The Downward Spiral

Consider what was going on in the music scene during the 1960s: Rock music was experimental and grungy with the likes of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. The hippie subculture and folk rock existed alongside psychedelic rock. These forms took root and culminated in the Monterey and Altamont pop festivals, with groups such as the Grateful Dead and artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Then there were rock groups as different as the Doors and the Beach Boys. Don't forget Marvin Gaye and other Motown artists doing great soul music.

Where would Elvis Presley fit into this music scene? Elvis was concentrating on making movies during the sixties. The music he recorded was mainly for movie sound tracks. However, during these moviemaking years, he was Hollywood's top box-office draw and one of the highest-paid actors in America. Also, some of his best-selling music came from movie sound tracks. Eleven of his movie sound tracks went to the top ten on the music charts. Of those, four went to number one, among them G.I. Blues and Blue Hawaii.