “Can’t Help Falling in Love/ Rock-A-Hula Baby” was released in conjunction with the film itself in November 1961. Offered is a rare 1977 blue vinyl experimental pressing for the soundtrack that was made in small numbers as it was not intended for distribution. The matrix numbers machine stamped into the dead wax of both sides coincide, though not exactly, with other 1977 releases of the Blue Hawaii soundtrack: “MP2Y-2998-22C/MP2Y-2999-25.” The disc measures 12 inches (30.48 cm) in diameter and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated.

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