Two endings
had been filmed, one in which Mrs Sperry commits suicide and another in
which she doesn't. At the previews, audiences didn't like the fact that
the older woman committed suicide, so the alternative ending was used. In
one scene Millie Perkins slaps Elvis, but she broke her wrist doing so!
It was originally a very dramatic film, with Elvis' role portraying lots
of angst, with something of a James Dean style character. However, the studio
wasn't too happy with it being a full drama and decided to introduce some
songs into it. Some numbers were hurriedly prepared and recorded, although
not all of them were used in the movie. Elvis recorded the numbers at the
Radio Recorders Studio in Hollywood in November 1960 with himself on vocals,
Scotty Moore and Tiny Timbrell on guitars, Myer Rubin on bass, Bernie Mattinson
on drums, Dudley Brookes on piano and The Jordanaires on vocals. The title
song 'Wild In The Country' was penned by Huge Peretti, Luigi Creatore and
George Weiss. It was sung over the film's credits and issued as a single
in 1961 with 'I Feel So Bad' on the flip.
Another song in the film was 'I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell', which Elvis
sings to Millie Perkins while driving a pick-up truck. It was written by
Fred Wise and Ben Weisman and is to be found on the albums 'Something For
Everybody' and 'Separate Ways' in addition to the CD of 'Flaming Star'/'Follow
That Dream'/'Wild In the Country', released in 1993. 'In My Way' was a number
which Elvis sang on the back steps of his character's Uncle's store to Tuesday
Weld. It was penned by Fred Wise and Ben Weisman and is included on the
albums 'Elvis For Everyone' and 'Separate Ways.' The other songs recorded
by Elvis for the film but not used were 'Lonely Man' and 'Forget Me Never.'
'Lonely Man' was originally considered as the title for the film, but was
dropped when the song was cut from the final print.
The title 'Wild In the Country' comes from poet Walt Whitman's 'Leaves of
Grass' and was a title producer Jerry Wald had wanted to used for several
years. Elvis had recorded two versions of the number on 7th November 1960,
one for a record release. The number was issued as the flipside of 'Surrender'
in February 1961. 'Forget Me Never' was penned by Fred Wise and Ben Weisman
and, although not used in the final print, it was included on the albums
'Elvis for Everyone' and 'Separate Ways.' He also recorded a duet with Hope
Lange, 'Husky Dusky Day' which was included in the film and is to be found
on bootleg albums such as 'Eternal Elvis' and 'From Hollywood to Vegas.'
'Wild In The Country' was premiered in Memphis on 15th June and opened nationally
the following week on a bill with 'The Right Approach' which featured Liverpool
singer Frankie Vaughan and Juliet Prowse, Elvis' co-star in G.I. Blues. |
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