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Title: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley
ISBN: 0316332259
Author:
Peter Guralnick
Publicate Date: 1995-09-01
Publish: 1995-09-01
List Price: $17.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $9.05
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $4.29
Amazon Merchant Price: $12.23
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Readable but not definitive
`Last Train to Memphis` is volume one of a two volume biography by Peter Guralnick, generally considered one of the best biographies about Elvis available. It describes the years from his birth in 1935 to his mothers death in 1958 and is about 500 pages long (over 1000 pages combined). The first few chapters of this volume are of his early life, but the majority covers the first five years of his professional career from July 1953 to September 1958. It's a very readable and often gripping account by Elvis fan, Peter Guralnick, who wanted to present Elvis as a normal person and not the mythological figure. Guralnick says up front he does not analyze or interpret Elvis but leaves it to the reader to find their own interpretation; right away we know this is not a scholarly book or serious attempt at understanding and interpreting Elvis, but a well-told narrative of the events of his life.
Perhaps the most important question for me in reading this volume is how and why Elvis became successful? Elvis once explained his success in a response to a question asking if he was lucky, "I've been very lucky. I happened to come along at a time in the music business when there was no trend. The people were looking for something different, and I was lucky. I came along just in time." Of course Elvis also had a genius for giving people what they wanted, as the above answer reveals, Elvis was a mirror who could mold himself to be whatever people wanted.
Some of the more interesting stories include his discovery by Sam Phillips. It didn't happen suddenly but only through Elvis' dogged determination hanging around the studio over the course of a year or so before Sam saw the potential in the awkward local kid when he first sang "That's All Right". During those early days it's easy to find oneself doing counter-factual guessing - what if that guy had not fired Elvis, what if Elvis gave up after that rejection, what if Sam was busy that day, etc.. it all seemed so conditional and fragile, history could have easily gone a different direction. It's a great lesson of the nature of luck and determination in the creation of success, one needs both. Elvis was a sort of strange character in high school, perhaps today's "Goths" would be a good comparison - few friends, weird cloths, strange mannerisms and tastes, strange parents. However one thing is clear and that is Elvis had a great deal of natural talent.
I'll be honest, I'm not an Elvis fan. I don't dislike him, just neutral, although after reading this I'm more sympathetic, he just wasn't part of my generation or my parents. There is no doubt he was a major talent, not to mention key figure of 20th century world history, which is why I wanted to learn more about him. I had many questions about his early life and rise to fame which were mostly answered in the first 150 pages or so. After that it became a little tedious reading about all his concert dates, various handlers and the recording industry, and so I stopped reading around page 220, or in 1955. By then Elvis was on the express train there was no question he would be a success, there were too many people invested in him, the machine was gearing up and paving the way for the "rock star" phenomenon. What I missed was the interpretation and analysis by Guralnick to better reveal who Elvis was, he still seems remote to me, but now I have better sense of the events of his life.
Note: there is a wealth of material on YouTube about Elvis including early recordings and rare video before he became famous making it a richer documentary experience when combined with reading the book. Search YouTube for "Elvis 1954".
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2: EXCELLANT
THIS IS AN EXCELLANT BOOK ON ELVIS' LATER YEARS (AFTER GERMANY AND MILITARY SERVICE). WOULD RECOMMEND FOR ALL ELVIS FANS.
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3: Last Train To Memphis
What can i say about this book well written another great by: Peter Guralnick again every Elvis fan needs this in there library. I don't buy just any book that is written about Elvis i only purchase books by authors that is not going to be misleading and tell untrue things just to make the book sell. Mr. Guralnick tells the truth because he researches his material before writing anything about Elvis if you don't have this book you need to purchase it.
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4: Wow! There is so much in this book, it's hard to describe.
I just finished reading this book and am amazed at the insights into Elvis' life that the author showed. He covered a lot of things that have been covered ad nauseum by others yet made it read like a novel. And, he adds so much more detail to the day-to-day life of Elvis that provide a much fuller description of his life. Even reading the footnotes is fascinating.
For a true Elvis fan, this is a must have for your collection. I could hardly put it down and this is not trivial reading, given that the book is more than 500 pages. Mr. Guralinick's 2nd book on Elvis ("Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley) is a must read also.
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5: Be one with Elvis
If you want to step inside the life of Elvis, these are the books. Peter makes it a very personal reading. So much so, that after 2 years I haven't finished reading the second book.
Not because of disinterest, but just because it's so personal. I just wish that the ending could be different.
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