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Elvis
In Elvis, the definitive work on the man and his career, noted music critic Dave Marsh delves into every aspect of Presley's life and art. Presley embodies the heart of American pop culture and Marsh looks at the music - from its roots in gospel and country to its revitalization of those forms. With compassion and penetrating insight, Marsh examines Elvis's trajectory - from poor country boy to superstar, from faded has-been to his triumphant comeback, and to his ultimate decline and tragic end.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 25, 2014
Someone else summed it up perfectly. "If you are a fan, read it."
But there are a lot of other ifs inside that simple statement.
If you can believe that Elvis Presley was as pure as the driven snow, Gandhi with a guitar, or the Virgin Mary in sideburns.
If you can believe that everything bad that ever happened to him in his entire life was the result of someone else being out to get him.
If you can believe that the United States government had nothing better to do than crucify twitching rock and rollers at the height of the Cold War.
If you can believe that loving Elvis is in itself some sort of heroic accomplishment, comparable to serving in the military or obtaining an education through years of hard work and study.
If you can believe that Dave Marsh believes all of this for entirely unselfish reasons and is not merely seeking absolution for all the unacknowledged failures of his own rather unremarkable life.
Then this is the greatest book on Elvis Presley ever written.
And there are lots of pictures.
But there are a lot of other ifs inside that simple statement.
If you can believe that Elvis Presley was as pure as the driven snow, Gandhi with a guitar, or the Virgin Mary in sideburns.
If you can believe that everything bad that ever happened to him in his entire life was the result of someone else being out to get him.
If you can believe that the United States government had nothing better to do than crucify twitching rock and rollers at the height of the Cold War.
If you can believe that loving Elvis is in itself some sort of heroic accomplishment, comparable to serving in the military or obtaining an education through years of hard work and study.
If you can believe that Dave Marsh believes all of this for entirely unselfish reasons and is not merely seeking absolution for all the unacknowledged failures of his own rather unremarkable life.
Then this is the greatest book on Elvis Presley ever written.
And there are lots of pictures.
May 5, 2014
The first Elvis bio I read, it still sticks in my memory. Marsh's tone can be annoying, but his ideas that Sam Phillips couldn't afford the distribution costs of a major hit, and that Elvis' first recording session was still (at that time) undiscovered, were spot-on. He also debunks myths of the "Million Dollar Quartet" sessions, theorizing that Marilyn Keisker probably threaded the tape machine the made that recording possible.
May 4, 2021
The first of the essential Elvis books and still my favorite. Guralnick's books eschew criticisn for straight biography, Marcus' Elvis writing eschews bio for pure criticism--Marsh's Elvis is a grippin, insightful blend of both. And it has pretty pictures.
April 5, 2013
If you area fan read it
November 15, 2022
A book about Elvis Presley should not be boring and I was a bit bored with this one. I was given this book by my parents when I was a teenager. I don’t remember what I thought when I read it then. It was so bogged down with record making details and which music producer worked with which artist. I wanted to know about Elvis. One of the most interesting things about him is that he started out in life as a twin. I like that his mother gifted him a guitar instead of the bicycle he wanted and it made all the difference in his life.
In a performance in Jacksonville Florida, for the first time, he had his shirt, jacket and even his shoes ripped off by screaming teenage girls...The sensuality of his stage show...began to strike sparks...passion smoldered; occasionally it burst into flame. Overnight heartthrob. Unruly, lip curling, hips shaking, knees swiveling. Love it all.
“Elvis snaps into “Heartbreak Hotel.” He owns the song and the crowd immediately; the audience is stunned. This isn’t so much an act as an expose of the emptiness not only of most entertainment but of most lives. In the process of watching him, lives are changed."
I was too young at the time to understand that the movies he made were meant to humiliate Elvis and to try to put him in his so-called place. “Elvis was handled like goofy, an expendable dummy who could be cloned and turned into whatever sort of dimwitted goon his masters demanded.”
In 1963 The Beatles were his first real competition, a threat to his popularity. Some may think it is blasphemous (like my brother gasping in horror) but I never got into the Beatles. I liked them but Elvis was for me.
Elvis viewed singing as a job, using his talent as a way to make money. “If Elvis possessed a single uncomplicated goal in life, it was to become an unignorable man. If he had a straight forward, easily explainable reason for his long hair, his pink shirts and flashy suits, for his Cadillacs and mansions and the huge rings now adorning his fingers, it was his unquenchable desire for recognition. He could not bear the thought of anonymity.” Mission accomplished.
His Comeback description: "Radiant." As a kid I was too young to realize what was happening to Elvis, the way he was being held back and condemned and that the comeback was initially supposed to be a Christmas program. He defied the powers that be and made it his own.
“What Elvis Presley's story really proves is that all dreams become nightmares unless they’re carefully nurtured.”
"Elvis the pelvis"—he gave a rare public expression of bitterness “it’s one of the most childish expressions I ever heard coming’ from an adult.”
In a performance in Jacksonville Florida, for the first time, he had his shirt, jacket and even his shoes ripped off by screaming teenage girls...The sensuality of his stage show...began to strike sparks...passion smoldered; occasionally it burst into flame. Overnight heartthrob. Unruly, lip curling, hips shaking, knees swiveling. Love it all.
“Elvis snaps into “Heartbreak Hotel.” He owns the song and the crowd immediately; the audience is stunned. This isn’t so much an act as an expose of the emptiness not only of most entertainment but of most lives. In the process of watching him, lives are changed."
I was too young at the time to understand that the movies he made were meant to humiliate Elvis and to try to put him in his so-called place. “Elvis was handled like goofy, an expendable dummy who could be cloned and turned into whatever sort of dimwitted goon his masters demanded.”
In 1963 The Beatles were his first real competition, a threat to his popularity. Some may think it is blasphemous (like my brother gasping in horror) but I never got into the Beatles. I liked them but Elvis was for me.
Elvis viewed singing as a job, using his talent as a way to make money. “If Elvis possessed a single uncomplicated goal in life, it was to become an unignorable man. If he had a straight forward, easily explainable reason for his long hair, his pink shirts and flashy suits, for his Cadillacs and mansions and the huge rings now adorning his fingers, it was his unquenchable desire for recognition. He could not bear the thought of anonymity.” Mission accomplished.
His Comeback description: "Radiant." As a kid I was too young to realize what was happening to Elvis, the way he was being held back and condemned and that the comeback was initially supposed to be a Christmas program. He defied the powers that be and made it his own.
“What Elvis Presley's story really proves is that all dreams become nightmares unless they’re carefully nurtured.”
"Elvis the pelvis"—he gave a rare public expression of bitterness “it’s one of the most childish expressions I ever heard coming’ from an adult.”
January 19, 2025
This really is just a long essay about Elvis Presley from cradle to grave, but a very well written one.
There are many pages of photos that are only in black and white. Most are of private moments with friends and family.
There's a great discography and bibliography at the back that is now very out of date.
Elvis Presley was a huge cultural phenomena. I don't think anyone born after his death could understand how huge. This book is a great way to learn about him. It is hardly definitive but it is recommended.
There are many pages of photos that are only in black and white. Most are of private moments with friends and family.
There's a great discography and bibliography at the back that is now very out of date.
Elvis Presley was a huge cultural phenomena. I don't think anyone born after his death could understand how huge. This book is a great way to learn about him. It is hardly definitive but it is recommended.
May 15, 2017
For serious Elvis fans only! Although this book is mostly comprised of photographs, I really liked how this book takes Elvis seriously as an artist. Dave Marsh is a great writer!
January 19, 2024
After watching the 2022 Elvis movie, I thought that reading this book would give me more details about his life. I was wrong. It is written by a music critic and so that is his focus and barely mentions Elvis’ mother, his marriage, or his manager.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews