Elvis The Biography...

[franny]

This was on EIN...

franny

The first serious Elvis biography (Elvis A Biography) was published in 1971. Reaching the top of numerous best seller lists around the world, Jerry Hopkins biography of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was irresistible reading for millions of Elvis’ fans and those simply wanting to understand more about the 20th century‘s pre-eminent cultural icon.

It was followed in 1980 by a sequel (Elvis The Final Years), completing the remaining years of Elvis’ extraordinary but flawed life.

The 2007 edition of Elvis The Biography combines revised editions of the earlier two volume biography and adds new material advancing the Elvis story to the sale of EPE in 2005 to entrepreneur, Robert Sillerman.

Read EIN's review of arguably the definitive one volume Elvis biography

http://www.elvisinfonet.com/bookrevi...kins_2007.html

[JDD]

For its time it may have been ok, but after reading Peter Guralnick two books nothing else for me really compares.

JD

[elvislady]

Thanks franny for the link.
elvislady

[Kris P]

I found Hopkins' first effort to be very good, however the "Final Years" tome was, IMO, ill considered and poorly researched.

[Diane]

I'm finding it very hard to get excited about any new book on Elvis anymore as I've found so many so repetitive for so long.

Thanks for posting the information Franny, but I'll probably pass on this one.

Diane

[JDD]

I'm finding it very hard to get excited about any new book on Elvis anymore as I've found so many so repetitive for so long.

Thanks for posting the information Franny, but I'll probably pass on this one.

Diane

I don't take it as "Lies" but I find it interesting how as each of the guys that Knew him and hung out with him write their own books, each one seems to
feel that He was the best friend, that Elvis was their best friend. Each one
in their own way seems to think they had this connection that nobody else did. I find its common that people knee jerk into thinking they're all lying or their egos have run away etc. Over time though I've come to the conclusion that He just had this way of making people feel that they were the most important. Over and over I've heard stories of people that had just a passing brush with him, yet they're left feeling like he was their good friend because in whatever time he spent with them he just had a way of making people feel that way. I think some of the repetitive stuff you speak of is that coming out.
I think he'd ask people about a song or whatever and then they'd come away thinking "He cut that because of my advice". Fans often seem to think "He was singing just to me in that concert", even the house hold staff seems to
feel he had this special relationship that only he and they shared. I think its just what he was he just had a talent for that. I like that and I think thats partly why I buy so many of the books by the folks that were considered Insiders.

Of course maybe I give people too much credit and everybody is really just a
bunch of liars.

JD

[ksimms2]

I don't take it as "Lies" but I find it interesting how as each of the guys that Knew him and hung out with him write their own books, each one seems to
feel that He was the best friend, that Elvis was their best friend. Each one
in their own way seems to think they had this connection that nobody else did. I find its common that people knee jerk into thinking they're all lying or their egos have run away etc. Over time though I've come to the conclusion that He just had this way of making people feel that they were the most important. Over and over I've heard stories of people that had just a passing brush with him, yet they're left feeling like he was their good friend because in whatever time he spent with them he just had a way of making people feel that way. I think some of the repetitive stuff you speak of is that coming out.
I think he'd ask people about a song or whatever and then they'd come away thinking "He cut that because of my advice". Fans often seem to think "He was singing just to me in that concert", even the house hold staff seems to
feel he had this special relationship that only he and they shared. I think its just what he was he just had a talent for that. I like that and I think thats partly why I buy so many of the books by the folks that were considered Insiders.

Of course maybe I give people too much credit and everybody is really just a
bunch of liars.

JD

JD, I think you hit the nail on the head - this was very well said......I completely agree with you....he had a way of making everyone feel as though they were very special - and I'm sure they were to him.

[Diane]

Nope, I don't think these people are just a bunch of liars but I do think they exaggerate their importance and I'm tired of their posturing. I do agree that Elvis could make a person feel especially important though.

I just don't feel that anyone says much of anything new anymore so I get bored reading their books.

I also feel they all just kind of "missed" what was really going on inside Elvis except for Ed Parker. His book was the only one where I felt anyone around him saw the "real" Elvis.

Diane