Reviews (1)

Avoid at all cost!
This book contains more errors than Pierce's "The Ultimate Elvis" and many errors are simply inexcusable as they are to do with the films that are basically the subject of this so-called "encyclopedia." There are even errors in the plots and the character and actor names! Information about recordings is even more error-filled and further information one would expect to find in a book with this title is simply non-existant -- the vast majority of Elvis's co-stars are ignored and yet there are entries for Gracie Fields and Mae West. Film synopses are reasonable, the rest (including many of the illustrations) is rubbish! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

the boy who dared to rock
paul lichter has written the greatest elvis books and this one stands the test of time. a true classic.

A Definitive waste of time and money
my title says it all.
peace! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Does the author have a secret message for his readers?
The pictures in this book are great. A must-see for any Elvis fan. It includes a timeline of the King's life, and a discography and filmography from "the rebel years." I enjoyed the photographs very much; they give a lot of insight into the King's early performances, although Mr. Bangs' introductary essay is so crude that I cannot imagine his reason (other than for a financial profit) for compiling these photos. The captions for the pictures are informative and overall, this book is good, if you don't mind the author's disrespect toward his subject. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Read, but with caution.
I am a 59 year old Elvis Tribute Artist, but I am also a Christian theologian with a Ph. D. This book is worth reading and has many good insights into Elvis' spiritual journey.
However, I find it dishonest in omitting or discrediting what many other good authors have said about Elvis' daily life. There is little mention of Elvis'profanity and lusting and even his pills. There is absolutely no mention of Rex Humbard or J. D. Sukner's influence on his life in the Christian vein of his spirituality. The author's view is that of Larry Geller an the praise of New Age meditatiion. Although Elvis did meditate, he did abandon many of the other disciplines the religion taught. I was surprised that Jess Stearn admitted that Elvis' focus on the last weeks was not on reincarnatiion, but on the resurrection. It is a shame that J. D. Smuner opinions (his admitted best friend for the last 7 years) are not included. Therefore, we cannot draw any conclusions about the real Elvis from this book. Beyond his faults, I think that Elvis truly believed that Jesus was Deity and that he had a mission to benefit mankind. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amazing Tid Bits
Gene Smith has the real scoop on Elvis Presley's life's accounts. From rags to ritches; lost to found; and shame to glory-- Elvis goes through it all through his cousin, Gene Smith's eyes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A new look at Elvis
I found this book to be a warm and endearing look at the early years of Elvis, thru the eyes of one of his neighbors. It was nice to read a book that wanted to share a personal experience of Elvis as a next door neighbor. It revealed a warm and friendly look at Elvis as Sara Erwin looked back on her experience as a teenager living next door to Elvis.This book is an easy and interesting read.

A warm and unpretentious book from a Graceland neighbor
This is a wonderful book about the days before Elvis Presley purchased Graceland when the author and her friends rode their horses on the Graceland property and stabled their horses there. After Elvis purchased the property, he would stop by to visit awhile with the young people. Eventually a fence was put up and Elvis's fame kept him from taking part in the neighborly things he had enjoyed so much. Today there are 6 rescued horses in the Graceland pasture in addition to Ebony's Double, the last horse owned by Elvis. Sara continues to live in the same house she did then, the property of which abuts the Graceland property.

As Sara writes in the first paragraph of the Epilogue: "The young rising rock star I knew in 1957 had become a very different person by the time he died twenty years later in 1977. Through the 1960's and 70's events in his life made him a sometime neighbor to me on his infrequent visits home. He lived in California and enjoyed a home in Hawaii. Yet when his body and soul needed a respite from the tumult of life as an entertainment legend, he always came home to Graceland to refresh his spirit. He had bought Graceland with his mother's comfort in mind. Perhaps when he returned home he embraced those memories of the pride she felt for her son." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My Favorite Elvis Book
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. ... Read more

Book Description

Dispelling the Myths, written by Todd Rheingold and published by Believe In The Dream Publications, is an engaging and provocative study of the socio-cultural origins of rock 'n' roll. The phenomenon that is rock 'n' roll resulted from a constant and consistent intermingling of black and white cultures; resistant, but nevertheless blending and borrowing and combining over many years within the crucible that is the American South, to produce a singularly and uniquely American art form.Examining the careers of rock 'n' roll's early practitioners, most notably that of Elvis Presley, the book manages to cut through the hyperbole and sensationalism that has characterized so many other books on the subject, by communicating an understanding of Southern history and black culture.Paving the way for a number of scholarly works on rock 'n' roll and Elvis Presley, Dispelling the Myths considers and confronts, among other issues, Presley's alleged racism, and supposed exploitation and imitation of black artists. The work has been embraced by educational institutions around the country, including the University of Iowa, the University of Memphis, and the New York Public Library and Country Music Hall of Fame.

Author Todd Rheingold continues to lecture on the book's subject matter, and was invited to speak at the University of Mississippi's first international academic conference on Elvis Presley in 1995. His work has become a part of the curriculum at the University of Iowa for a class on popular culture, taught by renowned professor and cultural historian, Peter Nazareth. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ELVIS: THE HOAX LIVES ON!
This book shows nothing in the way of refuting the FACT that Elvis was indeed a STEALER of Black music and a filthy racist. Louie Jordan and Wynonie Harris (both of whom were Black) were doing Rock n' Roll well before it was even labled as such. True Emperors like Jordan and Harris (not to mention a bevy of other neglected musical greats)leave behind a legacy that can only furhter damage Elvis' chance of maintaing his ill-gotten status as the years forever countdown to the future. The myth of Elvis being the King of Rock n' Roll is as sad and grotesquely bloated as a certain corpse that was discovered on a toilet back in the late seventies.

Reality sucks, doesn't it?

This book is wonderful!!
For many years now,there have been false beliefs that Elvis was racist,stole black music,etc.I always knew it wasn't true,but wanted to read a positive book that set the record straight about Elvis' roots.This is a book that everyone should read,especially those who think Elvis was racist and stole black music.Of course,there are those folks who wouldn't think any differently,anyway and those people are blind sheep,who can not think for themselves.I am so grateful to Todd Rheingold for writing such a wonderful,positive,truthful book about Elvis.I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Elvis Presley from a different perspective
This is a well documented book about Elvis Presley's influence on black music and musicians - and the influence of black music and musicians on Elvis. There have been accusations that Elvis was a racist but nowhere can anyone prove this. To the contrary, Todd Rheingold has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Elvis had great respect for black music and musicians. He was brought up hearing the gospel music in local black churches and he loved it. Some of his greatest music is the gospel music which came from the black south. Todd has included quotes from many black musicians who had nothing but good to say about Elvis and reaffirming that Elvis did not steal their music as has been stated by some. If you want to look beyond the usual stories told about Elvis and concentrate on a very important and too often dismissed part of Elvis's life, read this book. In my opinion, it is one of the best books ever written about Elvis. Todd Rheingold is to be commended for putting his talent toward writing a thoughtful and detailed portrayal of a young Elvis who carried his love of black music throughout his life.

Dispelling The Myths
We are all aware of books such as Goldman's "Elvis," the bodyguard's "Elvis: What Happened?" and, somewhat higher up the scale, Guralnick's combined epic "Last Train To Memphis" and "Careless Love." Numerous other books about Elvis have received plenty of publicity and have been successful to some degree. Given the apparently never-ending output of Elvis literature, it is, of course, not surprising that not all titles are equally successful. However, it is unfortunate that some exceptionally good Elvis books are almost ignored by the fans. There are undoubtedly numerous reasons for this, but the two most significant are firstly that the author is not backed by the marketing support offered to the likes of Guralnick, and secondly that the author does not have a name that attracts the attention of the media. Such a fate seems to have overcome a book called "Dispelling The Myths," by Todd Rheingold: although published in 1995, this work has had but little success, so perhaps I can awaken some interest for it in this short article. The author, Todd Rheingold, is a relatively young Elvis fan (well, he is to me, anyway!), having been born in New Jersey in 1966 (on the 4th July, no less!). As a young boy, already, Todd was an Elvis fan, and became further interested in the music of the 50s and early sixties after seeing the film, "American Graffiti." Elvis's death made a big impression on the then 11 year-old Todd, who slowly became as much interested in Elvis the man as in his music. After graduating, Todd visited Memphis in 1984 and a growing Elvis obsession led him to actually live in Memphis for a time in 1987 and then to go on and write "Dispelling The Myths." In the great library of Elvis books, "Dispelling The Myths" is most unusual: it does not give the umpteenth account of Elvis's life; it does not list Elvis's concert appearances; it does not provide a chronology of Elvis's recordings; it does not expose new girl-friends, love-children, or as yet unknown spiritual practises. Indeed, the book looks at a very sensitive aspect of Elvis and Elvis myth; let Todd explain himself: "Every person of color I have ever met believes, or has heard, that Elvis was a racist and ripped off black people. The white liberals of society believe it too. It was time for someone to take this seriously, and stop burying their heads in the sand like Graceland and most of the Elvis scholars." To be quite honest, as a European Elvis fan, I was not fully aware of this issue in connection with Elvis. Having been interested in Elvis and R&R for many years, I knew that Elvis had championed black performers in statements, had been photographed with them, and counted many among his friends. I was surprised, therefore to learn that a negative aura also surrounded Elvis in this respect. Todd's book carefully examines the origins of a racist statement that Elvis is supposed to have made and his supposed imitation of black performers; in addition, numerous disparaging remarks about Elvis, regarding the preferential treatment he is supposed to have received as an artist are also scrutinised. In the course of these investigations, the reader is presented with brief looks at some of the great R&R performers, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Little Richard, and is given a real insight into the socio-cultural upheavals brought about by this form of music. Todd makes it clear that Elvis admired many black artists and was, indeed, influenced by several. He goes to great pains, however, to show that the acceptance and development of an influence is not the same as slavishly copying and plagiarism. He further argues against the contention that Elvis was racially prejudiced by citing numerous instances of Elvis helping non-whites and by reproducing statements to the contrary by both black and white acquaintances of Elvis. "Dispelling The Myths" not only succeeds in its aim to "clear" Elvis of accusations of racism, it also provides useful information about the context in which Elvis grew as a performer, at a time before mass media support and huge publicity campaigns and when a white man who moved and sang like a black man was frowned upon. That Elvis, because of this latter aspect, was, and still is, regarded with suspicion by the black community, is, after some consideration, perhaps not as surprising as I first thought. A book like "Dispelling The Myths" deserves success in order to allay these suspicions. It is clear, then, that "Dispelling The Myths" is something different! So why has it failed to be a success? Well, the points I mentioned above are certainly relevant: Todd Rheingold is not a "name" in either the Elvis publishing world specifically, or the pop-music publishing world in general, so little or no marketing or publicity has been available. In addition, the title does not attract the immediate attention of Elvis fans as it does not actually mention Elvis! Furthermore, the cover, although featuring a stunning drawing by Betty Harper of numerous R&R stars, including Elvis, neither mentions Elvis's name, nor gives the impression that the book is primarily about Elvis. And dare I propose that the rather sensitive subject matter has perhaps deterred fan clubs from recommending the book.

David Neale email: david.neale@euronet.be Copyright August 1999 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

everything about elvis
it was really good and i hope everyone will read it! it is all the information u could imagine about elvis presley and elvis fans will just love it. i know i did! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Elvis has left the building and so did Howard ! TCB
I was one of the people that worked with Howard DeWitt on this book project and I loaned him access to my countless Elvis pictures and photos in exchange for a copy of this book which I never received. After reading the book, there are several typing errors, not to mention the fact that Howard seems to be his own Best Critic. Save your money on this dry and boring book and spend it on a good steak. Sincerely, Rockin' Robin

I was fontunate enough over the years to see Elvis in concert 72 times from Feb. 1970 through Dec. 1976 mostly in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, but also Oakland and San Francisco. Over the years Elvis began to remember who I was and one night in Las Vegas as the band started to play Polk Salad Annie, Elvis walked over to me and said "Rockin' Robin" and pointed down to me as he had given me a scarf earlier that evening. Oh sweet memories, so long ago. Over the years since 1988 I have been on several talk shows such as Geraldo, Oprah Winfrey, Joan Rivers and Vicki Lawrence and have consulted on several book projects related to Elvis and the continuing efforts to TCB in his memory. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Stanley-Presley Family Speaks!
An interesting book with Dee Presley and her sons. If you're an Elvis fan you need to read this book. The good and the bad - Dee and her boys went through it all. I'm sure it was tough for Dee Presley and she never gets the credit she deserves. I found the book to be a good read all the way through. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Almost as good as a round-trip ticket to Graceland! Contains a day-by-day chronology of the King's life; more than 100 first-person anecdotes from his step-brother and oldest friend; more than 300 personal photographs, letters, and private documents; information on every Elvis movie and recording; bios of the King's 50 closest friends; and an experts-only Elvis quiz. The author, David Stanley, is actually Elvis' brother in a "I'm my own grandpa" kind of way: his mother married Elvis' dad. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

BETTER TITLE: ELVIS PAID OUR BILLS!
ANOTHER "TRUE" STORY OF ELVIS,WRITTEN BY DISGRUNTLED
EX-EMPLOYEES WHO NEED THE CASH. MIXED-IN WITH SEMI-
ACCURATE INFORMATION IS THE USUAL "DON'T BLAME US" ALIBIS.
WRITTEN BY ELVIS'FATHER'S FORMER STEPSON WITH INPUT FROM
ANOTHER FLUNKIE. THE FUNNY PART IS HEARING INTERVIEWS BY
THE AUTHORS TALK ABOUT ELVIS' DRUG USE AND WEIGHT,WHEN
THEY HAVE NO ROOM TO TALK!
TOO BAD ELVIS ISN'T AROUND TO PAY THEIR BILLS ANYMORE,SO
WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE THEM SELL B.S. STORIES FOR MONEY!
INTERESTED BUYERS ARE BETTER OFF BUYING A NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

Excellent Book
This book has information on every movie, song, and the days of Elvis' life. It's like DAY BY DAY by Peter Guralnick (spelling?) but not as much $. Awesome color photos and a really nice cover make this book something to show off. 5 Stars! ... Read more

Book Description

Comprising two separate and rare interviews with Elvis, onein Vancouver, B.C., in 1957, and the other in his home city of Memphis in1961. These come from the private collection of D.J. Red Robinson, whoserved as master of ceremonies at the Vancouver show where the firstinterview was held in Elvis's dressing room. Spoken word. ... Read more