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The Elvis Treasures
On October 3, 1945, ten-year-old Elvis Presley climbed atop a chair to reach the microphone and performed the song "Old Shep" for a crowd of several hundred at the Tupelo fair, coming in fifth place in the talent contest. Ten years later, the King created his first full-scale riot after an appearance in Jacksonville at a baseball park. Girls poured through an overhead window, catching the police off guard, and stole or shredded almost every stitch of clothing Elvis had on. He scaled the shower area and clung to the pipes overhead while fans clamored to touch and take home a piece of him.
Now Graceland has opened the doors to its extensive archives for the first time ever, allowing previously inaccessible historic documents and memorabilia to be reproduced in facsimile, collectible form. With biographical text by acclaimed Elvis expert Robert Gordon, The Elvis Treasures tells the King's life story through handwritten letters, press releases, movie scripts, photographs and additional artifacts. Where else can you get a ticket to "Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley," evaluate the King¡¦s hand-drawn football plays, read his first RCA contract, and check out a book that he borrowed from the Humes High School library as an eighth-grader? Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Elvis¡¦ death, this unique interactive book also contains a 60-minute CD of interviews spanning his career, providing a formerly unavailable portrait of the King in his own words.
The Elvis Treasures contains 22 removable documents,
-rare promotional photos issued by Sun Records in 1954-55
-a 1958 Christmas card from Elvis and the Colonel (as Santa)
-Elvis's letter to Anita, his Memphis girlfriend, expressing his love and commitment to her while he was stationed in Germany
-an invitation to the premiere for Viva Las Vegas
-telegrams Vernon received upon Elvis' death from Johnny Cash, Isaac Hayes, Governor George Wallace, B. B. King, Little Richard and others
Description of the 60-minute CD of interviews
The first interview, track 1, was conducted in 1955 by Mae Boren Axton, months before the song she gave him, “Heartbreak Hotel,” would become his breakthrough hit. Track 2, recorded roughly a year later, finds Elvis admitting, in an unguarded moment, that his performing style was inspired in part by the gospel quarters he’d always loved; it’s a confession that comes back to haunt him in the following interview, conducted in August 1956 by Paul Wilder of TV Guide (track 3). When Wilder uses the term “holy roller” in asking him about the religious influence on his music, Elvis interrupts him–“I have never used that expression”–with the hair-curling command of a preacher. The TV Guide interview makes for fascinating listening, as Elvis uses charm, biting sarcasm, and the sheer force of his conviction to parry Wilder’s interrogation. Tracks 4 and 5 are far more joyful in spirit, as we hear first Elvis’ parents and then the singer himself tossed about in the maelstrom of his triumphant Tupelo homecoming concert in 1956. (“Baby Play House,” his mother responds unforgettably when asked her favorite Elvis song.)
Then we jump ahead to Elvis’ Army years and a montage of clips reflecting his life in the service, America’s reaction, and his return home (track 6). Elvis speaks earnestly about working the same details as the other soldiers, but by the end of the selection seems quite happy about returning to his “normal” life. Track 7 finds him back at work, in a brief interview on the set of Blue Hawaii . But what follows, an excerpt from a long conversation with Lloyd Shearer of Parade magazine (track 8), is perhaps the most introspective interview Elvis ever gave. (Elvis’ half of this conversation was released on the RCA boxed set Elvis Aron Presley as “An Elvis Moonsong;” fans may enjoy hearing this excerpt in full, with Shearer’s quiet questions intact.) And the final two recordings, tracks 9 and 10, find Elvis at new conferences before his landmark shows at the Houston Astrodome (1970) and Madison Square Garden (1972)–disarming the press with clever quips, and expressing his love of good old rock ‘n’ roll–that undying love of music that had always been with him.
Now Graceland has opened the doors to its extensive archives for the first time ever, allowing previously inaccessible historic documents and memorabilia to be reproduced in facsimile, collectible form. With biographical text by acclaimed Elvis expert Robert Gordon, The Elvis Treasures tells the King's life story through handwritten letters, press releases, movie scripts, photographs and additional artifacts. Where else can you get a ticket to "Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley," evaluate the King¡¦s hand-drawn football plays, read his first RCA contract, and check out a book that he borrowed from the Humes High School library as an eighth-grader? Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Elvis¡¦ death, this unique interactive book also contains a 60-minute CD of interviews spanning his career, providing a formerly unavailable portrait of the King in his own words.
The Elvis Treasures contains 22 removable documents,
-rare promotional photos issued by Sun Records in 1954-55
-a 1958 Christmas card from Elvis and the Colonel (as Santa)
-Elvis's letter to Anita, his Memphis girlfriend, expressing his love and commitment to her while he was stationed in Germany
-an invitation to the premiere for Viva Las Vegas
-telegrams Vernon received upon Elvis' death from Johnny Cash, Isaac Hayes, Governor George Wallace, B. B. King, Little Richard and others
Description of the 60-minute CD of interviews
The first interview, track 1, was conducted in 1955 by Mae Boren Axton, months before the song she gave him, “Heartbreak Hotel,” would become his breakthrough hit. Track 2, recorded roughly a year later, finds Elvis admitting, in an unguarded moment, that his performing style was inspired in part by the gospel quarters he’d always loved; it’s a confession that comes back to haunt him in the following interview, conducted in August 1956 by Paul Wilder of TV Guide (track 3). When Wilder uses the term “holy roller” in asking him about the religious influence on his music, Elvis interrupts him–“I have never used that expression”–with the hair-curling command of a preacher. The TV Guide interview makes for fascinating listening, as Elvis uses charm, biting sarcasm, and the sheer force of his conviction to parry Wilder’s interrogation. Tracks 4 and 5 are far more joyful in spirit, as we hear first Elvis’ parents and then the singer himself tossed about in the maelstrom of his triumphant Tupelo homecoming concert in 1956. (“Baby Play House,” his mother responds unforgettably when asked her favorite Elvis song.)
Then we jump ahead to Elvis’ Army years and a montage of clips reflecting his life in the service, America’s reaction, and his return home (track 6). Elvis speaks earnestly about working the same details as the other soldiers, but by the end of the selection seems quite happy about returning to his “normal” life. Track 7 finds him back at work, in a brief interview on the set of Blue Hawaii . But what follows, an excerpt from a long conversation with Lloyd Shearer of Parade magazine (track 8), is perhaps the most introspective interview Elvis ever gave. (Elvis’ half of this conversation was released on the RCA boxed set Elvis Aron Presley as “An Elvis Moonsong;” fans may enjoy hearing this excerpt in full, with Shearer’s quiet questions intact.) And the final two recordings, tracks 9 and 10, find Elvis at new conferences before his landmark shows at the Houston Astrodome (1970) and Madison Square Garden (1972)–disarming the press with clever quips, and expressing his love of good old rock ‘n’ roll–that undying love of music that had always been with him.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Robert Gordon
198 books33 followersRobert Gordon (b. 1961) is an American writer and filmmaker from Memphis, Tennessee. His work has focused on the American south—its music, art, and politics—to create an insider's portrait of his home, both nuanced and ribald.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 30, 2011
I got this for my birthday. It's a total fun trip for any Elvis Fan. Basically, the pages are full of documents and memorabilia that you can pull out and look at. It's all copies of items actually belonging to or owned by Elvis... like... his driver's license, social security cards, letters he wrote, whatever... It's a big ol' ball of fun. Page after page of pockets and things to open up and fun pieces of his past to pull out and look at. It also has an audio CD inside with live/rare interview footage. It's a hoot. I at first couldn't wait to show it to my mother because I know she'll love it... but now I'm thinking that I won't mention it. I'm gonna keep it to myself and buy her one for Mother's Day... lol. :)
July 2, 2012
This is the best book I have ever read about Elvis by a music historian
that did not know him.More fun than the historical text is the fold
out doctuments most notably for me his notes he took while his uncompleted karate doctumentary was being made and the love letter he wrote to Anita Wood.The audio cd is excellent too. Most essential Elvis
Presley gospel songs in my opinon are "Where Could I Go but to the Lord" and "Milky White Way".My favorite Elvis love songs are "Mystery
Train " , "How the Web Was Woven" ,"Anyway You Want Me" and "Any Place
is Paradise". "Hound Dog " is my favorite hard rocking song by him.
The gospel music of Elvis Presley proves to the ears he was five-octave.
that did not know him.More fun than the historical text is the fold
out doctuments most notably for me his notes he took while his uncompleted karate doctumentary was being made and the love letter he wrote to Anita Wood.The audio cd is excellent too. Most essential Elvis
Presley gospel songs in my opinon are "Where Could I Go but to the Lord" and "Milky White Way".My favorite Elvis love songs are "Mystery
Train " , "How the Web Was Woven" ,"Anyway You Want Me" and "Any Place
is Paradise". "Hound Dog " is my favorite hard rocking song by him.
The gospel music of Elvis Presley proves to the ears he was five-octave.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews