Good Rockin' Tonight: Twenty Years on the Road and on the Town With Elvis

by Joe Esposito, Elena Oumano

A profile of Elvis by his army companion, road manager, and personal confidante describes their whirlwind years of concerts, parties, women, and Hollywood, addressing previously unanswered questions about Presley's personal life and death. Reprint.

Genres: Biography

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 1994

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read many books about Elvis so wasn't really expecting anything new. But then I realized, most of the books I read were written by the woman in his life. This one, being written by one of Elvis's best friends, gives a different perspective. And since this was written decades after Elvis's death, Joe seems comfortable writing about Elvis's affairs and drug use. But since he was so close to Elvis, I feel like there were all sorts of stories he could have told. Not a bad book, just felt he was holding back a lot.

[Shannon 🖤 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars ⭐️
It’s been awhile since I read this and I was very naive back then. I’ve since learned many of the things Joe stated in this book were untrue. I try to respect everybody Elvis had in his life, but at the end of the day, I really do not think Joe did nor have Elvis’ best interest in mind. I feel like he saw Elvis as a cash cow and not as real friend. I do recommend picking this up if you’re an Elvis fan, but not as a factual & informative read. If anything, it’s just an entertaining read.

[Drasevia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two days after reading this book, I'm giving one star less for a few reasons:
- the book was not written in an engaging and interesting way
- there was really a lot of important information missing and some of it was even false
- Joe was definitely not likable to me and seemed like a conceited, calculating person who didn't really love Elvis, just used him like many others
- overall there was also a great lack of self-reflection. He didn't hesitate to describe Elvis in really bad colors, but Joe's own addiction, bad behavior towards women, divorce, etc.. were always mentioned in barely a single sentence

In conclusion, I will say two things:
- I am really disappointed and sad now.
- Books by Larry Geller or even Priscilla (who I don't think is a good person) were significantly better and I will gladly return to them, which is definitely not the case with “Good Rockin’ Tonight.”
3/10

[J.J. Lair · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tough one to judge. Someone who was so close to Presley gets events out of order. It could be to complete an episode or theme, he included events that happen much later than what he started talking about. He gives exact dates of somethings and gets others wrong. I don’t get it.
Esposito was seen by many as a parasite taker and this book by him doesn’t change that. He uses Presley to get girls, even after he’s married. He doesn’t stop and say “this is wrong.” Presley did drugs. We know that. He passed Presley marijuana and LSD. The LSD was to enhance spiritualism but it seems gratuitous.
The last part of the book was drugs drugs drugs. He claims that Red West tried to stop some of the drugs, but Esposito didn’t.
He gives a few lines about the Desert Storm concert, but it’s brief. He gives a few paragraphs about Led Zeppelin.
At the time of initial release some of this may have been new so I don’t know how to judge the Zeppelin story.
Overall Esposito is still a parasite. I read this quick. It’s passable.

[Sarah O]

being a elvis enthusiast and expert I was always skeptical about reading this one but I enjoyed this one, very honest information for the most part give or take a few quips I know as untrue all in all he was Elvis's right hand man after Gene Smith. Now on to Elvis and Anita ....

[Robert Collette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by Joe Esposito who was friends with Elvis for 20 years and had a hand in pretty much anything and everything having to do with him over that time, I must admit I was expecting something a bit more substantial in this book. Yes there are details I haven't read in other books on Elvis before but overall there wasn't any real revelations in this. I assume this comes from Esposito's desire to protect his employer and friend in death as he tried to in life. What I really don't understand is the author's defense of Tom Parker. I'd think enough time had passed when this book came out that Esposito could have looked back with a less jaundiced eye and seen Parker in the bad as well as good light he bathes him in.
Overall it's an entertaining and easy read and if you're an Elvis fan you should probably hear the "official" version of the story from the man who was with him in the army, through the movie years and Vegas, right up to the end. But, I'm sure the author was holding back. I didn't want salacious stories or sordid details of despair or depravity but I'm sure there were many conversations that would explain some of the mindset, the creativity and charisma of, in my opinion the greatest entertainer of all time. For the lack of inclusion of any of these, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

[Chet · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I'm late to the Elvis Presley party, having been inspired by watching the recent HBO special The Searcher. Elvis was my parents music, not mine, although I knew the hits (Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, etc.). Since watching The Searcher I've dug a little deeper into the Elvis music catalog and his life story. This book was a good insight into the private life of Elvis Presley. I could have done without the list of girlfriends who Elvis cheated on but unfortunately that was part of who he was. His relationship with the Colonel fascinates me and prior to reading this book, I wondered why Elvis didn't challenge the Colonel more when he was making some of those really bad movies in the 60's and not performing live; after reading, I think Elvis was content to being a star and having his Memphis Mafia be at his beck and call, fetching woman and whatever else he needed. The author (RIP) goes into Elvis' drug use in detail which explains alot of his behavior and unfortunate death. Some trashy passages keep this book from being 4 stars but this in an interesting insight from someone on the inside.

[Merceda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was written by someone who was close to Elvis since his days in the army. He gave good descriptions on a good deal of Elvis' life and what happened behind the scenes with the Colonel and traveling. (I still have issues with the Colonel and Elvis trying to get overseas, and doing star attraction movies. Granted, he likely would have placed 2nd on the billing for "A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand as first, but it would have shown that he had star power to do more than the flaky movies he was doing in the past. Also, he should not have been doing so many shows over such short periods of time. I think the Colonel pushed him way past his abilities to live a decent life. I also think that Elvis could have been convinced that he didn't need his guns if he traveled overseas. And he could have gotten his drugs overseas." Elvis just wouldn't push anyone who was helping him.

[Pam King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a life long Elvis fan in a family full of Elvis fans this was my first read from one of Elvis’ “guys”. If you’re a fan then you are not surprised at some of the escapades untrue or not.
I rated 2 stars because the writing wasn’t great. Often other peoples words, interviews, what not were quoted which is not fitting for a memoir.
Also very cringe that Joe mentioned former friends writing a book and betraying Elvis for all the stories they told…how Elvis reacted and was upset over it and worried about what his daughter might think reading about his escapades…And Yet here Joe is…telling all the stories that Elvis would’ve entrusted a true friend not to tell.
As a fan of Elvis it is an alright, easy read. I do not recommend it if you are looking for a biography type read.

[Charles James · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the many books by friends of Elvis . This seems no better or worse than many of them . The stance is more pro the Colonel than many .Does not give the impression of being interested in the music , obviously a close friend. Appeared top be primarily involved in the organisation of tours .

[Vincenzo Ridente · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book as it was told by Joe Esposito the associate who was always there with Elvis seeing the good times and the bad times the chapter about his death was very emotional though .if your one of the millions of fans of Elvis you won't be disappointed with this book

[Hjörtur Ingvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Icelandic edition, Kóngurinn Elvis, Reykjavík. Spássía 1995. Translation: Þórdís Lilja Gunnarsdóttir.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Þurfti að lesa fyrir verkefni hún var allt í lægi

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written book with a nuanced approach to Elvis and the Colonel that is different from other books, although I am still convinced that the Colonel did not care about Elvis and was very influential in his decline and ultimate death. That said, Elvis should have stood up for himself more. Thought provoking and well worth reading.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is probably one of the closest ones to the really Elvis story. For me it was just the same thing over and over again to fill the pages. For being with Elvis for so many year I thought there would be more tales of their times together not just about all the woman they had over the years mix in with maybe two or three really personal story's.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read just about all the books about Elvis by members of the Memphis Mafia and others. I think Joe Esposito's book probably captures Elvis the best. He loved Elvis as a good friend of many years but he has no illusions about him.

[Daniel Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave a great picture of the Elvis experience from behind the scenes perspective. It was of course sad watching the decline of the King but I felt Joe gave a very honest explanation of it all. This was also the first time I've ever heard positive opinions of the Colonel.