Book Recommendations

[Lindnet]

Hi, I just wondered if anyone here has any recommendations for which books out there are good and worth reading. I've read a few, but it's hard to know which ones have anything of value in them and which ones are not worth my time.

I've read Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. I've read the Larry Geller one, If I Can Dream. My girlfriend is reading the Alanna Nash one....Revelations of the Memphis Mafia. Any thoughts on these and others?

Thanks for your help!

[dennyelvis]

Great chioce with the first 2...i have those :P i suppose you have read the now infamous < elvis...what happened >...but putting that aside a couple to recommend are < The man,the life, the style - Pamela clarke Keogh> about ?12 + < A life in music> by our very own Ernst....?12 or so...both great reads.

If you fancy Elvis from a different angle...try <elvis and me> PBP (Cilla of course) :D regards.

[howardrobardhughes]

..have you read "Inside Elvis" by Ed Parker??..
not a very in depth book...but some very interesting info..(especially UFO's)
TCB
Wade

[Lindnet]

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I think I did read Elvis, What Happened? way back when it first came out, but I haven't read it since. I'm not sure I want to read a book that upset Elvis so much.

I did read Elvis & Me, it was interesting. Also read Are You Lonesome Tonight....not sure what I think of that one.

I had forgotten about the Ed Parker one, thanks for the suggestion!

[Captain Elwood David]

Guralnick's two-volume Biographical set is "essential" (the 1st vol. is outstanding, the 2nd very lacking).

Some others that will tell it straight (caveat: not all can handle):

- Elvis, What Happened? (aka: The Bodyguard Book) A skewed, but TRUE portrait.

- The Death of Elvis (Thompson & Cole)

- Portrait of a Friend (Marty Lacker)

- Nash's The Col. (essential for garnering a complete understanding of EP & his career) - My only disappointment in this book is that it is a bit too superfical for my hardcore curiousity ......... and it left me with some burning questions unanswered.

(No offense, but Are You Lonsome Tonight is crap, ............... Priscilla's book was her attempt to re-write her history with Elvis as she wants it to be remembered, .............. Geller's books have a lot of embellished "fiction" within, ............. and Ed Parker's book is way too positive - riddled with errors.)


- Capt. "EL."

[Lonniebealestreet]

If you have read some other Elvis biographies which were at least somewhat serious, then the things talked about in Elvis: What Happened? shouldn't be found that shocking. But considering what was known about Elvis before it came out, and the things which were then revealed, you can imagine its impact and how upsetting it would have been to him. But you do find yourself not appreciating the focus on the negative, although that basically was the point of the whole thing. I am looking forward to Sonny's new book.

For a 70s fan, the way Guralnick's books turned out was a little disappointing. The first one was indeed a very impressive work, but then the sequel which covered the period of most interest to me was seemingly not given the same level of commitment. Still definitely worth reading though.

The Death Of Elvis was a truly fascinating account of the investigation of the cover-up which occurred seemingly without direction, but as though an understanding simply existed, which dictated the actions of a great number of people. I guess to many it was simply a matter of continuing to TCB, and to those who hadn't been involved before, it just seemed like the thing to do. Sorry--I'm rambling. The thing I didn't like about this book was that when the book's subject and his entourage were discussed on a personal level, it was often with some degree of disdain. I thought Elvis was portrayed as ignorant, and Joe and the guys were all "shitkickers". On the other hand, there was some sympathy for Elvis too. Even some who are not Elvis fans would find this book quite interesting, I would think, for detailing this investigation involving the authors and Geraldo Rivera and the ABC 20/20 team, who were up against just about everyone in the extended Elvis world at the time.

How about Down At The End Of Lonely Street? That is a book which I think started off well, and I liked how it more than a lot of other EP biographies pointed out that Elvis actually did some serious soldiering in the Army. Then later on, once drugs became a real factor in his life, the rest of the story seemed to be based on that. I was sort of relieved to read some things which seemed to dispute the findings of the Bio-Science Labs, as detailed in The Death Of Elvis, based on an improved technology for assessing drug traces in the system (distinguishing those which have been metabolized for some time, i.e., taken possibly some days before the others). They apparently had copies of some sealed documents and got some people to talk by showing that they had the goods and would be reporting on the subject with or without their interpretations of them. BUT this same book claimed that Elvis weighed about 350 lbs at the time of his death--much of it gained since his last tour (a convenient way of not letting reasonable people point to the CBS tapes as evidence that he was not that heavy then), and obviously speculated on some other things. One of the book's authors has been on some special or another, and seems to have a flair for the exaggerated.

Revelations of the Memphis Mafia was a very enjoyable read to me, and one that I have referred back to a lot since first reading it. I like it because there is not really a specific intended truth in lots of different accounts. Billy, Marty, and Lamar sometimes have different recollections or takes on the same occurrences, so you just kind of decide for yourself what the truth may be. Acknowledging their different storytelling styles and perspectives, Alanna Nash said that the guys individually contributed the heart (Billy), the mind (Marty), and the soul (Lamar) of the story. Some things I may have wished to have been kept untold, but if you want to read Elvis' story, then plan to read Elvis' story.

I was very pleased with The Colonel. I like that it did not unnecessarily go into certain details about various milestones in Elvis' career which are essential parts of the Elvis story, but not always pertinent to the Elvis-Colonel dynamic. It did suggest a lot, but I don't think it presented such things in a way that seemed to say, "This is definitely what happened--no two ways about it." I believe it pointed to the possibility and likelihood of certain things, and basically did as good a job as any of stressing the significance of Elvis' allegiance to the Colonel, and the things which may have driven the Colonel to be the way he was. Even if I didn't buy into the theories, or if I found them irresponsible, I still would have found the whole account interesting.

Joe's book was entertaining, but lacking. Charlie's book, though well-intentioned, of course promoted the bone cancer story and was the most disjointed, grammatical and spelling error-ridden book I've ever read.

That Bobbie Ann Mason book is a quick but great read. Nothing groundbreaking, but well-told and insightful.

Hopkins' books were great for their time. I haven't read his last one with the Hawaii theme, although I understand it was a pretty lightweight project, if not entertaining. Those who have read it: how much is Elvis' final vacation detailed in that book?

One I haven't read (I paged through it when it came out, had intentions of getting it but never did) is Elvis Up Close: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best. That looked like a nice, balanced account, with quite a few contributors. If I'm not mistaken though, people were quoted from previous books in lots of (if not all) cases, so I'm not sure how many new interviews were conducted. But regardless, having all those different perspectives together in one book probably made for a good read...yes? No?

Hey, I just found this: http://www.bomp.com/BompbooksElvisFriends.html#EUC.

[Lindnet]

Thanks, Bobby! I'm getting all kinds of good ideas about books to get. And I never thought about the Elvis What Happened book in that way before. You're right, now that there are so many tell-all books out there and I've read so much, it probably wouldn't be as shocking as I thought. There are just some things that I really wish people had left private. Especially those people who considered him a friend.

[carolynlm]

'Elvis and Gladys' is on the essential list, IMO......Scotty Moores 'That's Alright Elvis' is also a good read.

[Lonniebealestreet]

You're welcome, Lindnet.

Carolyn, I haven't read E & G, but Scotty's book is indeed a fine read. I also just remembered June Juanico's Elvis: In The Twilight of Memory. That one really surprised me...or I surprised myself by enjoying it as much as I did. June obviously kept a great diary, and it was such a refreshing, unique account--very well written too.

[Captain Elwood David]

'Elvis and Gladys' is on the essential list, IMO......Scotty Moores 'That's Alright Elvis' is also a good read.

EXCELLENT recommendations that I second.

-----------------------

Carolyn has now reminded me of another -----------> not essential, but fascinating nevertheless, ....... "Inner Elvis" - A Psychological Examination (deals with lost twins / syndrome, etc.).

-----------------------

All of Bill Burk's works are also worthwhile & recommended.

-----------------------

Nash also wrote a book for Alan Fortas, .............. it's got some nice information / insight / genuine unseen items-stories. I certainly enjoyed it.

-----------------------

Some very light reads, pleasurable, uncritical with big doses of rose-colored glasses "happies":

- Graceland Gates (Harold Lloyd)

- Marion Cocke's "I Called Him Babe"

- Another book by one of EP's maids (hardback, oversized, with a dedication in the forward to Lisa Marie)


Capt. "EL."

[carolynlm]

I read Elvis and Gladys on the plane trip back from Memphis, and having seen most things that were written about made it a great read. Gladys is really the unsung hero in Elvis' life. I sometimes think the fans overlook her and her contribution to her sons life. Moreso than Vernon, I think he was looking at the $$$$ signs, whereas Gladys was more intuned to the downside of a career that Elvis desperately wanted.

[Captain Elwood David]

Gladys, cared about Elvis for Elvis .............. she herself never came into the equation.

Vernon, however, cared for Elvis as much as he cared for himself. IMO, Vernon never stopped living in fear of poverty that had been his life / family's life story until EP changed all of that in the 50's.

That said, ........... Gladys did tell Elvis to always stay with and take care of his Daddy before she died.

To EP I say, ........... BRAVO, job well done .................... and promises kept.

Yet another example as to the multi-faceted appeal of EP other than "just the music."


- Capt. "EL."

[Jungleroom76]

If you have read some other Elvis biographies which were at least somewhat serious, then the things talked about in Elvis: What Happened? shouldn't be found that shocking. But considering what was known about Elvis before it came out, and the things which were then revealed, you can imagine its impact and how upsetting it would have been to him. But you do find yourself not appreciating the focus on the negative, although that basically was the point of the whole thing. I am looking forward to Sonny's new book.

For a 70s fan, the way Guralnick's books turned out was a little disappointing. The first one was indeed a very impressive work, but then the sequel which covered the period of most interest to me was seemingly not given the same level of commitment. Still definitely worth reading though.

The Death Of Elvis was a truly fascinating account of the investigation of the cover-up which occurred seemingly without direction, but as though an understanding simply existed, which dictated the actions of a great number of people. I guess to many it was simply a matter of continuing to TCB, and to those who hadn't been involved before, it just seemed like the thing to do. Sorry--I'm rambling. The thing I didn't like about this book was that when the book's subject and his entourage were discussed on a personal level, it was often with some degree of disdain. I thought Elvis was portrayed as ignorant, and Joe and the guys were all "shitkickers". On the other hand, there was some sympathy for Elvis too. Even some who are not Elvis fans would find this book quite interesting, I would think, for detailing this investigation involving the authors and Geraldo Rivera and the ABC 20/20 team, who were up against just about everyone in the extended Elvis world at the time.

How about Down At The End Of Lonely Street? That is a book which I think started off well, and I liked how it more than a lot of other EP biographies pointed out that Elvis actually did some serious soldiering in the Army. Then later on, once drugs became a real factor in his life, the rest of the story seemed to be based on that. I was sort of relieved to read some things which seemed to dispute the findings of the Bio-Science Labs, as detailed in The Death Of Elvis, based on an improved technology for assessing drug traces in the system (distinguishing those which have been metabolized for some time, i.e., taken possibly some days before the others). They apparently had copies of some sealed documents and got some people to talk by showing that they had the goods and would be reporting on the subject with or without their interpretations of them. BUT this same book claimed that Elvis weighed about 350 lbs at the time of his death--much of it gained since his last tour (a convenient way of not letting reasonable people point to the CBS tapes as evidence that he was not that heavy then), and obviously speculated on some other things. One of the book's authors has been on some special or another, and seems to have a flair for the exaggerated.

Revelations of the Memphis Mafia was a very enjoyable read to me, and one that I have referred back to a lot since first reading it. I like it because there is not really a specific intended truth in lots of different accounts. Billy, Marty, and Lamar sometimes have different recollections or takes on the same occurrences, so you just kind of decide for yourself what the truth may be. Acknowledging their different storytelling styles and perspectives, Alanna Nash said that the guys individually contributed the heart (Billy), the mind (Marty), and the soul (Lamar) of the story. Some things I may have wished to have been kept untold, but if you want to read Elvis' story, then plan to read Elvis' story.

I was very pleased with The Colonel. I like that it did not unnecessarily go into certain details about various milestones in Elvis' career which are essential parts of the Elvis story, but not always pertinent to the Elvis-Colonel dynamic. It did suggest a lot, but I don't think it presented such things in a way that seemed to say, "This is definitely what happened--no two ways about it." I believe it pointed to the possibility and likelihood of certain things, and basically did as good a job as any of stressing the significance of Elvis' allegiance to the Colonel, and the things which may have driven the Colonel to be the way he was. Even if I didn't buy into the theories, or if I found them irresponsible, I still would have found the whole account interesting.

Joe's book was entertaining, but lacking. Charlie's book, though well-intentioned, of course promoted the bone cancer story and was the most disjointed, grammatical and spelling error-ridden book I've ever read.

That Bobbie Ann Mason book is a quick but great read. Nothing groundbreaking, but well-told and insightful.

Hopkins' books were great for their time. I haven't read his last one with the Hawaii theme, although I understand it was a pretty lightweight project, if not entertaining. Those who have read it: how much is Elvis' final vacation detailed in that book?

One I haven't read (I paged through it when it came out, had intentions of getting it but never did) is Elvis Up Close: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best. That looked like a nice, balanced account, with quite a few contributors. If I'm not mistaken though, people were quoted from previous books in lots of (if not all) cases, so I'm not sure how many new interviews were conducted. But regardless, having all those different perspectives together in one book probably made for a good read...yes? No?

Hey, I just found this: http://www.bomp.com/BompbooksElvisFriends.html#EUC.

SO, TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT THESE BOOKS!!! ;)

I really can't think of any other books that are considered ESSENTIAL READING for Elvis fans. In my opinion, the Guralnick books give a pretty unskewed and unbiased view of Elvis' life and career, as most everyone else seems to agree with.

Once you've read those, you are basically left with a whole bunch of other books written by the people who knew Elvis, worked for Elvis, were family to Elvis, served Elvis lunch one day (o.k., so I went a little overboard there :P )...basically, you get the idea. After reading Guralnick's books, the only choice you are really left with is from whom's opinion about Elvis do you want to read a book from? I've read most of the books that have been mentioned here, and all too often, the opinion(s) of the writer/storyteller creeps into the story and begins to skew the direction of the book toward how THEY perceive their time with Elvis, not how it REALLY was. Does that make sense? :hmm:

Sorry if I seem to be rambling here....I hope this makes more sense then it looks to me as I type it....this isn't coming out quite the way I want it to sound, but I hope you get the idea! :blink:

TCB!
Mike

[Lonniebealestreet]

Carolyn has now reminded me of another -----------> not essential, but fascinating nevertheless, ....... "Inner Elvis" - A Psychological Examination (deals with lost twins / syndrome, etc.).Your mention of that one reminds me of The Tao of Elvis, and I'd like to hear your take on that one.

Not to equate psychology with taking quotes mostly attributed to Elvis by Larry Geller and pointing out their deeper, spiritual connotations (OK, so there was more to it than that)...but I do believe that psychology isn't all about textbook cases of this complex and that syndrome; people do not necessarily equal the sum of their psychological parts.

It all makes for interesting reading though.

But in the case of this book I mentioned, it's another which takes some liberties, employs some real stretches, and makes the big mistake of relying too heavily upon Larry Geller. I tried to take it seriously, but at times it was just too much.

And it's not that I don't appreciate Elvis' spiritual side.


Once you've read those, you are basically left with a whole bunch of other books written by the people who knew Elvis, worked for Elvis, were family to Elvis...the opinion(s) of the writer/storyteller creeps into the story and begins to skew the direction of the book toward how THEY perceive their time with Elvis, not how it REALLY was.Mike, that is most often the case, but it's either the opinions/potentially skewed accounts of those who were there versus nobody's. Guralnick and any other author relies on those same people, to varying degrees. But I think it is of great interest to hear those accounts, which can be beneficial.

First of all, even without filtering out the BS and determining who has what agenda, etc., it's like there is some cumulative truth once you lump all those stories together. Even though you get some erroneous information, you end up with basically the truth. You might not know exactly which elements ring the truest, but you have heard all the accounts, so the real story probably can be told by borrowing parts from each.

Secondly, even though you do have the truth and then some, you do need to find a way to whittle down everything you've gleaned into something which might not be totally specific, but is something you can hang your hat on (or else you'll go crazy;) ). So you read all this stuff and come to learn what most of these people's motives are (or simply how bad their powers of recollection have become), based on what you can determine on your own, and on what the other central figures have to say about them...and of course what their motives are, and so on.

Having heard certain accounts before, you can also get a step closer to the truth by noting the elements of them which certain people don't talk about as well.

I don't know if I'm articulating this very well, but mainly I'm saying it's educational simply to take all this information in and decide for yourself what the truth likely is. You might not always be right, but you can't ask Elvis, so that's about all you are left to do.

[jbgude]

After the Guralnick books, ( I have read only Last train .., which is simply superb as you can almost "feel" the 1950's) I would reccommend
" When Elvis Died" a look at how the media reacted to the news of Elvis' death. I think it was by Neil & Janice Gregory , though I could be wrong.

jb

[Captain Elwood David]

Your mention of that one reminds me of The Tao of Elvis, and I'd like to hear your take on that one.
Yes, I'm familiar with it and do own a copy.

I think the book makes lots of interesting connections that the more religiously inclined of fans might enjoy ........................... the same has been done with the Bible (re-telling EP's life story, re-written in Bible format / lingo ------> The Book of The Wests / The Book of The Stanleys / The Book of Fike / The Book of Lacker, etc. .....). Now, the latter I found extremely amusing and it gave me some hearty laughs.

On that note, there is even another book that discusses the following of "E" as the origins of a new faith / religion. Again, pretty amusing stuff ................ and on some levels, I suppose even accurate.

At any rate, .......... the Tao book does indeed make the expected error of relying on the previously written words of Geller as a main source.

All make for an interesting view into EP's impact and how deeply it penetrates the American psyche / culture / fandom ............... on this very bizarre level.


- Capt. "EL."

[Cherokee]

EXCELLENT recommendations that I second.

-----------------------

Carolyn has now reminded me of another -----------> not essential, but fascinating nevertheless, ....... "Inner Elvis" - A Psychological Examination (deals with lost twins / syndrome, etc.).Capt. "EL."

Do you have an author's name for that one, Cap? And perhaps the year it was published.:please: :)

[Captain Elwood David]

Do you have an author's name for that one, Cap? And perhaps the year it was published
From "Contemporary Psychology"

"The Inner Elvis: A Psychological Biography of Elvis Aaron Presley

By Peter O. Whitmer

New York: Hyperion, 1996. 480 pp.

ISBN 0-7868-6102-9. $22.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback.

Review by Alan C. Elms

Almost since his first moments of fame in 1956, Elvis Presley has been the object of psychological speculation. Journalists repeatedly asked psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose Elvis or his fans or both. Such questions became even more insistent after Presley's early death in 1977. Remarkably, however, little serious writing about the psychology of this major musical and cultural figure has been published until recently. The more factually reliable biographies (e.g., by Jerry Hopkins, Peter Guralnick) have said little about his psychological development; the biographies that have attempted more psychological analysis (e.g., by Albert Goldman, Elaine Dundy) are weak in theory as well as fact. Now we have the first book-length "psychological biography" of Elvis, by clinical psychologist Peter Whitmer.

A full-scale psychobiography of Elvis, given his complex developmental history and the shortage of reliable information about it, is an ambitious undertaking. Whitmer is even more ambitious: while analyzing Elvis, he simultaneously proposes a sweeping psychology of the "twinless twin." Twinless twins are individuals who were born with a twin but whose twin died or was otherwise separated from them in early childhood. Whitmer sees every twinless twin as displaying the same distinctive psychological pattern:

"The twinless twin wants to prove his uniqueness, to stand as an individual. Yet he is also powerfully pulled toward being reunited with the dead twin. . . . To win the mother's love, he must grieve for the dead twin. Yet at the same time, to establish self-love and his own security, he must compete with the very person he is compelled to mourn." (p. 66)
Elvis Presley was of course a twinless twin; his brother Jesse was stillborn. Whitmer alludes to unpublished research on other twinless twins, but in this book Elvis is the primary (and nearly the only) example. Using a psychobiography to advance a particular theoretical position or to exemplify new ideas about a psychological syndrome is not unprecedented; Freud did it in his discussion of Leonardo's homosexuality, as did Erikson in describing Martin Luther's identity crisis. Freud encountered serious problems in seeking to obtain accurate information about Leonardo's early development; much of Erikson's analysis rests on unreliable second-hand accounts of what Luther told his followers about himself. Whitmer's book suffers from similar difficulties.
Elvis was a twinless twin, but how did he feel about that status? We don't really know, since he didn't talk about it in public, didn't write about it, and seldom referred to it even in private. According to various members of his inner circle, stories of Elvis talking or listening to his dead twin were mostly invented by scriptwriters for the first television drama about Elvis, several years after his death. Whitmer's main informant about Elvis's supposed obsession with his twin was Larry Geller, Elvis's sometime hairdresser and "spiritual adviser." Geller has written or co-authored at least four books on Elvis, and over the past 20 years he has put a lot of words in the dead Elvis's mouth. Perhaps Elvis really did become fascinated with his twin as he and Geller talked about mystic aspects of twinship. But Geller's largely unverifiable reports constitute a slender foundation for the weighty structure Whitmer has erected upon them.

That structure consists of a set of interrelated explanations of all major aspects of Elvis's private psychology and public behavior, in terms of the hypothesized core psychology of the twinless twin. In synthesizing black and white musical styles, for example, Elvis had "the fuel to make one form of music from two seemingly disparate parts that no one but a twinless twin could provide. Much of the origins of Elvis's creative genius resided in Jesse [the stillborn twin]; his memories, his haunting presence, his dictation to Elvis of a musical destiny" (p. 65). Elvis's lifelong psychological enmeshment with his mother derived from his "intrauterine bonding" with his twin: "Elvis simply and naturally transferred all his tactile and sensory needs from Jesse and invested them in his mother" (p. 79). Elvis's early-career preference for pink-and-black costumes and cars came from the same source: "He had taken into his public persona an aspect of both himself and of Jesse. The color pink, soft as an infant, and black, harsh as death, seems a perfect autobiographical statement for him to make: it did not say 'look at me' as much as it said 'look at us'" (p. 123). And so on throughout the book.

One of the book's merits is that Whitmer interviewed a number of the key players in Elvis's life, as well as quite a few members of the supporting cast, rather than depending largely on previously published accounts. Whitmer is aware that for a biographical subject such as Elvis--perhaps especially for Elvis, given his status as worldwide cultural icon--not all informants can be trusted equally. Indeed, on the book's first page Whitmer refers to "literally dozens of a unique form of modern-day Elvis impersonators: those who purport to have knowledge, yet whose veracity is, at best, dubious" (p. ix). But though Whitmer says he spent "more than three years of separating the chaff from the seed of hundreds of interviews" (pp. ix-x), he gives no indication of how he decided which was chaff and which was seed. Perhaps his clinical intuition was sufficient for him, but it's not enough for the reader--particularly when several of the most-cited interviewees appear, from other sources, to have strong reasons to exaggerate and to reshape their accounts of their interactions with Elvis.

When Whitmer gets away from a direct focus on Elvis and the twinless twin syndrome, and instead characterizes the people around Elvis, he stands on steadier ground. His discussion of Elvis's parents and their respective contributions to a dysfunctional family system is generally astute, though he may be over-pathographizing them. His depictions of Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and of Elvis's future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, are insightful as well. Whitmer's interviews with various media professionals who worked with Elvis, such as Steve Allen (host of an early TV appearance by Elvis) and Steve Binder (producer of Elvis's 1968 television "comeback special"), are straightforward and informative. These sections suggest that without the insistent effort to explain all of Elvis in terms of the twinless twin, this book could have been biographically much more solid, and psychologically much more persuasive."

--------------------------

The above is a cut & pasted review of the book I was referencing. A review that I happen to agree with. A fascinating book that stimulates some critical thinking.

Take note of the BOLD lettering area - placed there by myself -----> as long as one is aware that the book itself is based upon certain chaff sources, and look past them, ................ it can be a stimulating read. The "Twinless Twin" angle is carried it bit too far, but I think it has some genuine merit (btw, ......... I don't think it was really something that EP truly focused on a lot, but probably had some unconscious influence).



- Capt. "EL."

[julieann]

For LonnieBealestreet:

Wow - you know your stuff! I was very impressed with your first post.

I am half way through Jerry Hopkins' 'The Final Years.' I think that it is good. But to be honest I think that book has been quoted in other publications. That is the problem after you have read a few Elvis books then you often find stuff has been quoted left, right and center.
I still have not read 'Elvis What Happened?' by the bodyguards - i can't decide whether not to though...

[Lonniebealestreet]

Thanks, julieann. A lot of great information has been shared in this thread.(y) The Final Years is one I definitely enjoyed and still page through from time to time. And you're right about how some things come to be treated as absolute truths, because they were once written here, and then get cited there, etc.

BTW, The Tao of Elvis was not without merit, nor did all its points require huge leaps of faith. It was original and entertaining, but I didn't completely buy into it.

On the lighter side--much lighter, is a very funny little illustrated book called The Two Kings: Elvis and Jesus. It's not meant to be taken seriously, and it does require a sense of humor about some of our man's faults...not that it pokes fun in a mean-spirited way at all. I thought it was hilarious. It basically gives the following comparisons and perhaps a few others with accompanying illustrations:

Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor" (Matthew 22:39).
Elvis said, "Don't Be Cruel" (RCA, 1956).

Jesus is the Lord's shepherd.
Elvis dated Cybill Shepherd.

Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone" (Matthew 4:4).
Elvis loved his sandwiches with peanut butter and bananas.

"Then they took up stones to cast at [Jesus]" (John 8:59).
Elvis was often stoned.

Jesus was the Lamb of God.
Elvis had mutton chops.

Jesus was part of a Trinity.
Elvis' first band was a trio.

Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:25).
Elvis surfed (Blue Hawaii, Paramount, 1965).

Jesus was a carpenter.
Elvis majored in woodshop/industrial arts in high school.

Jesus lived in a state of grace in a Near Eastern land.
Elvis lived in Graceland in a nearly eastern state.

Jesus wore the crown of thorns.
Elvis wore Royal Crown hair styler.

Jesus' entourage, the Apostles, had 12 members.
Elvis' entourage, the Memphis Mafia, had 12 members.

Jesus as wine (sacramental wine).
Elvis as wine (Always Elvis wine by Frantenac).

A major woman in Jesus' life (Mary) had an immaculate conception.
A major woman in Elvis' life (Priscilla) went to Immaculate Conception
high school.

Jesus was resurrected.
Elvis had the famous comeback special in 1968.

Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink"
(John 7:37).
Elvis said, "Drinks on me!" (Jailhouse Rock, MGM, 1957).

Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights.
Elvis had irregular eating habits (e.g., five banana splits for
breakfast).

Jesus is a Capricorn (Dec. 25).
Elvis is a Capricorn (Jan. 8).

"[Jesus'] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow"
(Matthew 28:3).
Elvis' trademarks were a lightning bolt and snow-white jumpsuits.

Jesus was Jewish.
Elvis was part Jewish (from his maternal great-grandmother, Martha
Tackett Mansell).

[Jungleroom76]

Mike, that is most often the case, but it's either the opinions/potentially skewed accounts of those who were there versus nobody's. Guralnick and any other author relies on those same people, to varying degrees. But I think it is of great interest to hear those accounts, which can be beneficial.

First of all, even without filtering out the BS and determining who has what agenda, etc., it's like there is some cumulative truth once you lump all those stories together. Even though you get some erroneous information, you end up with basically the truth. You might not know exactly which elements ring the truest, but you have heard all the accounts, so the real story probably can be told by borrowing parts from each.

Secondly, even though you do have the truth and then some, you do need to find a way to whittle down everything you've gleaned into something which might not be totally specific, but is something you can hang your hat on (or else you'll go crazy;) ). So you read all this stuff and come to learn what most of these people's motives are (or simply how bad their powers of recollection have become), based on what you can determine on your own, and on what the other central figures have to say about them...and of course what their motives are, and so on.

Having heard certain accounts before, you can also get a step closer to the truth by noting the elements of them which certain people don't talk about as well.

I don't know if I'm articulating this very well, but mainly I'm saying it's educational simply to take all this information in and decide for yourself what the truth likely is. You might not always be right, but you can't ask Elvis, so that's about all you are left to do.

ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE RIGHT PAL!!! :worthy:

I guess I didn't really think of the fact that, considering Elvis never wrote an autobiography, we really only have the stories of Elvis' life as told by the people who were around him. And, as you said, if it wasn't for their stories, we wouldn't have any!

I guess if we take the stories as told by all of the indidivuals who have written books over the years, put them all together and see which ones are told in a similiar fashion, then we will probably be able to assess which stories are more likely to be truthful and which ones are leaning toward artistic or "authoristic" (if you will) fabrication! :hmm:

Once again, I have been put in my place...THANKS PAL!!! :worthy: ;)
TCB!
Mike

[Captain Elwood David]

Guralnick's 2nd volume focusing on Elvis' decline relied too much on other mistaken sources / assumptions and lacked its own independent original research / inquiry. The end result was the all too common now - expected re-hash of stories / events ................... all done very superficially as well.

I was bitterly disapointed in Guralnick's follow-up volume; a good start, but unfortunately, never finished as it derserves (and as Guralnick is fully capable of).

---------------------

BTW, .............. a number of those that were there are directly responsible for mistaken MYTH, slight fabrications, and mistaken assumptions that have now become accepted "FACTS" or are destined to forever be items of controversy / seeds of conspiracy / haunting and in some cases with detrimental results to EP's Legacy. Ironically, quite a disservice not only to the fans, but EP himself.


- Capt. "EL."

[Jungleroom76]

QUITE TRUE CAPTAIN EL....A DISSERVICE TO THE FANS AND ELVIS INDEED!! (y)

But, you know what....with all the books that have been mentioned in this thread, I am surprised that no one has even considered bringing up Albert Goldman's book! Wonder why that is??? ;)

TCB!
Mike

[Lonniebealestreet]

...one I have chosen not to read.

I am glad you see my point, Mike, because I'm not sure that I made it too clear.

The thing about it, if I can add just a little to that, is that if you've got several people who stick to the same story, you still don't necessarily want to put all your faith in it. Who are those people, with whom do they associate, of whom do they not speak well (does that seem justified, and what do those people stand for?), what is their relationship with EPE, and what seem to be their motives, etc.?

But those things still don't necessarily point you to the truth. The right people saying the wrong things can pretty easily turn fiction into presumed fact.

That doesn't mean it's not good to hear all the different "perspectives". Though you might not know for sure about a certain event or nuance, you at least know the most likely scenarios.

[Cherokee]

From "Contemporary Psychology"

"The Inner Elvis: A Psychological Biography of Elvis Aaron Presley

By Peter O. Whitmer

New York: Hyperion, 1996. 480 pp.

ISBN 0-7868-6102-9. $22.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback.

Review by Alan C. Elms

Almost since his first moments of fame in 1956, Elvis Presley has been the object of psychological speculation. Journalists repeatedly asked psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose Elvis or his fans or both. Such questions became even more insistent after Presley's early death .......

- Capt. "EL."

Thanks very much, Cap. Think I might get me a copy, and use the info you provided to sift through what's written..... :hmm:

[Lindnet]

You have all given me alot of great information to work with, thank you! I agree that it's best to read several accounts of what happened, take into consideration the motivation and how close they were to the source, and then form your own opinion as to what you believe to be closest to the truth.

I was looking for some more good places to find information to put into the mix and I believe I've gotten some great suggestions here.

[Jungleroom76]

...one I have chosen not to read.

I am glad you see my point, Mike, because I'm not sure that I made it too clear.

The thing about it, if I can add just a little to that, is that if you've got several people who stick to the same story, you still don't necessarily want to put all your faith in it. Who are those people, with whom do they associate, of whom do they not speak well (does that seem justified, and what do those people stand for?), what is their relationship with EPE, and what seem to be their motives, etc.?

But those things still don't necessarily point you to the truth. The right people saying the wrong things can pretty easily turn fiction into presumed fact.

That doesn't mean it's not good to hear all the different "perspectives". Though you might not know for sure about a certain event or nuance, you at least know the most likely scenarios.

But, WHY have you chosen not to read Goldman's book?? It is after all a very factual account, is it not?? ;)

As always, you made your point very clear buddy!!! I was able to follow what you were saying with no problem! But, I agree with your addition here that, basically, you need to consider all aspects of a story's source (especially their relationship to Elvis AND to EPE, their personal motives, what they stand to gain out of telling their "story", etc.) before deciding if a story is factual, a story based on fact but that has been deliberately stretched to slant to the storyteller's benefit, or completely fiction!!

But, unfortunately, we will never know the true answers to all of these stories since Elvis is not here himself to set the record straight! :'(

THANKS AGAIN for clarifiying your position buddy!! Always appreciate your point of view!! (y)

TCB!
Mike

[curtis simpkins]

Here's a nother good book, my friend of mine wrote this book it's called.

Elvis A Radio History From 1945 to 1955 by AARON WEBSTER. a few people injoy this book.

1. worldwide elvis.
2.wink martindale
3.robert ritter from wtup 1340 in tupelo ms

this book also has some rare photos of elvis in the early 1950s.

[P.S. Annie]

From "Contemporary Psychology"

"The Inner Elvis: A Psychological Biography of Elvis Aaron Presley

By Peter O. Whitmer

New York: Hyperion, 1996. 480 pp.

ISBN 0-7868-6102-9. $22.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback.

- Capt. "EL."

Thanks for the info, I think and try to find me a copy too (like Cherokee). Think it is a very intersting book. I have a general interest for psychologie, so combining it with Elvis even better. (y)

[ComeBackChick]

Thanks for the info, I think and try to find me a copy too (like Cherokee). Think it is a very intersting book. I have a general interest for psychologie, so combining it with Elvis even better. (y)

This book is on my wishlist too! Does any Dutch fan know where to get it? Cause it seems to be out of print..... :'(

[0349054]

I would reccomend all of them!

By reading the whole lot, you can get a rounded view. Any single biography is going to have holes in it, be slightly biased towards something etc..

Read as many as you can get your hands on. The one's so far mentioned are very good though.


By the way, has anyone read Bobbie Ann Mason's Elvis biography? I'm wondering whether or not to buy it. Is it good? I have read about 20 or so bio's of Elvis, I just enjoy reading about him. Is Bobbie Ann Mason's one interesting? Well written? :king:

[Lonniebealestreet]

It's definitely well-written. You won't read any new groundbreaking details in it, but at the same time it seems very insightful. It's an entertaining, quick read.

[0349054]

Thanks Bobby,

I'll order a copy soon then.

Thanks

[Lonniebealestreet]

You're welcome.

I'd be curious to hear what other people have to say about that book as well. I don't think I am, but as a fellow Kentuckian I could be biased in favor of her and Alanna Nash's works.

It's 'light' in some respects, but told so well that it really succeeds in my opinion. I'd like to know if others agree.