Words & Music:
Bill Giant
Bernie Baum
Florence Kaye
I'm just a roustabout
Shifted from town to town
No job can hold me down, I'm just a knock-around guy
There's a lot of space beneath that sky
Till I find my place there's no doubt...
I'll be a rovin' roustabout
Call me the carefree kind
I wander with the breeze
My mind and heart's at ease
Doing what pleases me best
Gotta keep-a movin' east or west
Till I find my place there's no doubt
I'll be a rovin' roustabout
And even if a pretty girl, should catch my eye
I'll give her a quick "hello", and a fast goodbye
I'll go the way I want
Driftin' just like the sand
Doin' what job I can
Changing my plans as I choose
Long as I keep happy I can't lose
Till I find my place there's no doubt
I'll be a rovin' roustabout
I'll be a rovin' roustabout...I'll be a rovin' roustabout
I'll be a rovin' roustabout..rovin', rovin' roustabout....
Recordingdate: 1964/04/29, first released on: Roustabout (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Roustabout:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)
Availability
Find available albums with Roustabout.
I didn't care much for the film, but this is pleasant enough.
If you ask me, I preffer the alternate version ("(I'm A) Roustabout") anytime!
The better movie songs from this era are normally "easy listening" kind of songs as this one with Elvis and the musicians getting a flow that makes it sound relaxed and even playful. I can see why this one was chosen over "I'm a Roustabout'. I have however never understood why this is regarded as one of his better movies. Ok, the "rebel" Elvis character is revived, but there is absolutely no story in the movie.
It's considered one of his better movies because it was shot on location (not on some plastic, garish soundstage), he was joined by veteran actor Barbara Stanwyck, he does some of his own stunts, the soundtrack is bright, breezy, but enjoyable (and went to No. 1 in the US) and it offered a final glimpse of the innocent, drive-in, original rock 'n' roll era (the same America, and the same Elvis, evinced in 1957's 'Loving You'), before the British Invasion, and before Presley's taste failed him. By the way, 'A Hard Day's Night' is almost as great, but if you can find a story in it, you'd be lucky.
Pleasant song, but the alternate version I'm A Roustabout is so much better. This movie was the last sort of 'real' movie Elvis did until the late 60's and with an established veteran actress. Thats why its considered better.
I enjoyed the movie when it was released and later on I watched it frequently. About the storyline: it is a lighthearted movie with a story. Not strong but one is supposed to watch it for the fun and to see the King. For me, both the movie and the sound track, of which this song is the leading song, are quite enjoyable. After a days hard work it was and is relaxing.
what I would have liked elvis to have in this movie was a bigger and heavier bike though. or was it the style of those days. he used to sit on it as the song was played. what a contrast to the harley davidson he drove in the fifties...remember those wertheimer pics? the song is fine, but the whole movie lacks the chemistry of a gem like viva...
Enjoyable movie. Enjoyable soundtrack. Both light hearted fun. About the title song: I like the one they used. I dislike the other. If they had used the other version they would have had to change the movie to where Elvis' character would have been pretty much a total jerk like in "Jailhouse Rock." Hate that movie. Love the song.
Elvis had 27 total movie title songs if you count "Harem Holiday" and both "Kissin' Cousins" songs. If the five star ratings stand for classic, very good, pleasant, fair and awful. This one fallls solidly in the pleasant category along with "Fun In Acapulco" and "Frankie And Johnny". Nice to lead off an album and movie, but not ones you will be playing over and over. The comments about the movie not having a plot or just people parroting what they have heard critics say. Of course there is a plot in the movie. Rebel is placed in a situation he doesn't want to be in, falls for nice girl, makes a couple of mistakes, almost blows his chance at happiness and comes back with a new attitude to save the day. It isn't original, but this movie is very good. Come down off your high horses "movie critics", I see some of the the crap ( foul mouthed, violent and vulgar driven messes you call movies) you go to see today and I'll take "Roustabout" any day!
I can hear this song in my head with a blues arrangment; sound so much better. Elvis did his best acting in this movie. He looked very cool in his leather jacket, but had to ride a small Japanese bike because in the movie someone says he fights Japanese like his bike (or something in that line). Mae West didn't want to do the movie, so Barbara Stanwyck was asked.
Yes a pretty good movie with a capable convincing cast and Elvis looking cool. This is a title tune, not necessarily the best of its kind from the 60's but I find it very acceptable and it transfers well to vinyl.
The movies Roustabout, Fun in Acapulco Girls Girls Girls, Girl Happy, It Happened at the World's Fair and Double Trouble were my introduction to Elvis. Periodically, in the mid 70s, there was an Elvis week on WGRZ in Buffalo, "Relive the days when Elvis was king". When I first saw the TV ad for the Elvis in Hollywood LP, I begged my older sister to drive me to the record store. Songs like Roustabout jumped off the turntable. In retrospect, I'm a Roustabout could have been used in the closing credits.
This song, in particular, and soundtrack album is definitely one his better efforts. There are some other decent tunes on his soundtrack to boot. This is one album I would definitely recommend.
I LIke the song, The movie (very much) and the LP. It's one those movies that you are not ashame of!
Boring song, nothing to get excited about. There's no fire, no passion....the melody sounds like one you've heard a thousand times before. .. 2 stars.
Breezy comfortable type tune to a better than average movie. Well sung but nothing that stands out.
A catchy song that doesn’t sound like anything else. I like it a lot and it’s a pleasant movie. I also enjoy the first version “I’m a Roustabout” sounds like the early Elvis. 3.5 stars
The last Elvis movie album to get to #1 in the USA, , so most of the tracks most be ok. I guess this lead track is one of them. The best track was Little Egypt.