Elvisin Print

Recollections from those who knew him then, gathered by Bill Burk and forming an excellent trilogy with "The Tupelo Years" and "The Sun Years". Well worth it!

Recollections from those who knew him then, gathered by Bill Burk and forming an excellent trilogy with "The Tupelo Years" and "The Humes Years". This is perhaps less successful than the other two parts of the trilogy, but together they form an excellent insight into an otherwise murky period.

Recollections from those who knew him then, gathered by Bill Burk and forming an excellent trilogy with "The Humes Years" and "The Sun Years". Well worth it!

Why isn't this book better known? Why has Jim Black apparently not written any more books about Elvis? Excellent review of Elvis's rise to fame, with plenty of quotes from those who were there at the time and richly illustrated in both colour and black-and-white (and not limited to the usual run-of-the mill pics, either!). Also has pics of contemporary newspaper articles and advertisements. A small blunder with a clipping of the Jordanaires, indicated as being at the time of the subject of the book, but actually from about 1963, but otherwise a great book, clearly written by a fan who knows what he's writing about.

Interesting study of Elvis's life and times up to and concentrating on his years with Sun and his first year with RCA (when his Sun recordings were still used). Relies perhaps rather too much on unsubstantiated reports from Elvis's pre-fame friends (one Ronald Smith is a prime example), who seem to know just a bit too much to be believable. Pity, too about the misspelling of Tom Parker's real name (Van Kujik, instead of Van Kuijk -- the man was Dutch, for heaven's sake) and the idea that England and the UK are one and the same. If nothing else, the book demonstrates the hard work and effort that Elvis had to put into his so-called meteoric rise to fame.

1955 to 1958, well presented with some "supposed" dialogue and good photos. Very readable and contains some good information and interesting descriptions of early appearances. Good book!

Very good text, though partially fantasised (some conversations have been made up). Covers Elvis's career up to the army, with special reference to his musical influences.