Elvis Presley: Classic Or Dud?

I suppose a thing about Elvis is, how familiar is he really? He *seems* over-familiar - we think we know it all already - and maybe many folk do, several times over. But often, when I actually go and play the stuff rather than just think about it abstractly, it surprises me. It turns out to be more exciting than I imagined, or there are great songs I'd forgotten about; etc. I mean: the reality of Elvis might, possibly, be more (rather than less) interesting than the idea.

with all due respect to little richard (who i love) and chuck berry (who i respect), elvis was rock n' roll, until those damned beatles showed up, as he epitomized what it was all about viz. white kids doing naughty things viz. commingling with blacks. he had the hair, the looks, the moves -- few people have looked as bad-ASS as the king did on his comeback special -- and most importantly the voice, the one thing he'd have after everything else was gone.

search: "mystery train," "jailhouse rock," "surrender," "can't help falling in love," "anything that's part of you," "it hurts me," "tiger man," "if i can dream," "wearin' that loved on look," "i'll hold you in my heart," "tomorrow never comes," "american trilogy," etc muthafuckin' etc.

destroy: the films and most of the concomitant music, the cult, his private life, the karate...it's not too difficult to figure out what should be discounted.

I'm like Tom, I appreciate the idea of Elvis but I can't be bothered to listen to him, like ever. I own none of his CDs, because I have no desire to turn him on. If he comes on the radio, I won't turn it off, but really it's not my cup of tea. I won't search him out, simple as that.

Elvis I think does the business, but proceed with caution. The really bad sixties movie cuts aren't even good for camp value.

DESTROY: Greil Marcus. Much of the time, he's worse than the folks who see the image of Elvis in the grease spattered on a toaster of the local Waffle House.

As for me, I would say classic. I think a lot of the mythology surrounding him has belittled the music he created.

Other than that, he never meant a thing to me. Dud I guess. I'm such a fucking kid.

No wait, that was William Lyon Mackenzie King!

Dennis Lee to thread!

I don't understand how anyone can say he's a "watered-down Little Richard" since (a) they sound nothing at all alike, even when Elvis covered Little Richard songs, and (b) Elvis started making records before Little Richard cut "Tutti Frutti," the first record he made in the style he's famous for.

Though he IS undeniably a great singer, with really terrible management, though try telling that to the billion dollar EP Estate.
Like Ali, his talent was squandered, though there are many moments of transcendence throughout his career.

Also, in Linda Gail Lewis's autobio, she claims that the time Jerry Lee stormed the gates at Graceland, it was because a doped up EP had called him to come rescue him, a claim not as preposterous as it seems.
Elvis might have been King, but Colonol Parker ruled.

Here's a question to ponder: What would Elvis's legacy be had he not been so incredible looking?

One of whom I phoned just to hear her voice after her repeating "Listen, we will invite some guys over, listen to Elvis and play some yahtzee".

Popped in, thought about approaching Baz to show off my new Elvis karaoke chops, but security gave me the stink-eye so I thought better of it.

Listening to the new Elvis On Tour box: four complete concerts from April 1972, the movie on Blu-Ray, and two discs of outtakes and rehearsals and whatnot. These live discs are insane. He only plays for an hour, but does between 20 and 25 songs — it's a positively Ramones-esque pace. The set list is mostly the same from night to night, with a few changes. And the band absolutely destroys, of course.

finally watched the movie, was taken aback by how wall-to-wall insane it was, felt like a good 60% of it was just insane montages and transitions

Tom Hanks in a fat suit was really weird to watch. he reminds me of Malkovich as Teddy KGB in Rounders. that accent he uses is so over the top, I just can't believe an actual human being sounded like that. he talks like he's a big cartoon rat or something. that said I haven't actually heard Tom Parker talk, so...

he talks like he's a big cartoon rat or something.

ahahahaha that is totally it!

lol otm

Yeah, that's a fantastic description, and dead on.

Hahaha yes!

The whole thing is so garish and episodic and hard to digest in one sitting I think of it as Elvis: The CD-ROM

I liked it in the theater but don't know if I could sit through it again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJFojCn6m74

Forgot about this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCFNB1XNFRQ

So about PRISCILLA.

How is it?

It’s basically a bummer.

:(

i haven’t seen it yet, i think i’ll wait it out

It’s all true I have no doubt but still

I learned a few things though

Maybe it’s a bummer in a good way, I still have to ponder.

Lisa Marie didn’t like the script :(

Would love to see what someone else around here thinks

I saw lots of positive reviews out there. Think maybe around here Eric didn’t like it. Me, I’d much rather rewatch THE VIRGIN SUICIDES.

I can use one of my expiring February hoopla credits for that

Hmm. Can't verify my library. Will have to wait until Monday I guess.

Neither Elvis nor Priscilla had any real chariisma in this movie, as far as I could see.

It's second-tier Coppola but good.

Hoping to watch it this afternoon or tonight.

Heh, just came across a brief J.G. Ballard review of Albert Goldman’s book in the recent Selected Nonfiction collection.

Some Priscilla discussion here: Sofia CopPOLLa

Thanks!

okay this looks like it could be pretty funny

He became Elvis. But can he become himself?
Watch the official trailer for AUSTIN: The Austin Butler Story.
Based on the incredible true story. Only in theaters. pic.twitter.com/r91c9Wu6aZ

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“You’re too Elvisy”

I keep replaying the "Zone of Interest" bit it's so funny

here it is on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e70LJp5BLJE

Hilarious.

Was watching this the other day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYEWwVgFIcg

Especially hilarious because he'd marry Lisa Marie years later. I kind if picture him doing this bit in front of her and she's just "that's enough honey."

*kind of

Sad lol

Apparenlty this was Lisa Marie's favorite song by her dad, and one of mine as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwXu3EWPGdg

If I had to guess I’d go with “Marie’s the Name”

yeah mine too, i love it
and of course, famously written by Eddie Rabbitt <3

xpost

Amazing (incl. seemingly shrewd, aptly detailed & empathetic) Chris Willman review of the Lisa Marie-Riley autobio (just keep scrolling):

https://variety.com/2024/music/reviews/lisa-marie-presley-riley-keough-book-from-here-great-unknown-engrossing-review-1236173374/

Interesting, thanks

Not sure I want to read that book, but I'm glad it exists.

it's slightly (sleightly) snowing in the Netherlands, so spinnin' my favourite Elvis track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcdUsRwUtMI

New Guralnick:

https://www.shopelvis.com/product/EPAM4778/the-colonel-and-the-king-by-peter-guralnick-hardcover-book

"The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World, will be released August 5, 2025.

From the award-winning biographer of Elvis Presley, The Colonel and the King is a groundbreaking dual portrait of the relationship between the iconic artist and legendary manager, Colonel Tom Parker, drawing on a wealth of Parkers never-before-seen correspondence to reveal that this reviled figure was in fact a confidant, friend, and architect of his clients success.

In early 1955, Tom Parker the manager of the number-one country musician of the dayheard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd of more than 800 people to a Texas schoolhouse, and headed south to investigate. Within days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking agents: We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is ELVIS PRESLEY. Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a telegram of his own: Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me. I love you like a father.

The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel proved impossible for outside observers to understandnot during their lifetimes, and not in the decades since. It was a long-standing, deeply committed relationship, founded on mutual admiration and support.

Featuring troves of never-before-seen correspondence from the Colonels own archives, revelatory both for their insights andparticularly with respect to Elvistheir emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar by the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two misunderstood icons as theyve never been seen before: with all of their brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display."

That sounds really interesting.

oooh will read
love Guralnick’s Elvis books

On board

enjoyed and learned from several of his non-Elvis books (Owe him so much for revelatory presentation of Charlie Rich), but the Elvis sequence seemed kinda redundant, like I'd already read waaay too much Elvis (still need to check Elvis and Gladys). Prob unfair, would have learned something if I'd finished PG's EP chronicles. But with this revisionist news, I have to wonder if he dealt with, say, the Col. trying to get Elvis to stick to songs published by Parker's co.---also Lieber-Stoller's *joint* autobio sez that the Col. greatly begrudged their providing material for Elvis, who insisted on it, and even after their songs incl. "Hound Dog" and other hits Also, did the Col. prevent Elvis from performing in other countries because he, Parker, would have felt it necessary to stay behind, lest he be extradited to the Netherlands because wanted for murder? This has been said, hope G. deals with the Col.'s allegedly shady past, and his pre-Elvist American gigs in carnivals etc., as I believe he himself told tales about. Somebody who should have his own full-length bio, one at the very least.