Viva Las Vegas

This was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman as the title song for the film of the same name starring Elvis Presley. In the movie, Elvis plays a race car driver who has to wait tables at a hotel in order to pay off a debt. He performs this song at the hotel's talent competition accompanied by various Vegas showgirls. Pomus and Shuman wrote several other songs for Presley as well. Among them: "Little Sister," "Suspicion," "Surrender" and "His Latest Flame (Marie's The Name)."

The song captures the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. Elvis' character in the film is from out of town, and he has that enthusiasm and awe that comes with the chance of hitting it rich in the city. Just about every Vegas archetype shows up in the lyric: roulette, neon, hot dice, pretty women, blackjack, one-armed bandits (slot machines), bright lights. The song could easily serve as an advertisement for the city (and it has), especially considering the last line, which offers consolation to the many who lose to the house: If I wind up broke up well I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time

Billy Strange, who co-wrote "A Little Less Conversation," played lead guitar on this track. Glen Campbell is sometimes erroneously attributed for this part - he played on Elvis' cover of "What'd I Say" that was also on the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack. According to Strange's son Jerry, musician's royalties for the song came in for years thanks to slot machines that play the tune.