Speedway
Directed by	Norman Taurog Robert Goodstein (Ass't)
Produced by	Douglas Laurence
Written by	Phillip Shuke
Starring	Elvis Presley Nancy Sinatra Bill Bixby
Music by	Jeff Alexander
Cinematography	Joseph Ruttenberg
Editing by	Richard W. Farrell
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	April 15, 1968
Running time	94 min.
Language	English
Preceded by	Stay Away, Joe
Followed by	Live a Little, Love a Little

For the earlier silent film, see Speedway (1929 film).

Speedway is a 1968 action film musical film starring Elvis Presley as a racecar driver and Nancy Sinatra as his love interest.

Scenes were shot at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The film features guest appearances by several of the top stock-car -- better known now as NASCAR -- drivers of the day.

This would be the final "formula" musical film of Presley's career. His later films would be less musical and more adult in tone.

Although the film was completed in the early summer of 1967, it was not released in theatres until the spring of 1968. It was Elvis's last real box-office hit.

[edit] Cast

• Elvis Presley ... Steve Grayson
• Nancy Sinatra ... Susan Jacks
• Bill Bixby ... Kenny Donford
• Gale Gordon ... R.W. Hepworth
• William Schallert ... Abel Esterlake

[edit] Soundtrack

The soundtrack songs were recorded at MGM Studios in Culver City, California in June 1967. Included is Nancy Sinatra's rendition of "Your Groovy Self" and her duet with Presley, "There Ain't Nothing Like A Song", the only time a non-Elvis track was allowed on one of his soundtrack albums (see Viva Las Vegas). The music album was released in June of 1968 to coincide with the motion picture. This was the last Presley film to have a full soundtrack album (not counting the later Elvis: That's the Way it Is concert film), and in fact is the only one of Presley's last six acting films to be given that honor. The soundtrack LP was also the last Presley album to be released in both stereo and mono editions, as mono musical releases were finally phased out by RCA. The extremely rare mono album (LPM-3989) can fetch four figures in excellent condition and has become a sought-after item among die-hard Elvis collectors. The soundtrack album is also noted as being the final Presley album release prior to NBC-TV Special, which is acknowledged as the start of his so-called 1968 Comeback, which marked a modernizing of arrangements and song choice for him.

[edit] Track listing

Side 1:

1. "Speedway" (Mel Glazer, Stephen Schlaks)
2. "There Ain't Nothing Like A Song" (Joy Byers, William Johnston)
3. "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet Baby" (Bobby Hirschorn, Tom Kasha)
4. "Who Are You (Who Am I)" (Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne)
5. "He's Your Uncle Not Your Dad" (Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne)
6. "Let Yourself Go" (Joy Byers)

Side 2:

1. "Your Groovy Self" (Lee Hazlewood)*
2. "Five Sleepy Heads" (Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper)
3. "Western Union" (Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper)
4. "Mine" (Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper)
5. "Going Home" (Joy Byers)
6. "Suppose" (George Goehring, Sylvia Dee)

[edit] Recording musicians

• Elvis Presley - vocals
• Nancy Sinatra - vocals*
• The Jordanaires - background vocals
• Tiny Timbrell, Donald Owens, Alwin Casey, Tommy Tedesco - guitar
• Pete Drake - steel guitar
• Bob Moore - bass
• Larry Knechtel, Don Randi, George Cast - piano
• Hal Blaine, Buddy Harman - drums
• Boots Randolph - saxophone
• Roy Caton, Virgil Evans, Oliver Mitchell - trumpets

[edit] See also

• List of Elvis Presley films
• Elvis Presley discography

[edit] External links

• Speedway at the Internet Movie Database
• LPM-3989 Speedway Guide part of the Elvis Presley discography at Megocollector

[edit] DVD Reviews

• Review by Bill Treadway at DVD Verdict, August 3, 2004.
• Review by Jeff Rosado at digitallyOBSESSED!, August 1, 2004.