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Night Life

Rating:
4.2 / 5

Words & Music: Bill Giant Bernie Baum Florence Kaye

Oh the neons are a gleamin' and the gamblers are a dreamin'
Oh it's night life, yeh! night life
The chips are a spillin' and it's time to make a killin'
Oh it's night life, yeh! night life
Oh the pockets are a-burnin' and the money flies
With dice roll a-turnin' and you'll hit snakes eyes
You can't be a quitter when you're caught up in the glitter of
Night life night life

There're long legged women who will take you for a trimmin' yes it's night life
Oh night life.
Their lips taste like honey but they're out to spend your money
Yes it's night life. Oh yeh!
Just roll that seven and you'll hear them shriek
When seven come eleven it's a lucky streak
You can't beat the drama, the excitement and the glamour
Of the night life, I said that night life

So place your bet, come on make your play
Though you may regret it at the break of day
I said you can't be a quitter when you're caught up in the glitter of
Night life night life
Yeh! that night life, good ol' night life
Night life, yes, yes, night life, oh night life

Recordingdate: 1963/07/09, first released on: Flaming Star (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Night Life:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)
(trumpet)

Availability

Find available albums with Night Life.

dgirl wrote on February 17, 2009
A song that would have fit the movie had it been in it. Lightyears better than songs that were about to be in the movies to come!
My boy, my boy wrote on June 13, 2009
This being a type of life Elvis himself enjoyed a lot....Nice tune !
Steve V wrote on June 13, 2009
Makes me want to gamble. Good movie song on a soundtrack LP that wasn't made!
GEORGE (GK) wrote on June 13, 2009
This song, "Night life" along with "Do the Vega" should have stayed in the Viva Las Vegas-Soundtrack. Both would have, rounded out, an already strong Movie soundtrack. "Night Life" is a bit "harder edged" song, for a movie soundtrack, and I like that ! Same as, I like, "I'm a Roustabout" which was cut from the movie "Roustabout". It's possible that, the producers, wanted to play it safe, and toned the music down, but I wish the harder edged songs, like "Night Life" and "I'm a Roustabout" (featured on the CD-2nd to None) stayed in the movie soundtracks.
theoldscudder wrote on June 13, 2009
Good song. This shows that the soundtracts didn't have to be as dismal as they were.
JerryNodak wrote on June 13, 2009
First heard this song on the original "Singer Presents Elvis Flaming Star" budget album back in '68. Fun song. Still enjoy it. Too bad it wasn't used in the movie. Then they wouldn't have had to use VLV (or parts thereof) 3 times. Talk about overkill.
NONE000000 wrote on June 13, 2009
A fun track! The first time I ever went to Las Vegas I made a mix tape of sings to bring with me and this was on there--still brings back memories of that trip--although "Hard Luck" (which was also on the tape) probably turned out to be more fitting for my personal experience. Viva Las Vegas was a cut above overall--the music, the movie and the co-star, and this song is a testament to that fact.
Rob Wanders wrote on November 14, 2009
a real good song
sitdown revamped wrote on November 14, 2009
a fine song from the singer album. though I bought it for Tiger Man back then...sometime 1977/78. Night Life...wish he'd have recorded the Willie Nelson classic also...anyway, they should have come out with the whole songs on record, and of course "The Lady Loves Me" and "You're The Boss".
Jim Hoff wrote on November 14, 2009
A different tune from Elvis if you compare to other songs from this period. I like it, it has a spunky, ragged freshness that kind of grows on you. Could be an item for a remix, I think!
Deano1 wrote on November 14, 2009
A slightly below average movie song recorded for "Viva Las Vegas" but not used. Most all of Elvis soundtrack recordings from the the pre-"Kissin Cousins" period ("Viva Las Vegas was made before "Kissin Cousin", but was released after it) were better or the equal to this song (Ok, "No Room to Rhumba..." and "Ito Eats" weren't!). If there had been a "Viva Las Vegas" LP in 1964 (and there should have been!), this song would have been one of the lesser tunes on it.
SatninTCB wrote on October 10, 2010
A very fun snap-your-fingers kind of song. I always liked it and it's a highlight for me from the "Elvis sings Flaming Star" LP It's just a shame that RCA chose NOT to release a full soundtrack LP-it DEFINATELY would have been among Elvis' best sellers! It should have stayed in the film-it fit in perfectly with the theme of the film and also fit Elvis pretty well too. Good song!
tornado wrote on March 19, 2011
Your'e right JerryNodak. Overkilling is the word. You're the Boss too should have been included and only a snippet of If You Think I Don't Need You was used: a superb song lost in the drain again. I had hopes that there was some footages of You're The Boss, and Do The Vega somewhere in the MGM archives. I guess it's was all fantasy from my part.
TCB1974 wrote on September 10, 2011
A great tune with a rough edge to it and lots of echo! It is too short and simple for single release but would have been a great song on the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack album that never was for incomprehensible reasons. Three stars from me.
rai wrote on September 11, 2011
Though not one of my favorites, Elvis sang this song with a bit of seriousness in him. As we are all aware, the 60's movie songs are not what Elvis wanted as they are merely run-through songs which explains why he often giggle between takes. It's also good that this song was not included in the movie as I think it may not fit well in this fun-filled movie. 2-star ratings from me!
GEORGE (GK) wrote on March 25, 2012
I think this song would have been a "highlight" in the movie. Shame it was cut from the soundtrack and the movie. It's a good song with "rougher edge" as pointed out.
freedom101 wrote on March 25, 2012
Could've been a hit had it been released on a "Viva Las Vegas" LP.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 15, 2012
This is such a stellar song and it's easily one of Elvis' very best movie songs from the 1960's. This song should definitely be way better known than it actually is. It should have been in the movie "Viva Las Vegas", but wasn't.
Gorse wrote on October 15, 2012
As stated there were so many why this, and why that concering this film and the cut songs, but this is a great uptempo number with a casino feel.
bajo wrote on October 15, 2012
I've always wondered why on earth this great movie never followed the pattern with a soundtrack LP. At the time this would have been received as Elvis' best soundtrack album seller since G I Blues and Blue Hawaii. As we now can hear ourselves with the DF, FTD and the latest SONY release. All the songs on the album should have been out there back then. Regarding Night Life I always liked since it first appeared on the Camden album.
john804 wrote on October 15, 2012
Colonel Parker should've done more to promote both the movie and the Extended Play album. Had I been in Parker's shoes I would've booked Elvis on a tour before the premier of the movie and called it the "Viva Las Vegas" tour. Elvis would've done songs from the movie and appeared on radio and t.v.
sugartummy wrote on April 18, 2013
When I listen to this on headphones, this appeares to be a bad stereo recording, for I can hardly hear the guitar in my left ear. The song is good though.
shawnrw wrote on January 04, 2014
Far above average Vegas themed rocker unfortunately dropped from "Viva Las Vegas". One of the great tragedies is that "Viva Las Vegas" was a better than average film, and the soundtrack was exceptional. If a complete soundtrack album had been put together complete with tracks not used in the film and the two duets with Ann-Margaret it would have been one of the great albums of all-time and I'm sure a huge hit. Instead, a half baked extended play disc is released with a single. With Colonel Parkers help I'm sure, RCA showed how poorly again it handled Elvis's music. Yet, less than a year later a largely forgettable soundtrack from a marginal movie, "Harem Scarum" gets a flown blown album release. It boggles the mind how badly this was all handled.
jwedwards835 wrote on October 23, 2014
A great song that would have been a instant classic had it been on a full length "Viva Las Vegas" LP. I give it the same amount of stars that are in the heavens.
Jim Davidson wrote on October 17, 2015
Night Life deserved better than a Camden LP.
TheMemphisFan wrote on January 16, 2016
Technically, "Night Life" was first issued on an RCA Victor album (sponsored by Singer) in 1968. The album was re-issued in 1969 on the RCA Camden label.
Miknik7077 wrote on October 23, 2020
Would have loved to have seen this song in the movie. Perfect lyrics for the film. Above average song.
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