Elvis (2e, Tr) [Paperback]

Dave Marsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

"Before there was Elvis, there was nothing". -- John Lennon
-- August 1997 marks the 20th anniversary of Elvis's death
-- Contains over 200 photos
-- Features a new introduction by the author

The King lives on in this definitive biography, now in a new edition, by veteran rock writer Dave Marsh. Here are Presley's life and art, laid out and examined from every angle. His story was a grand American symphony gone sour, from his birth, in a humble shack in Tupelo, MS, to his drug-hastened demise in a luxurious Memphis mansion called Graceland.

Elvis contains enough photos to satisfy the hungriest of Presley fans and music historians. Here is the very young boy in overalls with Mom and Dad, already displaying the famous bedroom eyes and sensuous lips. His unprecedented rise to popularity as a musician and entertainer is documented in countless images: signing autographs for anxious female fans; at the piano and at the microphone, guitar in hand. In planes, motels, on TV, in concert, in the army, in love, and in marriage -- it's all captured in these pages.

A complete discography, filmography, and bibliography on works by and about Presley round out Marsh's insightful and incisive text.

"Handsome ... an intelligent and generous appreciation ... critical and sympathetic". -- New York Times Book Review

"A beautiful book ... exceptionally well written". -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"Opens new avenues of thought on Elvis's work ... should not be missed". -- Baltimore Sun

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Elvis Presley, the kid from Tupelo, Mississippi, who paid four dollars to press a demo record as a birthday present for his mom; Elvis Presley, the rock-and-roll pioneer whose pelvic gyrations drove his legions of fans wild and his outspoken critics crazy; Elvis Presley, the soldier, the husband and father, the movie star, and the legend. All of these images are collected by Dave Marsh in his aptly titled book Elvis. Conveying the human being behind the icon often proves a difficult task, but Marsh's text is rife with well-researched facts and insightful observations that, coupled with the rich collection of photographs they accompany, deepen readers' understanding and appreciation of the King. The index containing a comprehensive bibliography, discography, and filmography is a solid resource, making Marsh's Elvis as informative as it is entertaining. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560251182
• ISBN-13: 978-1560251187
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 7.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,165,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Elvis Book, May 31, 2000

By 

C. Manson (Destin, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elvis (2e, Tr) (Paperback)

As compelling as the two Guralnick books are, my favorite is this sprawling, wonderfully illustrated biography highlighted by Mr. Marsh's knowledgeable text. His list of song highlights in the back of this invaluable volume serves as a great "crash course" in the King's discography. Dave Marsh is a great fan of Elvis, but the book does not sink into gushy fan love letter stuff, nor does it go the Albert Goldman route. If I could award six stars, I would.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SECOND BEST ELVIS BIOGRAPHY, October 11, 2004

By 

B Ardell Young (Camden, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elvis (2e, Tr) (Paperback)

I read this book when it was published in the 1980s and for over ten years, I felt it was the best book about Elvis Presley.

However, Peter Guralnick produced a great piece of work with "Last Train" and "Careless Love" that captured the essence of Elvis that had been missing from every type of media that attempted to tell Elvis Presley's story.

Marsh's book doesn't fare well when compared to either book but it was the first serious work that, for the most part, was able to correctly put Presley's life on paper.

3.0 out of 5 stars Another Elvis book?, December 30, 2011

By 

Joseph Cerisano 111 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Elvis (Hardcover)

What can be said about another Elvis book. Well, it's another Elvis book. I love Dave Marsh's writing and own his other books. It's well done BUT another Elvis book? You won't wast your money BUT another Elvis book?