Elvis Presley – No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car

Introduction:

Released in 1963, “No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car” is one of the more playful and lighthearted tracks from Elvis Presley’s movie soundtrack Fun in Acapulco. This song is part of Presley’s extensive filmography in the early 1960s when he was at the height of his acting and music career. The movie, Fun in Acapulco, was released the same year and marked Elvis’ twelfth film appearance. The soundtrack album also bears the same title, and “No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car” sits alongside other songs that feature a Latin-tinged, tropical soundscape, fitting the movie’s Mexican setting.

Musically, the track falls within the pop and rock ‘n’ roll genres, with noticeable influences of Latin and jazz elements, which was a common thread throughout the Fun in Acapulco album. The playful nature of the song, coupled with its comedic undertones, reflects Elvis’ versatility in combining his signature style with more novelty-driven tracks for his movies. The lyrics humorously explore the impracticality of dancing the rhumba inside a confined space like a sports car, which fits the whimsical and light-hearted tone of the movie itself.

While “No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car” was not a chart-topping hit compared to some of Elvis’ more iconic songs, it holds significance as part of the overall Fun in Acapulco soundtrack. The album was commercially successful, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Top LP’s chart in 1963. Though the song is often overshadowed by the more prominent tracks from both his movie career and his overall discography, it showcases Elvis’ ability to adapt his music to the evolving demands of Hollywood while maintaining his characteristic charm.

Thus, “No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car” remains a quirky and fun piece of Elvis Presley’s vast musical legacy, demonstrating his range as a performer and entertainer in both the music and film industries during the early 1960s.

Video:

Lyrics:

“No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car”
(from “Fun In Acapulco” soundtrack)

This was gonna be the night tonight
I was gonna get to hold you tight
But I guess we didn’t plan it right
I never stood a chance, we couldn’t dance

Cause there’s , no room to rhumba in a sports car
You can’t move forward or back
There’s no room to do what the beat tells you to
Without throwing your spine outta wack

When a little kiss I want to steal
I hit my head against the steering wheel
Now I know the way a pretzel feels
All I can do is shout…Hey let me out!!

Cause there’s , no room to rhumba in a sports car
You can’t move forward or back
There’s no room to do what the beat tells you to
Without throwing your spine outta wack

What a way to waste a day with you
Nothing happens that can tell the truth
Let’s go out and find a telephone booth
Yeah that’s a better place, I like more space

Cause there’s , no room to rhumba in a sports car
You can’t move forward or back
There’s no room to do what the beat tells you to
Without throwing your spine outta wack