Introduction:
“A House That Has Everything” is a song performed by Elvis Presley for the 1967 motion picture Clambake. The song was penned by the prolific songwriting duo Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, who contributed numerous tracks to Presley’s film soundtracks throughout the 1960s.
The recording session took place on February 21, 1967, at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis was accompanied by a group of seasoned musicians, including guitarists Scotty Moore and Chip Young, bassist Bob Moore, pianists Floyd Cramer and Hoyt Hawkins, and drummer D.J. Fontana. The session also featured harmonica and guitar contributions from Charlie McCoy, steel guitar by Pete Drake, and backing vocals from Millie Kirkham and The Jordanaires.
In Clambake, Elvis portrays Scott Heyward, the son of a wealthy oil magnate who seeks to find love untainted by his family’s fortune. “A House That Has Everything” is performed in a scene where Scott serenades his love interest, portrayed by Shelley Fabares, emphasizing the film’s theme that material wealth cannot substitute for genuine affection.
The song’s lyrics convey a poignant message about the emptiness of riches without love, aligning with the film’s narrative. Lines such as “Better just a shack where two people care than a house that has everything, everything but love” reflect this sentiment.
While “A House That Has Everything” may not be among Elvis’s most renowned hits, it showcases his ability to imbue songs with emotional depth, even within the context of his film projects. The Clambake soundtrack, released in October 1967, includes this track alongside others like “Guitar Man” and “You Don’t Know Me.” Despite the film’s modest reception, the soundtrack offers a glimpse into Elvis’s musical versatility during this period of his career.