Elvis by the Presleys
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Book Summary Information
Editor: David RitzEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-05-03
ISBN: 0307237419
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Book Reviews of Elvis by the Presleys
Book Review: "Memories... Pressed Between These Pages......"
Summary: 5 Stars
The land of "Elvis Presley Enterprises" (EPE) is usually quite protective of its King. The unspoken rule,( rumor has it ) is "'75 and holding". This catch- phrase refers not only to the "cut-off" year for the PICTURES of Elvis on display at Graceland Mansion; it also refers to the number of pounds, "over 100", that Elvis' image is allowed to be, in any EPE authorized product. So, you won't see any shots, candid or otherwise, of him, during the the last two years of Elvis' life ('76 -- '77)in this Lisa Marie & Priscilla Presley co-- authored/authorized book, either. However, when it comes to being candid,and forthright in the TEXT, composed entirely of interviews, to my delight, the girls the King loved the best-- well, they let it ALL hang out!
For the first time, Lisa Marie Presley shares her memories of Elvis, as "father", in vivid, joyous detail. The way her Daddy descended the staircase in the late afternoons, after he arose and was dressed by his valets, bedecked in Royal Blue velvet shirts, Jet Black shades and Frankly Scarlet Red Love beads, ready to hold Court in either the Living or Jungle room:"You knew he was coming... you'd HEAR him before you saw him!" Lisa Marie recounts the "shooting out" of the T.V. screen ( it offended E.P. because it dared to showcase Robert Goulet crooning "If Ever I Would Leave You..." ); which she found, and STILL finds, "REALLY, Hysterically FUNNY!". She tells tales ranging from the day "Daddy" let her ride her horse INTO the Mansion, (much to Grandma "Dodger's" dismay, since she had to clean up after it) to, sadly, their last day together, August 15, and the last thing he ever SAID to her, in the wee hours of the morning of August 16 (It was, BTW, "Go to bed", because he caught her still awake at almost 3:00am). Elvis' precious "Yeesa" answers every question and subject put to her, no surpise here, even breaking down in tears at one point, while ordering the camera- man to "Stop"-- in her own brutally honest fashion.
The big surprise here is PRISCILLA --- does SHE shed tears? Alas, no; to this day, NO interviewer has ever been able to record Prscilla Presley losing her composure. BUT, Priscilla opens up WAY more than she ever has, and I've seen alot of her interviews. She's always been known as "reserved" or "guarded" in the journalistic circuit- but not here! Maybe because her sister, daughter, and parents were there with her, and giving true, sometimes emotional takes on their memories of Elvis Presley, she decided to let it flow, too-- I don't know; she even includes photo-copies of personal notes (from Graceland's archives)that she wrote to Elvis from Germany, once he was discharged from the Army, and back home in our Country (Elvis had saved them, all those years- awww)- and if you want to know what REALLY happened when Elvis asked her for a "trial separation", you'll find it here. I always thought that, in her auto-biography of life with the King of Rock, she took his request to, basically, "get lost" a little too calmly, in light of the fact that she was seven months pregnant with Lisa; She reveals here, first time ever, the tantrum she threw ("I went storming out of the room.......!"). I was surprised (and quite touched), at her parting comment: "I'll DIE", she reacts firmly, to the question of why she has always so strongly counter-attacked the cruel jokes, and the slanderous rag sheet stories besmirching Elvis' character, "defending my husband."
As to the pictures: they are are brilliant, and in the sharpest focus I've ever seen- I was tempted to cut some out, and frame them- but, logic prevailed. Some included are Elvis' real GOLD PLATED telephone, his personal wallet (along with its contents), and hand-written notes, in Elvis Presley's handwriting. The notes include things like "Memphis Mafia" football plays and diagrams, and photo copies of whole pages of his "spiritual" books, with his personal notes in the margins, and underscoring of his favorite passages.
The ending is sad, pretty much like the real story is. Elvis' last known hand-written note was not to any Memphis Mafia , flesh and blood "man"; they had almost all scattered by this time, anyway, having either been driven off, fired, written negative tell- all books,or just plain back-stabbed him in countless other ways. The letter was addressed to the only man who was with Elvis for the entire ride, the "Man upstairs": "Everybody is gone now..." he wrote, from his penthouse suite at the Hilton- in a note pilfered from his washroom trashcan by a maid and subsequently sold at auction. "I will try to sleep... I don't know WHO I can turn to anymore.. Be still, and know that I AM GOD.. Help me, oh Lord, to know the right thing..."
It was comforting (at least for me) to know that, fundamentally, Elvis never really changed. He started out as a twenty-one year old humble, lonely, God-fearing man who was trying his best to "do right"- and, he went out, twenty-one years later, the same way. This book is so intimate, it TRULY makes you feel close to Elvis- so close,in fact, you want to reach him, touch him, HELP him -- but, oh, Elvis.... we didn't know. We COULDN'T know, because as much as he loved us, his TRUE fans, he never let us see how badly he was hurting. He tried to be flesh- colored steel, for us.
Turning the last page, which is a close-up picture of a lone, age-- dried, red rose, taken from the bouquet that adorned the lid of Elvis Presley's coffin, I found myself saying, "Your fans loved you, Elvis- WHY didn't you turn to us? We would have been there; we would have understood... because you always did the "right thing" by us; that's why we're STILL here...
"Dear Elvis, Thank YOU very much. For the "Good Times".
Summary of Elvis by the Presleys
For the first time, the inside story of legendary entertainer Elvis Presley?s life as a husband, father, son, cousin, friend, spiritual seeker ? Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, and other family members, come together to memorialize our greatest star in this stunningly illustrated companion to a major television special and longer-form documentary.Elvis by the Presleys is a uniquely fascinating treasure and serves as the essential companion to a major television special on CBS and, from Sony BMG, a longer-form documentary DVD and its related CD. Culled from hours of new family interviews conducted for the television special and DVD (much of it appearing exclusively in this book), enhanced with Elvis quotes, and illustrated with private family photographs and images of personal memorabilia from the archives of Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Elvis by the Presleys is an extraordinary document about an extraordinary figure.
In all, the book is the compelling result of a historic gathering of voices of those who not only witnessed from the wings Elvis Presley?s public life, but also knew the superstar out of the spotlight. His former wife Priscilla Presley, their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, his cousin Patsy Presley Geranen, Priscilla?s parents, and members of the combined and extended families sensitively and candidly share their intimate perspective on the real person, while at the same time celebrating one of America?s greatest stars.
As Priscilla Presley puts it in Elvis by the Presleys, ?Who can think of Elvis without thinking of Graceland?? Here Graceland is seen as a teeming family retreat, where the kitchen was the center of operations; where tag football games were played in the yard; where folks drove golf carts up and down the hills; and where Elvis spent many of his happiest times.
Elvis by the Presleys reveals life at Graceland like never before. We witness the arc of his love affair with Priscilla; Elvis as a father to his adored Lisa Marie; his obsessions and passions; and the strength of his musical legacy, which continues unabated to this day. There are Christmas cards here, too; contracts and invoices; selections from Lisa Marie?s childhood scrapbook; and even a picture of the champagne bottle (signed) from Elvis and Priscilla?s wedding.
Here, now, is the tumultuous story of the life of a lovely yet complex man; a portrait of the career of a brilliantly accomplished yet often frustrated artist; an insider?s tale of enduring love, related with warmth and unguarded candor . . . and a story told the way only a family can tell it.
2-hour CBS special airs May 2005
4-hour Sony BMG documentary DVDand its companion CD in stores May 2005
The DVD is a longer-form presentation of the footage edited for the special. Both the special and the DVD are comprised of the family interviews, private home movies, performance footage and interviews, and photography ? some of the material rare, some never before available to the public.
The CD of Elvis?s music features Elvis classics, hidden treasures, rarities and family favorites.
Think of Elvis by the Presleys as the ultimate souvenir guide from your tour of Graceland. The 256 pages are packed with family photos, reminisces, and still-life photography of Elvis's possessions. The book is also a companion volume to the multimdedia event that brings the personal side of Elvis to the masses from the recollections of just six family members: wife Priscilla; daughter Lisa Marie; cousin Patsy; along with Priscilla's mom, dad, and sister. Many of the words written here were not in the TV show but one assumes what will make this a keeper are the photos. Along with candid shots, there are stills of the home movies seen on the CBS special (and subsequent--and expanded--DVD), and the still life shots by Henry Leutwyler get your mind racing. Here one can dwell on Elvis's guitar and think of all the music that came out of it. You can spy his phonograph with the record that was on it when he died, his wallet, an autographed Bible, his first contract, a hand-drawn football play, even his FBI badge along with pristine views inside Graceland. Some shots seem like filler (a boot, "with the original mud," Lisa Marie's crayons), but the overall impression is you are viewing pieces from the Museum of Cool, circa 1970. Several of Pricilla's passages and some of the images allude to Elvis's dark side: the massive reference book on pills and three guns are shown (plus the TV Elvis shot) looking like items from a murder investigation. Ultimately, do we really learn anything new about Elvis? Perhaps not, but there are several segments where Priscilla (the main voice) draws us in with her emotional recollections. The book (and program) is never better than telling the courtship in Germany when a homesick solider found an older-than-her-age 9th grader. Elvis by the Presleys does not try to be compressive; it succeeds as a warmer, more heartfelt tribute to The King. --Doug Thomas
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