Untold Gold: The Stories Behind Elvis's #1 Hits [Paperback]

Ace Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

The stories behind the luck, inspiration, and timing that brought hits like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "In the Ghetto," and "A Little Less Conversation" to life are told in this look at some of the world's most popular hits. Fans will be given the inside story of how these and other of the best known rock songs were written, why they were recorded, and how they became hits. Along the way, they will meet and get to know the men and women who wrote songs for the "King," follow the route these songs took to Elvis, and understand how he reshaped the songs to fit his vision. The author spent countless hours interviewing songwriters, digging through dusty charts, and listening to demos in order to uncover the great stories he tells here. Each song in this book is a commentary on where the world was and what was making it tick, making these songs as much a glimpse into the life of America as into the life of Elvis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Remarkable true stories behind many of Elvis’ greatest singles unfold." -- Memphis Downtowner

About the Author

Ace Collins is the author of many “behind the songs” books, including Hymns That Have Inspired America; Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue; and The Stories Behind the Traditions of Christmas. His best-remembered nonfiction work is Lassie: A Dog’s Life, which was the basis for a PBS special and an ABC primetime Christmas special. Collins has appeared on such television shows as CBS This Morning, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, and The Today Show. He has written magazine features for more than 100 publications and has won the Angel Award of Excellence for the nation’s best inspirational magazine feature. He is also a three-time winner of the Golden Quill Award. He is the feature writer for Texas Music Magazine and the editor of World Evangelism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556525656
• ISBN-13: 978-1556525650
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,928,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ace Collins is the writer of more than sixty books, including several bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, The Cathedrals, and Lassie: A Dog's Life. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, He continues to publish several new titles each year, including a series of novels, the first of which is Farraday Road. Ace has appeared on scores of television shows, including CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stories behind the #1 hits, August 2, 2005

By 

G. J. Mc Donnell "caveelvis" (Sydney,Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Untold Gold: The Stories Behind Elvis's #1 Hits (Paperback)

I was surprised by this detailed look at the full story behind all of Elvis's #1 hits. Each chapter gives a full account and its a truly facinating read! Thoroughly recommended book.